“He Cleaned Dishes, Struggled with Dignity”: Seema Kapoor Recalls Om Puri’s Heartbreaking Final Years

Om Puri’s ex-wife reflects on the late actor’s tragic twilight years, his silent struggles, and the dignity with which he endured rejection, illness, and public judgment.

New Delhi | April 23, 2025
Veteran actor Om Puri, known for his powerful performances and international acclaim, led a life full of quiet struggles—especially in his final decade. In an emotional interview with Galatta India, his ex-wife Seema Kapoor opened up about the pain and hardships the late actor endured, calling his last years “pathetic, tragic, and heartbreaking.”

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Seema and Om Puri were married from 1991 to 1993. Their brief marriage ended when Om admitted to falling in love with someone else. However, the two reconnected later in life, particularly after Om’s health declined and his second marriage collapsed under legal and emotional pressure.

“The last 10 years of his life were very tragic. He didn’t deserve it,” Seema said.
“He had struggled without compromising on his ideals. He cleaned dishes at a dhaba, cycled to school, and still managed to make a name for himself.”

She recalled how Om Puri had no support growing up and faced severe financial hurdles during his admission to FTII. Even after being promised sponsorship, he was left to fend for himself—but he didn’t give up.

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Seema emphasized that Om Puri shouldn’t be remembered only for his personal controversies.

“He was made to go to court and stand beside murderers and rapists. That was deeply unfair. He can’t defend himself now. I forgave him when he apologized—it takes a big heart to do that.”

Om reportedly suffered a paralytic attack during his second marriage, which led him to reach out and seek emotional reconciliation. Seema shared that he had become insecure about growing old alone, and depression added to his physical ailments.

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“He was afraid of how he’d survive in his twilight years. He wasn’t being taken care of, and he turned to pills. It wasn’t manipulation—he was just vulnerable,” she said.

Her brother, actor Annu Kapoor, had warned her that Om might only be looking for a caretaker, but Seema stood by her choice to forgive.

“He deserves sympathy, not criticism. I never maligned him then, and I won’t now,” she asserted.

Om Puri passed away in 2017, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable films such as Ardh Satya, Aakrosh, East Is East, and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. But behind the iconic roles was a man who had fought poverty, rejection, and personal demons with grace—and died yearning for peace.

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