Mumbai, May 15 (NationPress) Renowned actor Naseeruddin Shah took a heartfelt journey down memory lane as he revisited his legendary film “Ardh Satya” on the cinema screen.

Reflecting on the impactful performances, Shah particularly honored the late Om Puri, characterizing him as “much more than an actor.” Quoting the filmmaker Nicholas Ray, Shah compared Puri’s presence to a “living reproach,” recognizing the extraordinary depth and realism he infused into his roles. On Instagram, Naseeruddin Shah shared a picture of Om Puri waving, conveying his profound respect for the late actor.

Naseeruddin expressed, “I revisited Ardh Satya on the big screen last night after ages. Both Sadashiv and Om are at their absolute best. Something Nicholas Ray said about Bogart which really applies to Om, ‘His face was a living reproach. He was much more than an actor. He was the very image of our condition.’”

“Ardh Satya,” a film from 1983 directed by Govind Nihalani, was inspired by the short story 'Surya' penned by S. D. Panvalkar. In this cop drama, Om Puri played Anant Velankar, a police officer battling the corruption surrounding him alongside his personal dilemmas. The movie also featured Amrish Puri, Smita Patil, and Sadashiv Amrapurkar. Naseeruddin Shah made a cameo appearance as Mike Lobo, a suspended police officer, in the film.

For those unfamiliar, Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah embarked on a close professional path that started at the National School of Drama (NSD), where they were contemporaries. Om furthered his training at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where Naseer was already a senior. Both actors kicked off their careers in the 1980s.

Om Puri reportedly passed away in his sleep due to a heart attack at his Mumbai residence on January 6, 2017, at the age of 66. At the time of his death, Om Puri was actively engaged in a Marathi film project. Following his passing, several of his completed films, including “Viceroy’s House” and “Tubelight”, were released posthumously.