Nirmal Pandey (10 August 1962 – 18 February 2010) was an Indian Bollywood actor who was known for his roles of Vikram Mallah in Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen (1994), and Dajjal in television series Hatim. He portrayed a transvestite in Daayraa (1996) for which he won a Best Actor Valenti award in France. He also appeared in Train To Pakistan (1998) and Godmother (1999).[1][2] He played the role of Kishan Bhatta in Malayalam language film Dubai (2001).
Nirmal Pandey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Rajkumar Pandey 10 August 1962 |
| Died | 18 February 2010 (aged 47) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Spouse(s) | Kausar Munir (1997–2000) Archana Sharma (2005–2010) |
His last film, Lahore, was released on 19 March 2010, a month after his death.
Early life and education
editBorn on 10 August 1962 in a Kumaoni family living in Nainital, then in Uttar Pradesh, Nirmal Pandey was educated at Almora and Nainital. He graduated from the National School of Drama, Delhi.[1][2]
Career
editAfter leaving the National School of Drama he moved to London, with a theater group, Tara, performing plays like Heer Ranjha and Antigone, and acting in around 125 plays.[2]
After doing two small roles, he was first noticed in Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen (1994). He received positive reviews for films like Amol Palekar's Daayra (Square Circle) (1996), Train To Pakistan (1998), Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin and Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain.[3][4] He acted in movies like Laila, Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, One 2 ka 4 and Shikari and in several television serials, including Hatim, and Princess Dollie Aur Uska Magic Bag (2005).
In addition to being an actor, he was a singer, and released the album Jazba in 1999.[5]
In 2002, he directed Andhayug, a Hindi play written by noted playwright Dharamvir Bharati, which follows the 18 days following the Mahabharata war. It has a cast of 70 actors, all of whom belong to Sanvedna, a theatre group started by him in 1994.
Pandey has an acting institute, Fresh Talent Academy, in Ghaziabad,[6] and conducts theatre workshops.[7]
Awards and recognition
editHe holds an unusual record for winning a Best Actor award at the 1997 France's Valenciennes Film Festival for his portrayal of a transvestite in Amol Palekar's Daayraa (1996). He shared the Best Actor award with the female lead, Sonali Kulkarni, at the Valenciennes Film Festival (France, 1997).[8]
In the memory of Nirmal Pandey, Nirmal Pandey Smriti Nyas and Film Festival was established by film and TV director Anil Dubey and film producer, director and social activist Ravindra Chauhan in May 2020. This film festival is organized on Pandey's birthday, 10 August.
Death
editNirmal Pandey died at the age of 47 on 18 February 2010, from a heart attack in Mumbai about six months before his 48th birthday.[9]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Bandit Queen | Vikram Mallah | |
| 1996 | Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin | Aditya | |
| 1996 | Daayraa | The Transvestite | [10] |
| 2008 | Koi Bach Na Payega | ||
| 1997 | Auzaar | Baba | |
| 1998 | Train To Pakistan | Jaggat Singh | |
| 1998 | Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya | Thakur Vijay Singh | |
| 1999 | Jahan Tum Le Chalo | Shantanu Arya | |
| 1999 | Godmother | Jakhra | |
| 1999 | Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain | Dhananjay | |
| 2000 | Hadh Kar Di Aapne | Sanjay | |
| 2000 | Shikari | Veejendra Singh Rawal | |
| 2001 | Dubai | Kishan Batta | Malayalam language film |
| 2001 | One 2 Ka 4 | Krishan Kant Virmani | |
| 2002 | Deewangee | Abhijeet Mehta | |
| 2003 | Aanch | Kirti Thakur | |
| 2003 | Patth | Bhullar | |
| 2005 | Laila | Filmstar | |
| 2008 | Deshdrohi | Nagesh Kulkarni | |
| 2008 | Uladhaal | Tony | |
| 2009 | Mudrank: The Stamp | ||
| 2010 | Kedi | Razzak Bhai | Telugu language film |
| 2010 | Lahore | Anwar Shaikh | Posthumous film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003–2004 | Hatim | Dajjal |
| 2004 | Son Pari | Zarakh |
| 2005 | Kkavyanjali | Navin Nanda |
| 2005 | Princess Dollie Aur Uska Magic Bag | King |
| 2006 | Lucky | Jaggani / Balthazar |
| 2006 | Sssshhh Phir Koi Hai... | Dacait |
| 2008 | Raajkumar Aaryyan | Senapati Bhujang |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Actor Nirmal Pandey dead". Indian Express. 19 February 2010. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ a b c Woh kaun? Nirmal Pandey Indian Express, 23 September 2002.
- ^ Also showing – The Square Circle Amol Palekar The Independent, 12 June 1997.
- ^ "Tale with a telling effect"[usurped] The Hindu, 10 August 2000.
- ^ "Actor Nirmal Pandey releases his debut album Jazba". India Today.
- ^ Coming full circle[dead link] Indian Express, 26 April 2002.
- ^ "Nagpur theatre will rise like Phoenix" The Times of India, Arunav Sinha , TNN, 6 May 2007.
- ^ Lack of funds, infrastructure rob theatre: Nirmal Pandey Archived 10 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Hindu, 27 May 2009.
- ^ "'Bandit Queen' star Nirmal Pandey dead". The Times of India. 19 February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
- ^ "Nirmal Pandey wins best actress award for his portrayal of transvestite in 'Daayra'". India Today. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.