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Om Puri Recalled Naseeruddin Shah's Support During FTII Days
Om Puri once shared how Naseeruddin Shah supported him before his FTII interview with a simple but memorable gesture.
Mumbai, July 5 (IANS) The late actor Om Puri once spoke about how his friend, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has always stood by him. An old video of the actors have resurfaced on the Internet, and it shows Om Puri talking about how it was his friend, who insisted him to join the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune.
In the video, he can be seen talking to Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah. He said, “There were many people in my life who helped me in their own way. My parents only gave birth to me. I was brought up by my friends. One is sitting next to me. He has given me gifts many times. When I went for an interview at the Film Institute, I didn't have a decent shirt. So, he gave me his shirt and asked me to remove the one that I was wearing”.
He further mentioned, “I am indebted to him. I am indebted to him because, Govind Nihalani, Shyam Benegal, I agree that they are my mentors here. But, the push that this guy has given me, if Naseeruddin Shah hadn't pushed me, I wouldn't have reached here today. He told me, ‘You will have to come to the Film Institute. You will have to come’. I told him that I don't have money. I don't even have anything. He said, ‘No, you beg, borrow, steal. But, you have to come to the Film Institute’. These days, you don’t find friendship like this”.
