Team
Nandita Puri
Nandita Puri is an author, journalist, Tedx speaker and the wife of late Om Puri. Apart from being a regular columnist with Mid-Day and Dhainik Bhaskar, she has been on the script committee of NFDC (National Film Development Committee) and CFSI (Children’s Film Society of India).
Amongst her books, her biography, Unlikely Hero : Om Puri, is a best seller having been translated into several languages. Her collection of short stories Nine On Nine, has been critically acclaimed and has been in the curriculum of Denmark University. Her work has been included in the Sahetya Akademi anthology of Indian writers.
Her latest book, Project Jennifer – One Woman, Two Continents and a Truth Called Child Trafficking
, published this year deals with international child trafficking and intercountry adoption based on a true story.
In 2017, Nandita launched the Om Puri Foundation at the 70th Cannes Film Festival at the BFI (British Film Institute) pavilion. The idea behind the Foundation was to carry forward the legacy and the philosophy of her husband, Om Puri.
Our Founder
Nandita Puri is an author, journalist, Tedx speaker and the wife of late Om Puri. Apart from being a regular columnist with Mid-Day and Dhainik Bhaskar, she has been on the script committee of NFDC (National Film Development Committee) and CFSI (Children’s Film Society of India).
Amongst her books, her biography, Unlikely Hero : Om Puri, is a best seller having been translated into several languages. Her collection of short stories Nine On Nine, has been critically acclaimed and has been in the curriculum of Denmark University. Her work has been included in the Sahetya Akademi anthology of Indian writers.
Her latest book, Project Jennifer – One Woman, Two Continents and a Truth Called Child Trafficking
, published this year deals with international child trafficking and intercountry adoption based on a true story.
In 2017, Nandita launched the Om Puri Foundation at the 70th Cannes Film Festival at the BFI (British Film Institute) pavilion. The idea behind the Foundation was to carry forward the legacy and the philosophy of her husband, Om Puri.
Our Trustees
Ishaan Puri
Ishaan Puri is a graduate of LSE (London School of Economics) in Business Studies and a world topper in Development Management. He is also pursuing his interest in acting and filmmaking, having learnt under the aegis of Raell Padamsee’s ACE, David Lee Strasberg of Lee Strasberg School and has been mentored under his father, Om Puri.
Kabir Khan
Indian Film Director, Cinematographer, Screenwriter, Producer.
A successful documentary filmmaker, Kabir has directed several blockbuster feature films; Bajrangi Bhaijaan, New York, Ek Tha Tiger, Tubelight to name a few. His film Bajrangi Bhaijaan has won several National Film and Filmfare Awards. His latest release is, ’83 on India’s World Cup win.
Bittu Sahgal
An environmental activist and writer
Founding editor of Sanctuary Asia, a wildlife and ecology magazine.
Founder of Sanctuary Nature Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that works on environmental policy, advocacy, science, on-ground support and habitat management.
Our Advisors
Shyam Benegal
Renowned Indian Director and Screenwriter, Shyam Benegal is best known for his work in alternate cinema and is often hailed as one of the pioneers of the great Indian parallel cinema moment. A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient, he has also been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and has won the National Film Award seven times. Nishant, Manthan, Susman, The Making Of The Mahatma, Ankur, Bhumika, Mandi, Arohan and as recently as Sajjanpur are a few of his vast repertoire of award-winning films. He also directed the 52 episodes serial for television, Bharat Ek Khoj, based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India. Amongst two of his well-known biopics, are Bose and Nehru.
A mentor and guide to Om Puri whom the latter fondly nicknamed his encyclopedia Shyam Benegal has been instrumental in starting the Om Puri Foundation.
Govind Nihalani
Govind Nihalani is an Indian Film Director, Cinematographer and Screenwriter. He has been a recipient of Padma Shri, six National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards. He is best known for his work in Ardh Satya, Aakrosh, Party, Aghaath, Dev and Dhrokal. He has been responsible for creating the persona of Om Puri on screen. Nihalani was the second unit director of Richard Attenborough’s Academy award-winning, Gandhi and was the director of an immensely popular television serial, Tamas on dealing with the partition of India.
Late Girish Karnad
Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Rhodes Scholar who predominantly worked in South Indian Cinema and Bollywood.
He was conferred the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan for his work in literature. He is also the recipient of Jnanapith Award and Kalidas Award. He also won several National and Filmfare awards as well as Karnataka State Film Awards. It was through his effort that Om Puri got admission to the Film and Television Institute of India. Girish Karnad passed away in June 2019 but was the guiding light and Founding member of the Om Puri Foundation.
Our Team
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Advocate Adnan Shaikh
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Ananth Narayan Mahadevan
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Annup Sonii
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Atul Tiwari
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Devika Bahl
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Dhwani Shah
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Dr Kavita Bajpai
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Major Mohammed Ali Shah
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Mohsin Afroz Khan
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Pezan Charna
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Rajesh M Iyer
Advocate Adnan Shaikh
Advocate Adnan Shaikh is a legal strategist at Om Puri Foundation. He has worked in television and allied media though, by qualification he is a B.E.MECH/L.L.B.He is an expert in media laws and has a company, ZEN JURISTS.
Ananth Narayan Mahadevan
Ananth Mahadevan is a film, television and theatre actor-writer-director for 38 years. He is the recipient of National Film Awards for his films, Sindutai Sapkal and Mai Ghat. He acted in popular television serials like Ghar Jamai, Ados Pados and The Sword Of Tipu Sultan. He has just published Once Upon A Prime Time, an autobiographical recounting of the story of Indian television.
Annup Sonii
Annup Sonii is a graduate from NSD ( National School of Drama )for whom acting is a passion. Having featured in many films and serials, Annup Sonii is the face of Crime Patrol, the most popular Indian television series on crime. Amongst the films, he has acted in Apaharan, Gangajal and Fiza. He has also acted in the popular television serial Balika Badhu. Recipient of many awards, Sonii was awarded the Om Puri Award for the Common Man in Cinema at the 2020 Riff (Rajasthan International Film Festival).
Atul Tiwari
Atul Tiwari, a former student of the National School of Drama, is a theatre director-playwright by passion, film writer by profession, an actor accidentally and a museum- maker incidentally. He has written films like Benegal’s Bose and Kamal Hasan’s Vishwarupam 1 and 2. Amongst the films he has acted in are 3 Idiots and Mulk. He also does a dozen other things to keep him busy.
Devika Bahl
Devika Bahl is a Content Creator – Producer – Social & Behavioural Change Specialist. She has spearheaded several path-breaking and award-winning drama series and collaborated with many international organizations like the UNICEF, WHO, BBC Media Action, Development Media International, Gere Foundation on high impact projects.
Dhwani Shah
Dhwani Shah is a young enterprising student, studying commerce. As a student, she has volunteered to contribute her time towards Om Puri Foundation efforts.
Dr Kavita Bajpai
Dr Kavita Bajpai is an educationist, entrepreneur, and heritage lover who is passionate about creating awareness about Indian Heritage, culture and upliftment of artisans.
Major Mohammed Ali Shah
Major Mohammed Ali Shah is an ex-army veteran, defence analyst, a motivational and Tedx speaker and an actor having acted in films like Haider, Agent Vinod,Vodka Diaries and recently released Yaara.
Mohsin Afroz Khan
Mohsin Khan is a television actor and popular show host. He is a food blogger and creator on YouTube and Facebook with more than 200k @mykindofproductions.
Pezan Charna
A young Entrepreneur who started at a young age of 13 years, wherein he developed the first website. It’s been a long enriching journey of 12 years. His speciality is designing unique websites and is also a certified Oracle Professional Associate.
Rajesh M Iyer
A media professional for over two decades Rajesh M Iyer is a storyteller and an author and has been part of Magna, MacMillan India and Amar Chitra Katha as CEO. He has authored several books: Tales of Little Krishna & Valiant Warriors, the Amazon India best seller, Evading The Shadows and more recently, The Mind Whisperer.