Om Puri’s ex-wife Seema Kapoor recounts his tragic last days
Om Puri’s ex-wife Seema Kapoor recounts his tragic last days
Late actor Om Puri’s
ex-wife Seema Kapoor, recounted the final years of the veteran actor’s life, describing them as “pathetic, tragic, heartbreaking.”
In a recent heartfelt interview with the Media, Seema elaborated on the highly personal and professional hardships that Om Puri endured in the midst of his twilight years—struggles that she believes were far too harsh for a man of his stature and legacy.
Adding that the last 10 years of his life were very tragic. He didn’t deserve it,” Seema said. He had worked so hard in his life, struggled sans compromising on his ideals.” She recalled the immense adversity Om Puri overcame in his youth, painting a picture of resilience. “He never had any support in his youth. He would cycle to school, he cleaned dishes in a dhaba. Somehow, someone promised to pay his fees when he was admitted to the FTII, and then, at the last moment, they backed out. And yet he managed to pull through, and he eventually made a name for himself internationally.”
Om Puri and Seema Kapoor married in 1991 and in 1993, a relationship that ended when Puri confessed he had fallen for another woman. Notwithstanding the painful end to their marriage, Seema chose not to vilify him publicly and stood by her decision to forgive him when he sought reconciliation in his later years. “He can’t even defend himself now. She never made their relationship troubles public. She left him and chose to forgive him when he apologised. It takes a large heart to apologise. If she didn’t slander him then, why should she slander him now?”
As Om Puri battled health issues amidst his second marriage, he reconnected with Seema, which marked a turning point in their dynamic. “He suffered a paralytic attack, and that’s what brought us back into contact,” she said. Reflecting on his vulnerability and depression, Seema shared, “When he recovered, he told her that he was insecure about how he’d survive his twilight years, because he wasn’t being taken care of. Her brother, Annu Kapoor, warned her to be careful, and that he was only looking for someone to look after him like a nurse. Because of his poor health, he became depressed, and he would take pills for it.”
For Seema, the pain wasn’t just in his physical suffering but also in the indignities he endured publicly and legally. Om Puri was made to go to court, and made to rub shoulders with murderers and rapists. Imagine what he must have gone through,” she lamented. Emphasizing that Om Puri wasn’t a manipulative or cunning man, she added, “He deserves sympathy, not criticism. What he went through in the final 10 years of his life was pathetic, tragic, heartbreaking.”
News Edit KV Raman
