Mystery shrouds over Om Puri’s death after initial postmortem report

MUMBAI: Death of legendary Indian actor Om Puri is plunging towards mystery as postmortem report has not indicated cardiac failure as the core cause of the actor’s demise, contrary to the ‘fact’ aired by various sections of the media.

According to DNA India, the preliminary postmortem report has not established a clear cause of the death.

The report states that “there was a wound on the left side of the actor’s head, which may have been sustained in a fall.”

Police, however, have filed an accidental death report as per routine procedure, and viscera samples have been sent to the forensic lab to ascertain the exact cause of death. Police have also recorded statements from the a domestic help who worked at the actor’s house and his driver, officers said.

“We have received the preliminary postmortem report of actor Om Puri, and it does not clearly state the cause of death. As of now, it states that there was a minor injury on the left side of Puri’s head.

As the whole family and relatives have gone to Nashik for the ashthi visarjan, we will record their statements when they return to the city. We do not suspect any foul play, but the process of inquiry will take place, “said Subhash Khanvilkar, Senior Police Inspector of Oshiwara Police station, reported by the DNA India.

“We had registered the ADR on Friday and are carrying out our inquiries in the matter,” said Mumbai Police Spokesperson and DCP Ashok Dudhe.

Puri had a Bollywood spanning over four decades. He also starred in a series of British movies, reported BBC, which added that Puri “was known for his gritty performances in a number of landmark Indian films in the 1980s.”

He was a Bollywood star who also made a mark on Hollywood, starring in movies like City of Joy, Wolf, and Charlie Wilson’s War. American audiences may also remember him opposite Helen Mirren in The Hundred-Foot Journey.

“He was also known in the UK for his roles in British films such as My Son the Fanatic and East is East,” reported the Guardian. On Twitter, he pinned a tweet to the top of his page that read, “I don’t expect anything from anybody, When You Grow Old. Your Days Are Gone; It Is Part Of Life.” In December, he tweeted, “I have no regrets at all. I have done quite well for myself. I didn’t have a conventional face, but I have done well, and I am proud of it.”

OM Puri undergoing postmortem at Cooper Hospital.Will be taken to Trishul around 3pm Funeral at Oshiwara electric crematorium around 6pm

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) January 6, 2017

His work was lauded by many in Bollywood, especially, as well as the Indian prime minister. People called him an essential piece of Indian cinema, whose loss would be hard to repair.

Over a four-decade career, Puri won numerous prestigious cinema awards in India and the UK. His second wife, Nandita, upset Puri by writing about his personal life in a biography, according to the Times of India. The Sun reported that his son is called Ishaan and that he reconciled with his first wife Seema Kapoor after the book.

His nephew, Ved Puri, known as Yash, had died in 2014 at age 40, also of a heart attack, reported the Sun.

Om Puri’s film debut was in 1976, in the movie “Ghashiram Kotwal.”

“A critically acclaimed actor, Puri featured in films like ‘Ardh Satya’, ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, ‘Aakrosh’, ‘Mirch Masala’ and many others. More recently, he was seen in the movies, ‘Dabangg’, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ and ‘Ghayal Once Again.”

Saddened by the demise of veteran actor Om Puri, his death is an irreparable loss to Indian cinema.May God render peace to the departed soul

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) January 6, 2017

I remember driving with him every morning to set listening to old Hindi music during delhi6, So sorry to hear to hear of his passing #Ompuri

— Sonam Kapoor (@sonamakapoor) January 6, 2017

Deeply saddened to hear about #OmPuri sir! He was such a huge part of the core of Indian cinema..RIP ! Truly and end of an era..

— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) January 6, 2017

My deepest condolences on the passing away of one of the most versatile actors of Indian Cinema , #OmPuri ji pic.twitter.com/hZN2pL6Ejo

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 6, 2017