Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was an Indian actor, who was an important figure in Indian theatre and cinema. He is remembered for playing iconic villainous roles in Hindi cinema as well as other Indian and international film industries. He remembered for playing various roles in variety of film genres, specially iconic villainous roles in Hindi Cinema, as well as International Cinema. His role as Mogambo in Shekhar Kapur's Hindi film Mr. India (1987) is considered as one of greatest villains in Indian Cinema and to foreign audiences he is best known as Mola Ram in Steven Spielberg's Hollywood film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).
While he predominantly worked in Hindi-language films, he had also appeared in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Marathi language films. Puri won three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actor.
Hindi Year Films Role Notes 1956 Bhai-Bhai Goon 1967 Maya Police Chief TV Series 1970 Prem Pujari Jerry 1971 Reshma Aur Shera Rehmat Khan Hulchul Public Prosecutor Khilonewala Short film 1973 Sone Ke Haath Rana Hindustan Ki Kasam 1975 Salaakhen Master Nishant Anna, the eldest Zamindar Daaku Daaku Panna1976 Manthan Mishraji Chhatrabhang Narrator 1977 Smothered Voices Immaan Dharam Dharam Dhayal Bhumika Vinayak Kale Sat Sri Akal Jalme singh Rangaa Aur Raja Paapi Michael Gyaniji Jaalim Singh Alibaba Marjinaa Jabbar 1978 Kondura Konduraswamy Hungama Bombay Ishtyle Jaggu Ustad Bandie Anand 1979 Hamare Tumhare General Manager Jaani Dushman Geeta's Kidnapper Sawan Ko Aane Do Chandrika's dad Naiyya Pannalal Lakhan Deewan Hariprasad 1980 Chann Pardesi Joginder Singh Aakrosh Public Prosecutor Dushane Qurbani Rakka Gehrayee Tantric Magician Dostana Balwant Singh Hum Paanch Veer Pratap Singh Patthar Se Takkar Dr. Anand Maan Abhiman Madhuraprasad Chowdhary 1981 Krodhi Madhavan Kalyug Kishan Chand Naseeb Don Be-Shaque Gopal Nai Imarat Rajaram / Rajju 1982 Ek Aur Sangraam Apna Bana Lo Mr. Joshi Ashanti Raja Bhishm Bahadur Singh Aadat Se Majboor Agnihotri Shakti J.K. Verma Johny I Love You Zalim Singh Gandhi Dada Abdullah Hajee Adab Vidhaata Jagavar Chowdhary Vijeta Chief Instructor Varghese Sugandh Main Inteqaam Loonga Goverdhan Das (GD) 1983 Nishaan Bhagail Singh Andha Kanoon Mr. Ram Gupta Ardh Satya Anant's Father Coolie John D'Costa Mandi Darvish Hero Pasha Haadsa R.K. Chakravarty Bekhabar Rai Bahadur Singh / Kundan Singh 1984 Bhool Aakhir Mashaal S.K.Vardhan Insaaf Kaun Karega Bhanupratap Gangvaa Special Appearance Duniya Balwant Singh Kalra Jagir Lakhan Awaaz Moolchand Jhootha Sach Kolga Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki Udaybhan Singh Zakhmi Sher Swami Kashinath Singh Yeh Desh Dhulia Party Doctor Bandh Honth 1985 Mohabbat Choudhary Zabardast Balram Singh Meri Jung G.D. Thakral Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor Teri Meherbaniyan Thakur Vijay Singh Phaansi Ke Baad Damodar Seth Patthar Dil Rana Surajbhan Singh Paisa Yeh Paisa Jugal Karm Yudh Sohanlal Puri Aghaat Chakradev 1986 Pyar Ho Gaya Sapna's Father Kaanch Ki Deewar Bhoop Singh Aap Ke Saath Persha Sultanat Razoulli Al-Jabber Al-Nasser Janbaaz Rana Vikram Singh Begaana A.P. Lall Samundar Raiszada Narsingh Asli Naqli Durjan Singh Dosti Dushmani Daga Ek Aur Sikander Sher Khan / Dilawar Khan Dual role Tamas Sardar Teja Singh TV series Ricky Manglu Naseeb Apna Apna Bhim Singh Nagina Baba Bhairon Nath Rimjhim Geeton Ki Himself Guest appearance Mera Dharam Thakur Digvijay Singh Maa Ki Saugandh Daaku Hoshiyar On Wings of Fire Nihavand ruler 1987 Khazana Narrator Loha Sher 'Shera' Singh Dadagiri Bhanupratap Madadgaar Sunita's Mama Dance Dance Raja Bahadur A.M. Singh Mr. India Mogambo Hawalaat Seth Dharam Das Sadak Chhap Dharamdas, MP Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara Pharam Dharam Shamshera Sher Shivaji Jawab Hum Denge Dhanraj Inaam Dus Hazaar Captain S.P. Singh Dil Tujhko Diya Mohla Dance Dance Raja Bahadur A.M. Singh Raj Kapoor Himself Special appearance 1988 Bharat Ek Khoj Mohammed Raza Khan TV series Hum Farishte Nahin Pashrutam Das / Din Dayal Shahenshah J.K. Verma Khoon Bahaa Ganga Mein Waaris Dulla K. Singh Mohabbat Ke Dushman Shahbaaz Khan Commando Marcelloni Rukhsat Jagdish Chopra Janam Janam Yuvraj Thakur Balbir Singh Dayavan Inspector Ratan Singh Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi Thakur Hansaj Singh Yateem Dacoit Porkhiya Saazish Diwan Mar Mitenge Ajit Singh Hamara Khandaan Chandraprakash Singh (Vishal's dad) 1989 Jurrat Kama Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe Shamsher Chattopadhya Suryaa: An Awakening Gangadhar Chowdhary Do Qaidi K.K Farz Ki Jung Jai Kishan (JK) Ilaaka Nagar Daata Gopal Das Naa-Insaafi Billa Tridev Bhujang / Bhairav Singh Nominated–Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award Batwara Hanumant Singh Hisaab Khoon Ka Ranvir Pushp Jaadugar Mahaprabhu Janak Sagar Jagat Narayan Chintamani Aag Se Khelenge Zakha Tujhe Nahin Chhodunga Ram Lakhan Bhisambar Nath Nigahen : Nagina Part II Bhairon Nath Voice Nafrat Ki Aandhi Chandidas Khurana Mujrim Khan Mera Farz 1990 Vidrohi Dacait Naag Singh Hatim Tai Jaadugar Kamlaq Naaka Bandi Mangal Singh / Santhal Ghayal Balwant Rai Aaj Ka Arjun Thakur Bhupendra Singh Doodh Ka Karz Raghuvir Singh Marathi Film Tejaa Jarahwar Qayamat Ki Raat Shera Muqaddar Ka Badshaah Vikral Singh Kishen Kanhaiya Lala Gendamal Kaarnama Jeene Do Thakur Sher Bahadur Singh 1991 Trinetra Singhania Mohabbat Pehli Nazar Mein Jigarwala Dhurjan Singh Iraada Dinanath Benaam Badsha Jaikal Ajooba Vazir Saudagar Chuniya Nominated– Filmfare Best Villain Award Dharam Sankat Jagira Phool Aur Kaante Nageshwar "Don" Nominated–Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award Shikari: The Hunter Nahar Singh Garajna Unreleased film Numbri Aadmi Rana Mast Kalandar Raja Sahab Kohraam Daaku Kaaliya 1992 Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda Mahesar Dalal Sydney Film Festival, Best Actor Award,Singapore International Film Festival, Best Actor Award Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama Ravana Voiceover in Hindi-dubbed version I Love You Vishwatma Azghar Jurhad Vansh Vilasrao Chaudhary Zindagi Ek Jua Bhalla Deewana Dhirend (Ravi's uncle) Tahalka General Dong Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain Award Muskurahat Gopichand Verma Nominated- Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award Time Machine Incomplete film 1993 Divya Shakti Tau Kundan Thakur Shamsher Singh Damini Barrister Indrajit Chaddha Nominated–Filmfare Best Villain Award Gardish Purushottam Sathe Nominated–Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award Purab Ki Laila Paschim Ka Chaila: Hello India Unreleased film Sangram Raja's father 1994 Elaan Ramakant Chaudhry Maha Shaktishali Pehla Pehla Pyaar Hukam Singh Droh Kaal IG Pathak Tejaswini Lala Khurana Paramaatma Chaudhry Rudranarayan 1995 Mohabatto Ka Safar Karan Arjun Thakur Durjan Singh Nominated–Filmfare Best Villain Award Jallad Himself Special appearance Jai Vikraanta Thakur Jaswant Singh Maidan-E-Jung Thakur Ranvir Singh 'Daata Guru' Prem Vanraja Hulchul Shobraj Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India! Don Quixote Gundaraj Police Inspector Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Chaudhry Baldev Singh Nominated–Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award Haqeeqat ACP. Shivcharan Paappi Devataa Ratan Seth Kartavya Thakur Ugranarayan Singh 1996 Vijeta Wing Commander Varghese Tu Chor Main Sipahi Thakur Gajendra Singh Jeet Gajraj Choudhary (Underworld Don) Diljale Dara Beqabu ACP Amritlal Bakshi Ghatak Shambu Nath Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor; Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor Smuggler Sardari Begum Hemraj Jaan Surya Dev Singh 1997 Koyla Raja Saab Nominated- Filmfare Best Villain Award Mahaanta Seth. Kedar Nath Tarazu Appa Rao Pardes Kishorilal Chachi 420 Durgaprasad Bhardwaj Virasat Raja Thakur Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor; Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor Itihaas Pradhan Des Pandey Nimayak Balwant Himalay Putra Seema's father Special appearance Dhaal Pilot Baba 1998 Sham Ghansham Collector Bhim Singh Salaakhen Jaspal Rana Barood Mr.Singhal Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate Abhayankar Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Jojo Pinto Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! Voice China Gate Col. Kewal Krishan Puri 1999 Lal Baadshah Thakur Dhayal Singh Aarzoo Dayashankar Zulmi Balraj Dutt Jai Hind Taal Jagmohan Mehta Baadshah Suraj Singh Thappar Nominated– Filmfare Award for Best Villain Gair C.K Oberoi Kaala Samrajya Kaalkeshwar Singh 2000 Badal ACP Ranjeet Singh Ek Ajooba Guruji Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke Yagvender Gareval Mohabbatein Major General Khanna Special appearance Shaheed Uddham Singh The Sufi Saint 2001 On Wings of Fire Nihavand ruler Zubeidaa Suleiman Seth Censor Pandit Shiv Prasad Chori Chori Chupke Chupke Kailashnath Malhotra Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai Balram Singh Gadar: Ek Prem Katha Mayor Ashraf Ali Nominated– Filmfare Award for Best Villain; Nominated– Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role Yaadein Jagdish Kumar Malhotra Nayak: The Real Hero Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan 2002 Badhaai Ho Badhaai Mr. Chaddha Shararat Prajapati Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani Sadhu Special appearance Rishtey Yashpal Chaudhary 2003 Khushi Vir Bhadra Singh The Hero: Love Story of a Spy ISI Chief Ishak Khan Jaal: The Trap Major Amrish Kaul Out of Control Jatta Singh Bedi Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa Brigadier Sarfaroz Khan 2004 Surya Thakur Police Force: An Inside Story Mr. Pandey Dev Chief Minister Bhandarker Lakshya Brigadier Gautam Puri Garv: Pride and Honour Commissioner Samar Singh Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Colonel Dugraj Singh Taarzan: The Wonder Car Kartar Singh/Paaji Aitraaz Mr. Ranjit Roy Hulchul Angaar Chand Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo Narrator Woh Tera Naam Tha Ustad Samad Khan 2005 Kisna: The Warrior Poet Bhairo Singh 2006Kachchi SadakJailorFinal film 2010 Aahat – Ek Ajib Kahani The film was shot in 1971; Posthumous release 2023 Gadar 2 Ashraf Ali (Sakina's father) Posthumous appearance via computer generated imagery2026Hum Mein Shahenshah KounPosthumous release; Shot in 1989
Punjabi Year Films Role Notes 1981 Chann Pardesi 1999 Shaheed Udham Singh (film)
Bengali +YearFilmsRoleNotes1978BandieAnandaBengali debut; Bengali version of Bandie1984Teen MurtiThakur Lakhan SinghBengali version of Jagir
Telugu YearFilmsRoleNotes1978AnugrahamKondura /AppikondaSwami1988Aakhari PoratamAnantananda Swamy1990Kondaveeti DongaKhaadra /SP1990Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari Mahadrashta1991Aditya 369Raja Varma1992AswamedhamVyaghra1993Major ChandrakanthGnaneswara Rao1993Nippu RavvaBalagam Dhanraj
Kannada YearFilmsRoleNotes1973KaaduChandra Gowda1976PhalitamshaCameo1980Subbi Subbakka Suvvalali1981Simhada Mari SainyaBalbir Gupta1984Gandu BherundaProfessor Jai2004LoveSaligrama Oberoi
Tamil YearFilmsRoleNotes1991ThalapathiKalivardhan2002BabaTantrik
Malayalam YearFilmsRoleNotes1996KaalapaniMirza Khan
Marathi YearFilmsRoleNotesRef(s)1971Shantata! Court Chalu AaheAdaptation of Vijay Tendulkar's Marathi play of same name
English YearFilmsRolesNotesRef(s)1982"Gandhi"Khan1984"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"Mola Ram
References
External links Amrish Puri filmography at IMDb