Film and theatre actor Bharat Kapoor, best remembered for his role as the manipulative antagonist in the surprise superhit 'Noorie' (1979) and as the amoral lover in the poignant tragedy 'Bazaar' (1982), died in Mumbai on Monday. He was 80.
Death due to cardiac arrest
Close friend and actor Avatar Gill told news agency PTI, "I got a call from Bharatji's son, Rahul, saying he passed away around 3pm due to cardiac arrest at his home. He was unwell for three days."
Film career
Kapoor worked in several other films including 'Love Story', 'Nakhuda', 'Ghulami', 'Aakhri Raasta' and 'Khuda Gawah'. A first-rate theatre actor, Kapoor's rough, distinctive voice and clear diction made him perfect for supporting roles. He was impressive in the cameo of a Pakistani officer in Chetan Anand's 'Hindustan Ki Kasam' in one of his early films.
The low-budget 'Noorie', a tender love story with memorable compositions by Khayyam, featured fresh faces Farooque Shaikh and Poonam Dhillon in lead roles. As the principal antagonist Basheer Khan, Kapoor imbued the part with a sly menace that viewers remembered for a long time. The film's astounding box office success ensured a steady flow of roles for him, although most were variations of the stereotypical bad guy.
Television work
Kapoor found roles with more heft and length once satellite TV arrived in the early 1990s. 'Tara', 'Campus', 'Paramapara', 'Saans' and 'Amanat' were some of the TV shows where he appeared for weeks or even months. Unfortunately, Bollywood failed to fully utilise his talent.
Legacy
His death was mourned on social media, with fans and colleagues remembering his contributions to Indian cinema and television.
