Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 15: Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah took a heartfelt journey back in time as he revisited the acclaimed 1983 film Ardh Satya on the big screen, a cinematic experience that rekindled memories of his collaboration with the legendary Om Puri. Sharing his thoughts online, Shah lauded Puri’s powerful performance and enduring legacy, calling him “much more than an actor.”

Taking to Instagram, Shah posted a photo of Om Puri waving, accompanied by a deeply emotional caption. “Revisited Ardh Satya on the big screen last night after ages. Both Sadashiv and Om are at their absolute best,” he wrote. Quoting filmmaker Nicholas Ray on actor Humphrey Bogart, Shah added, “His face was a living reproach. He was much more than an actor. He was the very image of our condition”—a sentiment he felt perfectly described Om Puri.

Ardh Satya, directed by Govind Nihalani and based on the short story Surya by S.D. Panvalkar, is considered a landmark in Indian cinema. Om Puri portrayed Anant Velankar, a conflicted police officer battling the forces of corruption and inner turmoil. The film also starred Smita Patil, Amrish Puri, and Sadashiv Amrapurkar, with Naseeruddin Shah making a cameo as the suspended cop Mike Lobo.

The post offered a poignant reminder of the deep camaraderie between Shah and Puri, whose artistic journeys began together at the National School of Drama (NSD). Om Puri later honed his craft at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where Shah was already making a mark. The two emerged as leading figures in the Indian parallel cinema movement of the 1980s.

Om Puri passed away on January 6, 2017, at the age of 66, following a heart attack at his Mumbai residence. At the time of his death, he was actively working on a Marathi film. Several of his completed projects, including Viceroy’s House and Tubelight, were released after his passing, continuing to honor his immense contribution to Indian and global cinema.