Naidu condoles Om Puri's demise, says major loss for film industry

New Delhi [India], Jan. 6 (ANI): Condoling the demise of veteran actor Om Puri, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said that he was not only a national, but an international star, adding that the former's demise is a big loss for the film industry. "He was not only a national fame but also an international one. He has gained a place for himself in the cinema world. It's is big loss for film industry," he said. "As an individual also, he was one of the finest human being," he added. The 66-year-old versatile actor died of a heart attack at his residence in Mumbai this morning. Puri starred in several award-winning Indian movies and also featured in crossover ventures, was born on October 18, 1950, to a Punjabi family in Ambala, Haryana. The actor, who had more than 100 films to his credits, was also an alumnus of the 1973 class of the National School of Drama (NSD) where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student. He was honoured with Padma Shri and two National Film Awards during his acting career that stretched for more than four decades. (ANI)