Robert John Christo, was an Australian–Indian civil engineer and actor in Hindi films. Starting with Sanjay Khan's Abdullah (1980), he went on to act in over 200 Hindi films in the 1980s and 1990s, including Qurbani (1980), Kaalia (1981), Nastik (1983), Mard (1985), Mr India (1987), Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993) and Gumraah (1993), mostly playing roles as a non-Indian henchman or Army General.[1][2]
Bob Christo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Robert John Christo 1938 Sydney, Australia |
| Died | 20 March 2011 (aged 72) Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1980–2003 |
Career
editBorn in Sydney, Christo was a qualified civil engineer of Greek and German descent.[3][4] He had two brothers, Helmut and Mike.[2] Known for his brawny physique and bald-headed look, Bob arrived in Bombay, India while awaiting a work permit to Muscat, Oman.[1] It was in Mumbai that he was introduced to Bollywood actress Parveen Babi,[2] who helped him transition into Hindi films.
He received his first break when he constructed the jungle palace for Francis Ford Coppola in Apocalypse Now.[5] And later as a villain in the Hindi movie Abdullah in 1980. Christo decided to stay in India and appeared in over 200 movies in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, playing a recurring typecast villain.[6]
Sanjay Khan discovered him and gave him his first break in his movie Abdullah as the villain, and also after many years, Sanjay Khan gave him a break, firstly in Magnum Opus “The Sword of Tipu Sultan” and then in the, The Great Maratha, where he played the iconic character of Ahmed Shah Abdali.
During the later stages of his life, he relocated to Bangalore in early 2000, where he started working as a Yoga instructor[7] and remained disconnected from the Hindi movie industry since 2003.
Death
editThe 72-year-old actor died of "rupture of left ventricle valve" in Bangalore on 20 March 2011. He is survived by his wife Nargis and two sons, Darius and Sunil. He has two daughters, Monique and Nicole from a previous marriage.[4][8]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan | Roberts | Hindi | |
| The Wild Geese | Body double | English | Uncredited | |
| 1979 | Pehredaar | Hindi | ||
| 1980 | Qurbani | Hindi | ||
| Cobra | Bob Christo | Hindi | ||
| Bebbuli[9] | Bob Christo | Telugu | ||
| Abdullah | Magician | Hindi | ||
| 1981 | Sankharsham | Malayalam | ||
| Kaalia | Michael | Hindi | ||
| Kalkut | Hindi | |||
| 1982 | Prohari | Hindi | ||
| Ustadi Ustad Se | Prem's associated | Hindi | ||
| Namak Halaal | Hitman | Hindi | ||
| Ashanti | Sampat's Man | Hindi | ||
| Star | Samson | Hindi | ||
| Disco Dancer | International Hit-man | Hindi | ||
| Main Intequam Loonga | Anthony | Hindi | ||
| Sharaabi Nar | Hindi | |||
| Bobbili Puli | Telugu | |||
| 1983 | Taqdeer | Gangster | Hindi | |
| Nastik | Hindi | |||
| Jaani Dost | Cobra's Goon | Hindi | ||
| Naukar Biwi Ka | Rustom | Hindi | ||
| Hum Se Hai Zamana | Hindi | |||
| Haadsa | Abductor | Hindi | ||
| Bekhabar | Hindi | |||
| 1984 | Boxer | Hindi | ||
| Sharaabi | Ruffian #3 | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| Insaaf Kaun Karega | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Raaj Tilak | Combatant in arena | Hindi | ||
| Jagir | Bandit | Hindi | ||
| Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki | Udaybhan's Assistant | Hindi | ||
| Sharara | Hindi | |||
| Raja Aur Rana | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Sardar[10] | Pavana Murthy's Goon | Telugu | ||
| 1985 | Karm Yudh | Hindi | ||
| Sarfarosh | British Man | Hindi | ||
| Baadal | Hindi | |||
| Telephone | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Geraftaar | Ram | Hindi | ||
| Mard | Simon | Hindi | ||
| Insaaf Main Karoonga | Commander Bob | Hindi | ||
| Yaar Kasam | Hindi | |||
| Kali Basti | Bob Jackson | Hindi | ||
| Haveli | Runaway prisoner English man | Hindi | ||
| Kaakki Sattai | Tamil | |||
| Jeevante Jeevan | Boxer Bob Christo | Malayalam | ||
| 1986 | Viduthalai | Tamil | ||
| Badle Ki Jwala | Hindi | |||
| Amma | British Colonel | Hindi | ||
| Prathyekam Sradhikkukka | Christopher | Malayalam | ||
| Kala Dhanda Goray Log | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Nasihat | Hindi | |||
| Allah Rakha | Don | Hindi | ||
| Avinash | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Palay Khan | British Officer | Hindi | ||
| Chanakya Sapadham[11] | Nero, Diamonds Smuggler | Telugu | ||
| Hello My Dear Wrong Number | Bob | Malayalam | ||
| 1987 | Kadhal Parisu | Tamil | ||
| Hukumat | DBDN's English Friend | Hindi | ||
| Mr. India | Mr. Wolcott | Hindi | ||
| Hiraasat | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Uttar Dakshin | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Superman | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Jayasimha | Foreign Smuggler | Kannada | ||
| Cooliekkaran | Tamil | |||
| 1988 | Commando | Marcelloni's Henchman | Hindi | |
| Bloodstone | Haggerty | English | ||
| Paanch Fauladi | Seth Englishman | Hindi | ||
| Mera Shikar | Hindi | |||
| Mar Mitenge | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Aryan | Malayalam | |||
| Aakhri Adaalat | Hindi | |||
| 1989 | Ustaad | Bob[12] | Hindi | |
| Paanch Paapi[13] | Hindi | |||
| Guru | Bandit | Hindi | ||
| Vardi | Himself | Hindi | ||
| Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá | Henchman | Hindi | ||
| Farz Ki Jung | Mr. Barker | Hindi | ||
| Kanoon Ki Awaaz | Hindi | |||
| Dost | Hindi | |||
| Toofan | Goodmark, Gold Smuggler | Hindi | ||
| Jaadugar | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Siva | Tamil | |||
| Desh Ke Dushman | Inspector Bob | Hindi | ||
| Hongkongnalli Agent Amar[14] | Kannada | |||
| Shehzaade | Bob | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| Apna Desh Praye Log | Swami's Goon | Hindi | ||
| Sachai Ki Taqat | Hindi | |||
| Love Love Love | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Dav Pech | Gambler | Hindi | ||
| Aakhri Muqabla | Tiger / Shola / Shaitan | Hindi | ||
| Gharana | Shiekh, Diamond Merchant | Hindi | ||
| Elaan-E-Jung | Kalanaag Henchman | Hindi | ||
| Meri Garmi | Hindi | |||
| 1990 | Maut Se Mukabala | Hindi | ||
| Taqdeer Ka Tamasha | Shooter George | Hindi | ||
| Zahreelay | Massena | Hindi | ||
| Agneepath | Gora | Hindi | ||
| Gunahon Ka Devta | Hindi | |||
| Doodh Ka Karz | Engrez Master 'Gora' | Hindi | ||
| Zimmedaaar | Man who beat up the press editor | Hindi | ||
| Roti Kee Keemat | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Maula Jatt | Punjabi | |||
| Dushman | Sadashiv's aide | Hindi | ||
| Atishbaz | Michael | Hindi | ||
| Athisaya Piravi | Goon | Tamil | Uncredited | |
| Aag Ka Gola | Natwar's Man Baldy | Hindi | ||
| 1991 | Saugandh | Killer | Hindi | |
| Vishnu-Devaa | Bald Fighter | Hindi | ||
| Yodha | Christo | Hindi | ||
| Farishtay | Terrorist Bob | Hindi | ||
| Numbri Aadmi | Don | Hindi | ||
| Kaun Kare Kurbanie | Goon | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| Jungle Beauty | Jumbo | English | ||
| Fateh | Hindi | |||
| 1992 | Mr. Bond | Bob | Hindi | |
| Tahalka | Captain Richard | Hindi | ||
| Humshakal | Rapist | Hindi | ||
| Deedar | Goon | Hindi | ||
| Sone Ki Lanka | Hindi | |||
| Dil Aashna Hai | Goverdhan's man | Hindi | ||
| Tirangaa | Hindi | |||
| Saali Adhe Gharwali | Peter | Hindi | ||
| 1993 | Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja | Mr. Donze | Hindi | |
| Phool Aur Angaar | Mr Richard | Hindi | ||
| Gumrah | Male cop in Hong Kong | Hindi | ||
| Hum Hain Kamaal Ke | English Diamond Dealer | Hindi | ||
| Aadmi | John | Hindi | ||
| Tahqiqaat | Goon | Hindi | ||
| Aulad Ke Dushman | Rexon Warner | Hindi | ||
| Aankhen | Tejeshwar's Henchman | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| 1994 | Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya | Hindi | ||
| Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Pathreela Raasta | Hindi | |||
| Aaja Re O Sajana | Hindi | |||
| 1995 | Jawab | Sobhraj's goon | Hindi | |
| Paandav | Hindi | |||
| Jai Vikraanta | Hindi | |||
| Prem | British Officer | Hindi | ||
| Sarhad: The Border of Crime | Hindi | |||
| Kismat | Charlie | Hindi | ||
| 1996 | Zordaar | John | Hindi | |
| Ram Aur Shyam | Hindi | |||
| 1997 | Agnichakra | Hindi | ||
| Gupt: The Hidden Truth | Boat organiser | Hindi | ||
| Dhaal | Hindi | |||
| 1998 | Kalicharan | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain | Hindi | ||
| Nyaydaata | B.C. | Hindi | ||
| 2001 | Kasam | John | Hindi | |
| Veer Savarkar | William Hutt Curzon Wyllie | Hindi | ||
| 2004 | Rose Thorn | English | ||
| 2016 | Aman Ke Farishtey | Hindi | (final film role) |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Sword of Tipu Sultan | General Matthews | Hindi |
| 1994 | The Great Maratha | Ahmed Shah Abdali | Hindi |
| The Indian Trunk | French | ||
| La Nouvelle Malle des Indes | Le major aka Wettlauf nach Bombay West Germany | French |
Works
edit- Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond, by Bob Christo. Penguin India, 2011. ISBN 0143414623.
See also
edit.svg){kind=small}
References
edit- ^ a b "Veteran film actor Bob Christo no more". Deccan Herald. Bangalore. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ a b c Dubey, Bharati (21 March 2011). "Actor Bob Christo passes away". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ Gupta, Gargi. "The passions of Christo". Business Standards. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ a b Christo, Bob (2011). Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 9788184755114. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Gianani, Kareena N. (27 March 2011). "'I loved playing the white baddie: Bob Christo". DNA India. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Actor Bob Christo dead". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ Kumar, Mala (10 May 2004). "BAD BOY makes it good". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2006.
- ^ "Actor Bob Christo dead". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ Bebbuli Telugu Full Length Movie | Krishnam Raju | Sujatha | Jaggaiah @skyvideostelugu, 16 January 2018, retrieved 18 January 2024
- ^ "Sardar (1984)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Chanakya Sapadam (1986)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Ustaad (1989)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ "Paanch Paapi (1989) Cast – Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "Hongkongnalli Agent Amar (1989) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew".
External links
edit- Bob Christo at IMDb