Om Puri

Om Puri has denied that he delivered the speech at Ramlila maidan under the influence of alcohol

Last week, 60-year-old Om Puri went on stage at the Ramlila Maidan and, swayed by the moment, put his foot in his mouth. He called politicians naalayak (incompetent) and ganwaar (crass). He proclaimed “Sab neta chor hain” (all leaders are thieves) and also asked that MPs be forced to take an exam. Puri has denied that he had delivered this speech under the influence of alcohol.

A few leaders from both Houses of Parliament responded by filing notices, for breach of privilege, against the actor. Puri, his activism vanishing instantly, quickly apologised on TV and said he was ready to appear before Parliament, if summoned. The matter is under consideration of the Chair of the Lok Sabha.

If found guilty, Puri can get up to 15 days in jail for breach of privilege of Parliament. While regretting his remarks, Puri said he was emotionally charged while blurting out certain words that were obvious exaggerations.

Meanwhile, an article in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, Saamna, has asked him to declare if all the money he got for his work in the film industry was legally acquired through cheque payments.

Puri, who’s an honorary OBE (Order of the British Empire) awardee, has acted in more than 50 Hindi and Punjabi movies, and has appeared in several British and American movies and Hindi television serials. Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, City of Joy, Maachis and the most recent hit Dabangg are some movies that feature him.

Om Puri was earlier involved in a nasty public spat with his second wife Nandita Puri, who wrote the biography Unlikely Hero: The Story of Om Puri. The book reveals intimate details of the actor’s several sexual relationships.

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Arindam Mukherjee