Remembering Gufi Paintal; Army Officer Turned Actor-Director

Initially trained as an engineer, Gufi Paintal wanted to join the army first. During the 60s, he joined the army when India’s relations with neighbouring countries were not at their best.

Speaking with SansadTV, many years ago, the veteran actor opened up a bout his professional and personal life. Initially trained as an engineer, Gufi Paintal wanted to join the army first. During the 60s, he joined the army when India’s relations with neighbouring countries were not at their best.

Gufi Paintal was in the army for 7 years. He left the army in 1968 after seeing the two wars: The Indo-China War of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Because of his transfer in Mumbai as an engineer, after having left the army in 1968, he with the help of his brother in Mumbai became an assistant director.

Gufi Paintal was the brother of Paintal, or Kanwarjit Paintal, well-known comedian and actor who has acted in over 350 films and has over 290 actor credits on the ratings site IMDb.

Gufi Paintal was more interested in direction than acting though he was known for Shakuni Mama in the Mahabharata serial, which still happens to be one of the most iconic TV serials on Indian TV.

Gufi Paintal got the role of Shakuni Mama because of his portrayal of General Metcalfe in the TV serial ‘The Last Mughal Empire: Bahadur Shah Zafar’

On Monday morning, Gufi Paintal passed away in a Mumabi hospital due to age related illness