: On what would have been Om Puri’s 76th birthday, a look back at the legendary Indian actor’s unique connection with Pakistan, his Pakistani roles, Karachi memories and message of peace.
Had Om Puri been alive today, the celebrated Indian actor would have turned 76 — and among the many chapters of his remarkable career, his unusual and deeply personal connection with Pakistan remains one of the most memorable.
Puri, born on October 18, 1950, built an international career stretching from Indian parallel cinema and mainstream Bollywood to British productions and Hollywood. Yet he repeatedly found himself portraying Pakistani characters, including George Khan in East Is East, Pakistan’s former military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson’s War and a Pakistani cleric in Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
During a visit to Karachi in 2016, Puri joked that after portraying Pakistanis so often on screen, he had begun to feel “half Pakistani”.
His relationship with Pakistan, however, went beyond acting.
A Family Link to Rawalpindi
Puri often spoke about his father’s connection to Rawalpindi, where he had served with the British Indian Army before Partition. Despite visiting Pakistan several times, the actor regretted that he was never able to visit the city associated with his family history.
That personal connection helped shape his views on relations between Pakistan and India. He believed restrictive visa policies prevented families with shared histories from visiting places important to their past.
For Puri, stronger cultural ties and greater people-to-people contact could help reduce the distance created by political tensions.
Karachi’s Hospitality Left a Lasting Impression
Puri spent significant time in Karachi while filming his first Pakistani movie, Actor in Law, alongside Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat. The film marked his formal debut in Pakistani cinema.
He frequently spoke warmly about his experience in the city.
Puri recalled being surprised by the affection he received from ordinary Karachi residents. Taxi drivers sometimes refused to charge him, restaurant owners offered meals, and people stopped him for photographs rather than treating him with suspicion.
He was equally enthusiastic about Karachi’s food and said the hospitality made him feel welcomed rather than foreign.
The filmmakers behind Actor in Law later recalled Puri as a generous and supportive colleague who treated the Pakistani cast and crew with warmth despite his international stature.
Why He Chose a Pakistani Film
Puri’s decision to work in Pakistan reflected his wider philosophy about acting.
He believed artists should not be confined by national borders. Having worked in Britain, Hollywood and India, he saw no reason why an Indian actor could not appear in a Pakistani production.
Actor in Law, released in 2016, became one of the final major projects of his career.
His extensive international filmography had already established him as one of South Asia’s most versatile performers. From the acclaimed Ardh Satya and Aakrosh to international productions such as East Is East and Charlie Wilson’s War, Puri moved comfortably between serious drama, comedy and commercial cinema.
An Advocate for Cultural Connection
Puri also publicly supported artistic exchanges between India and Pakistan.
He believed actors, filmmakers and musicians could help ordinary people understand one another beyond political disputes. His position was simple: shared culture, family histories and human relationships should not disappear because relations between governments deteriorate.
That outlook was visible whenever he spoke about Pakistan. He remembered its food, hospitality and people with affection, while repeatedly expressing hope for peaceful relations between the two neighbours.
Om Puri died suddenly on January 6, 2017, at the age of 66.
Nearly a decade later, his acclaimed performances remain part of Indian and international cinema. But in Pakistan, another part of his legacy also survives — the memory of an Indian actor who repeatedly portrayed Pakistani characters, worked in Pakistani cinema and spoke of the country not simply as a neighbouring state, but as a place with which he felt a genuine human connection.