Om Puri's last days were tragic, reveals his ex-wife Seema Kapoor, says, "he would take pills and..."

Om Puri's last days were tragic, reveals his ex-wife Seema Kapoor, says, "he would take pills and..."

Late actor Om Puri’s ex-wife, Seema Kapoor, has opened up about the final years of the veteran actor's life, describing them as “pathetic, tragic, heartbreaking.” In a heartfelt interview with Galatta India, Seema reflected on the immense personal and professional hardships that Om Puri endured during his twilight years—struggles that she believes were far too harsh for a man of his stature and legacy.

“The last 10 years of his life were very tragic. He didn’t deserve it,” Seema said. “He had worked so hard in his life. He had struggled without compromising on his ideals.” She recalled the immense adversity Om Puri overcame in his youth, painting a picture of resilience. “He never had any support in his youth. He would cycle to school, he cleaned dishes in a dhaba. Somehow, someone promised to pay his fees when he was admitted to the FTII, and then, at the last moment, they backed out. And yet he managed to pull through, and he eventually made a name for himself internationally.”

Om Puri and Seema Kapoor were married from 1991 to 1993, a relationship that ended when Puri confessed he had fallen for another woman. Despite the painful end to their marriage, Seema chose not to vilify him publicly and stood by her decision to forgive him when he sought reconciliation in his later years. “He can’t even defend himself now. I never made our relationship troubles public. I left him. And I chose to forgive him when he apologised. It takes a large heart to apologise. If I didn’t slander him then, why should I slander him now?”

As Om Puri battled health issues during his second marriage, he reconnected with Seema, which marked a turning point in their dynamic. “He suffered a paralytic attack, and that’s what brought us back into contact,” she said. Reflecting on his vulnerability and depression, Seema shared, “When he recovered, he told me that he was insecure about how he’d survive his twilight years, because he wasn’t being taken care of. My brother, Annu Kapoor, warned me to be careful, and that he was only looking for someone to look after him like a nurse. Because of his poor health, he became depressed, and he would take pills for it.”

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For Seema, the pain wasn’t just in his physical suffering but also in the indignities he endured publicly and legally. “He was made to go to court, and made to rub shoulders with murderers and rapists. Imagine what he must have gone through,” she lamented. Emphasizing that Om Puri wasn’t a manipulative or cunning man, she added, “He deserves sympathy, not criticism. What he went through in the final 10 years of his life was pathetic, tragic, heartbreaking.”

Her words serve as a poignant reminder of the quiet suffering many face behind their public personas. In remembering Om Puri, Seema Kapoor hopes the world will choose compassion over judgment.