Stars have paid tribute to Bollywood actor Om Puri, star of cult British film East Is East, who has died aged 66.
The prolific actor, whose career spanned four decades, suffered a heart attack after returning to his home in Mumbai from a film set on Thursday.
Leading the tributes were his former co-stars and others in the film industry.
Archie Panjabi, who played Puri’s daughter in Bafta-winning East Is East, paid tribute.
Devastated to hear of the sad loss of @OmRajeshPuri. He was a true gem. Rest in Peace.
— Archie Panjabi (@archiepanjabi) January 6, 2017
Emmerdale actor Chris Bisson, who also starred in the film as one of his children, said he had been an inspiration:
Really sad that #OmPuri has passed away. A great man, a great talent, he taught me a lot. He was a guiding light whilst making #EastisEast
— Chris Bisson (@ChrisBisson) January 6, 2017
East Is East and Downton Abbey star Lesley Nicol called the star a “dear soul”.
So very sad to hear that the talented and beautiful actor Om Pari has passed away - much love to you dear soul -East is East family xx
— Lesley Nicol (@lesley_nicol) January 6, 2017
Kunal Nayyar, best-known for starring in US sitcom The Big Bang Theory, wrote a message to Puri.
Dear Om Puri, the truth you brought to everything you did, will never be matched...your body maybe gone, but your spirit will remain forever
— Kunal Nayyar (@kunalnayyar) January 6, 2017
Priyanka Chopra, who appeared with Puri in 2006 Hindi film Don, shared a picture of the two of them together on her Instagram page.
She wrote that his death marks “the end of an era” and that his “legacy lives on”.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first to share a tribute to Puri, saying: “The Prime Minister condoles the passing away of actor Om Puri & recalls his long career in theatre & films.”
Puri’s death was announced by Bollywood director Ashoke Pandit on Friday, who said that he was “sad and shocked”.
Sad & shocked to know that versatile actor Om Puri jee has expired due to heart attack early morning today. #RIP.
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) January 6, 2017
Puri had won a slew of national awards and international fame for his work in several critically acclaimed films during his prestigious career.
His breakthrough film was the 1983 gritty drama Ardh Satya, or Half Truth, about a young policeman’s crisis of conscience as he deals with the nexus of crime and politics in India.
Puri had a small role in Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi, based on the life of the Indian freedom leader Mohandas Gandhi.
He also acted in several Hollywood films, including City Of Joy, Wolf and Charlie Wilson’s War.
Puri won plaudits for his portrayal of tough but loving Pakistani patriarch George Khan in the 1999 comedy drama East Is East, for which he was nominated for a best actor Bafta. More recently, he starred alongside Dame Helen Mirren in the 2014 comedy The Hundred-Foot Journey.
He appeared in the critically acclaimed television adaptation of White Teeth in 2002 and later reprised his role as George Khan in the 2010 sequel West Is West.
Puri was made an honorary officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to British cinema in 2004.
He will be cremated later on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
