Amrish Puri, the "Mogambo" of Indian cinema, passed away in Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai yesterday morning following a brain hemorrhage. He was 72. He is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.

Puri suffered a blood clot in the brain and slipped into coma, family sources said. He was also being treated for malaria, they added. The actor had undergone a surgery last week.

Amrish Puri, the epitome of villainy in the Indian cinema was the younger brother of character actor Madan Puri. He had initially screen tested for a hero's role in 1954. But he was rejected as the producer thought he had a "crude and harsh face". Amrish then turned to theatre and also lent his voice to several advertisement jingles.

When he was almost 40, director Sukhdev signed him for Reshma Aur Shera. But, when producer Sunil Dutt took over as the director of the film, Amrish receded into the background.

After a forgettable debut, it was a long wait for Amrish, before being cast by art filmmaker Shyam Benegal in films like Nishaant, Manthan and Bhumika.

For his memorable performance in Ghatak he also received the Filmfare award for best supporting actor in 1997.

However, it was only after the commercial success of his portrayal of Duryodhana in Hum Paanch, a modern-day version of the Mahabharata, that he was recognised as an actor. He cruised ahead when Vidhaata and Hero became hits.

Soon Amrish Puri became synonymous with villainy. Hollywood director, Steven Spielberg was so impressed with him that he cast him as the main villain in his film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1984.

His venomous performance in Nagina was a landmark, but his career-defining role came as Mogambo in Mr India in 1987. The memorably vicious catchline, "Mogambo khush hua" became one of the most famous lines in the history of Hindi cinema. With Mogambo, Amrish was instantly catapulted to success.

With occasional positive roles in films like Phool Aur Kaante (1991) and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), he also played versatile roles in films like Ram Lakhan, Saudagar, Karan Arjun and Koyla.

Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, also starring Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor, was his latest release.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent