Om Puri’s estranged wife opens up about actor’s final night

Om Puri’s death shocked the entire movie industry around the world. The veteran star passed away on Friday morning after suffering from a cardiac arrest. When the police arrived at Puri’s residence in Oshiwara, his body was found lying on the floor, with an injury on his head.

Although the post mortem report suggests Puri did not have a natural death, police had initially ruled out the possibilities of any foul play. Now his driver-friend Khalid Kidwai has given out a statement to the police, which might turn the case completely, reports DNA India. In his statement, Kidwai mentioned that Puri was extremely disturbed the night before he passed away. He said, “Om Puri wanted to meet his son Ishan on Thursday evening. So we (Kidwai and Om Puri) went to Trishul building where his ex-wife Nandita lives with Ishan but were unable to meet them as both Nandita and Ishan had gone for a party.” He further added, “Om Puri then had an argument over the phone with Nandita and asked them to come soon as he wanted to meet his son. He poured a drink in his glass and waited for almost 45 minutes at Nandita’s flat. But when they did not turn up, he took the glass and liquor bottle and started drinking in the car. After finishing the drink, we left.”

Now, his estranged wife Nandita Puri has broken her silence on the entire issue. She has revealed other details of the night before Puri’s death. She said in an interview, “We were supposed to go for Pankaj Kapur’s daughter, Sana, and Pahwa’s son, Mayank’s engagement ceremony. Om called me and by the time we got there, he reached my house. He went up to my mom and said, ‘kya budhia, kyun sadd rahi hai yahan. Tu bhi mere saath swarg chal.’ He was in high spirits. He called me again and said, ‘Tum aur Ishaan jaldi aa jao.’ I told him we’d see him later. When he called me again, I told him, It’s too late; we’ll see you tomorrow.’ Ishaan and I still regret not seeing him that day. Ishaan was going to be with him on January 8,9 and 10 for the shooting of Tubelight, and they were to head to Khandala from there.”

She further added, “We were not divorced and are still legally married. We had a separation. Trishul is his home and my marital home. By the Hindu law, he was allowed one wife. It can be an ex-wife and a current wife. Om had only one wife. He helped his nephews and strangers, but now when his son needs him, he is gone. I’ll miss him terribly because he is a habit. I have spent the longest part of my life with him more than my son or my parents.”

For now it seems that this is not a simple open and shut case.

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