Satyajeet Puri
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- Born: 25 September 1960 (Bombay)
- Primary Cinema: Hindi
Satyajeet Puri is an actor whose career spans several decades, languages, and formats, beginning from his early years as one of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable child artists to his later work in lead, supporting, and character roles across films and television. Known for his natural screen presence and emotional restraint, Puri transitioned with rare ease from child roles to adult performances, carving out a steady, if understated, career in Hindi, Punjabi, and various regional cinemas. Having worked with some of the most prominent filmmakers and stars of Indian cinema, he remains a figure associated with sincerity, adaptability, and longevity.
Born on 25 September 1960 in Mumbai, Satyajeet Puri came from a family deeply rooted in the performing arts. His father, Daljeet Puri, was a prominent and popular actor in Punjabi cinema who also appeared in several Hindi films. Originally from Sialkot, Daljeet Puri migrated to India after Partition and eventually settled in Darjeeling. Strikingly handsome and an accomplished horse rider, he once landed a role involving a riding sequence in a film, only to famously ride off all the way to Siliguri with the actress during the shoot. Aspiring to become an actor, Daljeet moved from Darjeeling to Calcutta but, since he didn’t know Bengali, he moved to Bombay. There, he was noticed by Suraiya on a film set. Though he did not know Hindi at the time, her recommendation led to his first break in Punjabi cinema. Over time, he learnt Hindi and became a familiar face in stunt and action films. Satyajeet’s mother, Shikha Puri, also known as Ashita Bose, was a prominent actor and singer associated with New Theatres. Satyajeet completed his schooling at Sumati Vidya Kendra and later graduated from Mithibai College. He has a younger sister, Dipali, who is married to actor Puneet Issar.
Satyajeet Puri’s entry into films came at an exceptionally young age. In 1966, filmmaker Satyen Bose was casting for his film Mere Lal (1966), starring Dev Kumar. While searching for a child actor, Bose and Dev Kumar, both acquaintances of Daljeet and Shikha Puri, were drawn to Satyajeet’s screen potential and cast him in the role. His very first shot as a child actor was alongside Mala Sinha, marking an early and auspicious start. This debut opened the doors to a steady stream of work as a child artist throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
However, his major breakthrough came in 1971 with Dev Anand’s Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), where Satyajeet played the younger version of Dev Anand’s character, a performance that brought him wide recognition. The following year proved pivotal for him. In 1972, he appeared in Manoj Kumar’s Shor (1972), followed by Anuraag (1972), directed by Shakti Samanta and starring Vinod Mehra and Moushumi Chatterjee. Satyajeet himself has often acknowledged 1972 as a defining year in his career. He appeared in films like Ganga Tera Pani Amrit (1971), Hari Darshan (1972), Shor (1972), Shaadi Ke Baad (1972), Mere Bhaiya (1972), Samadhi (1972), Baharon Phool Barsao (1972) as a child actor. By the time he transitioned out of child roles, he had acted in nearly 50 films as a child artist, an achievement few have matched. Some of the films were Tyaag (1977), Paheli (1977), Gopal Krishna (1979), Dacait (1987), Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara (1987) and others.
As he matured, Satyajeet Puri successfully moved into adult roles. He was cast in a lead role by Tarachand Barjatya in Paheli (1977), opposite Namita Chandra, marking a significant step in his career as a leading man. Over the years, he appeared in films such as Fateh (1991) and Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara (1987), while also taking on notable supporting roles in major commercial successes like Arjun (1985), Khoon Bhari Maang (1988), and Shola Aur Shabnam (1992). Beyond Hindi and Punjabi cinema, he worked extensively in regional films, including Marathi, Gujarati, and Rajasthani productions. Expanding his creative pursuits further, Satyajeet also ventured into television and the web space, where he has produced and directed several shows.
Satyajeet Puri married Rita on 4 July 1984. The couple has two children - a son, Shivansh, and a daughter, Vedantika.
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Filmography (33)
SortRole
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Dulaara 1994
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Fateh 1991
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Hathyar 1989
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Khoon Bhari Maang 1988
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Bhatakti Jawani 1988
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Dacait 1987
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Anadi Khiladi 1986
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Arjun 1985
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Paheli 1977
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Chacha Bhatija 1977
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Jai Mata Dee 1977
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