News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 10 years ago
Rediff.com  » Movies » Om Puri: My wife wants to destroy me

Om Puri: My wife wants to destroy me

By Subhash K Jha
August 28, 2013 16:39 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Om PuriVeteran actor Om Puri’s wife Nandita Puri has filed a complaint alleging domestic violence against her husband. She has also alleged that Om is 'absconding.'

However, the actor was quite accessible when we got in touch with him on Monday.

Sounding deeply wounded by the serious allegation, Puri said, “I’ve been shooting the entire day. If Nandita says I am absconding then I am afraid she is speaking of a situation I am not aware of. I have nothing to hide. I don’t need to run away.”

Shocked and embarrassed by the latest in the series of allegations levelled at him by his wife, the actor says, “I don’t even know what domestic violence means because I’ve never indulged in it. I am the victim here, not she. Only I know how I’ve suffered all these years just to safeguard and protect my son Ishaan from the consequences of my broken marriage.”

Enough is enough, he says now.

"I can't take it anymore," he adds. "My wife wants to destroy me. I can’t let her. I have responsibilities towards myself, my son and others who are dependent on me. She thinks she can accuse me of anything and gain sympathy because the laws in this country heavily weigh in favour of women, and rightly so considering the rise in incidents of violence against women in our society. But the same laws are also misused by privileged vengeful wives, who want to destroy their husband’s career and lives.”

Puri says he won’t allow his wife to mess with his reputation anymore. “She accuses me of violence. We don’t even stay in our flat together anymore. I’ve been living in a humble flat for quite some time while she lives like a queen in the terrace flat, the first home that I bought with my hard-earned money. 

"I’ve toiled incessantly for 40 years, given my wife and son the best life possible. And this is what I get in return?"

"I’ve taken the pain and humiliation for our son’s sake but now I’ve reached breaking point. I am shortly calling a press conference to clear my name. I am supposed to travel to Europe in a few days to shoot for my next international project. If this ugly allegation prevents me from traveling for my work then I promise you, there will be hell to pay," he concludes.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Subhash K Jha in Patna