Om Shivpuri
Encyclopedia
Om Shivpuri was an Indian theatre actor-director and character actor
in Hindi
films.
A National School of Drama
, New Delhi alumni, Om Shivpuri became the first chief of the National School of Drama
Repertory Company (1964) and one of its actors; he later founded an important theatre group of its era, in New Delhi: Dishantar.
, Om Shivpuri started his career by working at Jaipur
Radio Station, where Sudha Shivpuri
(who later became his wife) was working at the time.
Later, they joined National School of Drama
, New Delhi
and were trained under theatre doyen Ebrahim Alkazi
. After graduating in 1964, they joined the newly formed, NSD Repertory Company as actors. Om Shivpuri was also the first chief of the NSD Repertory Company and remained so till 1976, when Manohar Singh
followed him.
Meanwhile, Om Shivpuri and Sudha Shivpuri got married in 1968 and started their own theatre group, Dishantar, which went on to become one of Delhi pioneering important theatre groups of its era and produced many plays with him as a director, the most important being Aadhe Adhure, a classic Hindi play written by Mohan Rakesh
; Khamosh! Adalat Jari Hai, Hindi version of Vijay Tendulkar
's Marathi play Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe
(Silence! The Court is in Session), with his wife Sudha Shivpuri
in the lead role; and their most famous production, Girish Karnad
’s historical play Tughlaq, which was performed at ridges of Talkatora Gardens, New Delhi.
’s Ashadh Ka Ek Din
, soon followed by Gulzar
’s Koshish
in 1972.
He shifted to Mumbai in 1974. In a career spanning over two decades (1971–1993) he acted in over 175 Hindi
films playing roles as varied as villains to supporting cast.
is now a noted TV actor and most known for her role as Baa in the TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi
.
Om Shivpuri has a daughter, Ritu Shivpuri, who is now an Hindi
film actor, and had a son, Vineet. Om Shivpuri died in 1990 of a heart attack. Several of his films were released after his death.
organises a drama festival every year, in the memory of Om Shivpuri. The Om Shivpuri Memorial Drama Festival is a five-day festival that opens on 16 October (Om Shivpuri’s death anniversary).
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
films.
A National School of Drama
National School of Drama
National School of Drama is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India, established . It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and became an independent school in 1975...
, New Delhi alumni, Om Shivpuri became the first chief of the National School of Drama
National School of Drama
National School of Drama is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India, established . It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and became an independent school in 1975...
Repertory Company (1964) and one of its actors; he later founded an important theatre group of its era, in New Delhi: Dishantar.
Biography
Born in 1937 in RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, Om Shivpuri started his career by working at Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
Radio Station, where Sudha Shivpuri
Sudha Shivpuri
Sudha Shivpuri is a noted TV actress, who is most famous for her role as 'Baa' in the Hindi TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi .-Early life:...
(who later became his wife) was working at the time.
Later, they joined National School of Drama
National School of Drama
National School of Drama is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India, established . It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and became an independent school in 1975...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and were trained under theatre doyen Ebrahim Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi is one of the most influential Indian theatre directors and Drama teachers in 20th century Indian theatre. He also remained the Director of National School of Drama, New Delhi He has also been a noted art connoisseur, collector and gallery owner, and found Art Heritage Gallery in...
. After graduating in 1964, they joined the newly formed, NSD Repertory Company as actors. Om Shivpuri was also the first chief of the NSD Repertory Company and remained so till 1976, when Manohar Singh
Manohar Singh
Manohar Singh was a distinguished Indian theatre actor-director and a character actor in Hindi films. He is best known for his performances in films such as Party and Daddy...
followed him.
Meanwhile, Om Shivpuri and Sudha Shivpuri got married in 1968 and started their own theatre group, Dishantar, which went on to become one of Delhi pioneering important theatre groups of its era and produced many plays with him as a director, the most important being Aadhe Adhure, a classic Hindi play written by Mohan Rakesh
Mohan Rakesh
Mohan Rakesh was one of the pioneers of the Nai Kahani literary movement of the Hindi literature in the 1950s. He wrote the first modern Hindi play, Ashadh Ka Ek Din , which won a competition organized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi...
; Khamosh! Adalat Jari Hai, Hindi version of Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi...
's Marathi play Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe
Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe
Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe is a Marathi play written by playwright Vijay Tendulkar and first performed in 1967...
(Silence! The Court is in Session), with his wife Sudha Shivpuri
Sudha Shivpuri
Sudha Shivpuri is a noted TV actress, who is most famous for her role as 'Baa' in the Hindi TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi .-Early life:...
in the lead role; and their most famous production, Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad
Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
’s historical play Tughlaq, which was performed at ridges of Talkatora Gardens, New Delhi.
Films
Om Shivpuri started his film career in 1971 with Mani KaulMani Kaul
Mani Kaul was an Indian film director of Hindi films. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India where he was a student of Ritwik Ghatak and later became a teacher. Started his career with Uski Roti , which won him the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie, he went on to win...
’s Ashadh Ka Ek Din
Ashadh Ka Ek Din
Ashadh Ka Ek Din is a debut Hindi play by Mohan Rakesh in 1958 and is considered the first Modern Hindi play. The play received a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for best play in 1959 and has been staged by several prominent directors to critical acclaim...
, soon followed by Gulzar
Gulzar (lyricist)
Sampooran Singh Kalra , known popularly by his pen name Gulzar , is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He primarily writes in Hindi-Urdu and has also written in Punjabi and several dialects of Hindi such as Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Haryanvi and Marwari.Gulzar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in...
’s Koshish
Koshish
Koshish is a 1972 Hindi movie directed by Gulzar.Koshish is considered a landmark movie in the history of Indian cinema. It stars Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri, directed by Gulzar. The movie depicts a deaf and mute couple and their conflicts, pain and struggle to carve out a niche for themselves...
in 1972.
He shifted to Mumbai in 1974. In a career spanning over two decades (1971–1993) he acted in over 175 Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
films playing roles as varied as villains to supporting cast.
Personal
His wife Sudha ShivpuriSudha Shivpuri
Sudha Shivpuri is a noted TV actress, who is most famous for her role as 'Baa' in the Hindi TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi .-Early life:...
is now a noted TV actor and most known for her role as Baa in the TV serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi was an Indian Soap Opera that aired on STAR Plus. This is ranked at top, number 1, on the list of STAR Plus top 10 shows of all time.This show was Asia's #1 most watched and awarded show...
.
Om Shivpuri has a daughter, Ritu Shivpuri, who is now an Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
film actor, and had a son, Vineet. Om Shivpuri died in 1990 of a heart attack. Several of his films were released after his death.
Selected filmography
- Ashad Ka Ek Din (1971)
- KoshishKoshishKoshish is a 1972 Hindi movie directed by Gulzar.Koshish is considered a landmark movie in the history of Indian cinema. It stars Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri, directed by Gulzar. The movie depicts a deaf and mute couple and their conflicts, pain and struggle to carve out a niche for themselves...
(1972) - Namak HaraamNamak HaraamNamak Haraam , is a 1973 Indian Hindi film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The music is by R.D. Burman and the screenplay by Gulzar and lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. The film also stars Rekha, Asrani, Raza Murad, A.K. Hangal, Simi Garewal and Om Shivpuri...
(1973) -- Damodar Maharaj - AandhiAandhiAandhi is a 1975 Indian movie supposedly based on then-prime minister Indira Gandhi's life, but in reality, it was inspired by Tarkeshwari Sinha, apart from Indira Gandhi. It was directed by Gulzar...
(1975) -- Chandrasen - KhushbooKhushboo (1975 film)Kushboo is a 1975 film based on the novel "Panditmashai" by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay and produced by Prasan Kapoor and directed by Gulzar. The film stars Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Asrani, Farida Jalal, Sarika and Sharmila Tagore. The film's music is by R. D. Burman.-Cast:* Jeetendra - Dr...
(1975) - Mausam (1975)
- Balika BadhuBalika Badhu (1976)Balika Badhu is a 1976 Hindi film produced by Shakti Samanta and directed by Tarun Majumdar. The film based on the Bengali novel by the same name by Bimal Kar, about a young girl who is married before she could be old enough to understand what marriage is all about, in the backdrop of Indian...
(1976) -- Amal's father - Kitaab (1977)
- Hum Kisi Se Kum NahinHum Kisi Se Kum NahinHum Kisi Se Kum Naheen is a 1977 Hindi action film, produced and directed by Nasir Hussain. The film became a "super hit" at the box office, and took the third top spot at the box office in 1977....
(1977) - Immaan DharamImmaan DharamImmaan Dharam is a 1977 Hindi film. Written by Javed Akhtar, produced by Premji, it is directed by Desh Mukherjee. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar and Rekha...
(1977) -- Seth Jamuna Das - DonDon (1978 film)Don is a 1978 Indian action film, produced by Nariman Irani and directed by Chandra Barot, with music by Kalyanji Anandji and lyrics by Anjaan. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Pran, Iftekhar, Helen and Om Shivpuri, Satyen Kappu and Pinchoo Kapoor. It was the third-highest grossing...
(1978) - NaukriNaukriNaukri is a 1978 Bollywood film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.This Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s not so famous movie but critically acclaimed classic “Naukri” featuring Rajesh Khanna and Raj Kapoor together is set in the period 1944-1947...
(1978) -- Mr. Rai, Ramola's father - Pati Patni Aur WohPati Patni Aur WohPati Patni Aur Woh is a 1978 Hindi movie directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Ranjeeta, and in guest appearances Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Parveen Babi.-Summary:...
(1978) - Swarg NarakSwarg NarakSwarg Narak is a 1978 Hindi movie produced by B.Nagi Reddy and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. This family and comedy drama stars Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, Moushumi Chatterjee, Shabana Azmi...
(1978) -- College Pricipal - Tumhare LiyeTumhare LiyeTumhare Liye is a 1978 Bollywood film directed by Basu Chatterjee. The film stars Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha and Ashok Kumar as leads with music scored by Jaidev.-Plot:...
(1978) -- Tantrik - MeeraMeera (1979 film)-Awards and Nominations:* 1980 Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer - Won - Vani Jairam for "Mere To Giridhar Gopal"-Box office:1970's being the time of formula films in Indian Cinema and with "angry young man" Amitabh Bachchan overshadowing everything, this non-mainstream movie didn't...
(1979) -- Kul Guru (Head Priest) - Sargam (1979)
- Insaaf Ka TarazuInsaaf Ka TarazuInsaaf Ka Tarazu is a 1980 Hindi film produced and directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Raj Babbar, Deepak Parashar, Zeenat Aman, Padmini Kohlapure, Iftekhar, Simi Garewal, Shreeram Lagoo and Dharmendra in a guest appearance. The music of the film was composed by Ravindra Jain. The film was...
(1980) - KhubsooratKhubsooratKhubsoorat is a 1980 Indian Hindi film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, whose direction together with dialogues by Gulzar created a comedy classic. Rekha shined in a first all-out comic role, with her brilliant comic timing....
(1980) - Phir Wohi RaatPhir Wohi RaatPhir Wohi Raat is a 1980 suspense film of horror genre starring Rajesh Khanna in the lead role as a psychologist doctor opposite Kim Yashpal. Danny later on married Kim Yashpal. The music is by R.D.Burman. This is the first and the only film directed by Danny Denzongpa. It fetched 1.2 crore...
(1980) - The Burning Train (1980)
- KudratKudratKudrat is a Hindi/Urdu word which was probably derived from the Persian language. It means Nature in English. The word is used widely in lots of expressions in Hindi and Urdu languages. There is also a 1981 Hindi movie written and directed by Chetan Anand. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Hema...
(1981) - NaseebNaseebNaseeb.com is a Muslim social network service similar to Friendster.com that allows Muslims around the world to interact for reasons such as sharing views, finding a soul mate, activity partners, or setting up friends with individuals they may encounter on the website. Naseeb, the website, started...
(1981) - Meri Aawaz Suno (1981)
- Fiffty Fiffty (1981)
- Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981)
- SamraatSamraat (film)Samraat is a 1982 Bollywood Hindi action thriller starring Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman and Amjad Khan. The story is about a sunken ship of gold and the quest to find it by all parties, good and bad....
(1982) - BemisalBemisalBemisal is a 1982 movie produced by Debesh Gosh and directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Mehra, Raakhee, Deven Verma, Aruna Irani and Om Shivpuri. The music was by R.D...
(1982) - Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya (1982)
- Teesri Aankh (1982)
- ArthArthArth is a municipality in Schwyz District in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.-Geography:Arth has an area, , of . Of this area, 40.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 46.3% is forested...
(1982) - Painter Babu (1983)
- Prem Tapasya (1983)
- Andhaa Kanoon (1983)
- Coolie (film)Coolie (1983 film)Coolie is a 1983 Indian Bollywood film directed by Manmohan Desai. The film starsAmitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Rati Agnihotri, Kader Khan, Suresh Oberoi and Puneet Issar...
(1983) - Disco Dancer (1983)
- Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar (1984)
- GhulamiGhulamiGhulami is a 1985 Hindi-language Indian feature film directed by J.P. Dutta. The film has an ensemble cast comprising Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Mazhar Khan, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Raza Murad, Smita Patil, Reena Roy, Anita Raj, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Shivpuri...
(1985) - Geraftaar (1985)
- Alag AlagAlag AlagAlag Alag is a 1985 Hindi film starring Rajesh Khanna, Tina Munim, Shashi Kapoor in the lead roles and produced by Rajesh Khanna. The film is best remembered for the way it was shot in Kashmir and different storyline...
(1985) - Saveray Wali GaadiSaveray Wali GaadiSaveray Wali Gaadi is an Indian film directed by Bharathi Rajaa and released in 1986. The movie stars Sunny Deol, Poonam Dhillon, Prem Chopra, Shreeram Lagoo.-Characters:* Sunny Deol ... Ravidas* Poonam Dhillon ... Jyoti* Prem Chopra ... Kishan Lal...
(1986) - Aakhree RaastaAakhree RaastaAakhree Raasta is a 1986 Bollywood film starring Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role, Sridevi, Anupam Kher and Jayapradha; and was Bachchan's last released film before he temporarily quit acting to enter politics in 1984. It was directed by the famous Tamil actor and director Bhagyaraj...
(1986) - Dance Dance (1987)
- Sitapur Ki Geeta (1987)
- Zakhmi Aurat (1988)
- HatyaHatyaHatya is a 1988 Bollywood thriller film directed by Kirti Kumar and starring Govinda, Neelam and Anupam Kher-Plot:Govinda stars as Sagar, a wealthy but idle young man. Following a night of consuming much alcohol he finds a homeless and parentless young boy. He takes the boy home and learns that he...
(1988) - Namumkin (1988)
- Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988)
- Mitti Aur Sona (1989)
- Galiyon Ka Badshah (1989)
- Jurrat (1989)
- Gentleman (1989)
- Sailaab (1990)
- Amiri Garibi (1990)
- Narasimha (1991)
Legacy
Rajasthan Sangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
organises a drama festival every year, in the memory of Om Shivpuri. The Om Shivpuri Memorial Drama Festival is a five-day festival that opens on 16 October (Om Shivpuri’s death anniversary).