Oct 022017
 

Thomas Beach Alter, also known as Tom Alter, was a loved figure of the Indian Cinema fraternity and was best known for playing a staunch British Official in many movies. He died earlier this week, after giving us 40 years of uninterrupted and dedicated cinema and he will forever be remembered for some of his prominent roles that we absolutely loved!

From ‘Gandhi’ to ‘Junoon’ to even ‘Shaktiman’, a fine actor to watch on screen and in theatre, he has definitely left a legacy behind with his fine acting skills. The actor sadly passed away after battling stage 4 of cancer.

Here’s a peek into the actor’s versatile acting career and the characters he played, that stuck with us, through time, in these 10 roles in films and television series, respectively!

Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977)

Tom started his Bollywood journey with this Satyajit Ray film. The movie was based on Munshi Premchand’s short story. The film is based on the eve of the 1857 Indian Rebellion and two wealthy Indian men who love to indulge in a game of chess amidst scheming British officials of the East India Company. Tom played  the role of Captain Weston, an aide de camp to General James Outram, a prominent English general who fought the rebellion.

 

Shatranj Ke Khilari Tom Alter(c)Youtube

Des Pardes (1978)

This film was produced and directed by Dev Anand and, as the name suggests, it was a movie about the then social evils plaguing society. Tom Alter plays the role of a police officer by the name of inspector Martin.

 

Des Pards Tom Alter(c) Navketan International Films

Kranti  (1981)

Kranti, directed by Manoj Kumar, featured Tom in the role of a British officer and the movie was set in the 19th century when India was struggling with independence.

Kranti Tom Alter(c)Manoj Kumar Productions

Gandhi (1982)

Playing the role of a doctor who takes care of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi in prison, in the film ‘Gandhi’, Tom Alter did great justice to the character. Even though the role was small, it was noticed by his Indian fans for sure.

 

Gandhi Tom Alter(c)Goldcrest Films

Parinda (1989)

‘Parinda’ is a crime drama film, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and showcases Alter’s role in a different character altogether.  The movie, quite relevant to reality, revolves around the underworld and the life of the people residing in Mumbai. Tom played the role of Musa, a deadly gangster in the city.

 

Parinda Tom Alter(c)Vinod Chopra Productions

Aashiqui (1990)

Alter plays a nasty, stubborn hostel warden who makes Anu Aggarwal’s life miserable! The role was quite meaty and away from all the soft spoken, polite roles he’s ever done!

 

Aashiqui Tom Alter(c)T-Series

Zabaan Sambhal Ke(1993)

In a humerous attempt to learn the Hindi language, Tom Alter joins a Hindi speaking class, held together by Pankaj Kapur. The show was hilarious, and the best version of the British sitcom ‘Mind Your Language’.

 

Zabaan Sambhaal Ke Tom Alter(c)Doordarshan Television Series

Junoon (1994)

Tom Alter played a suave, vile mobster ‘Don Keshav Kalsi’. The oldest and the most popular show on Doordarshan back in the day, Junoon revolved around some glamorous lifestyles and emotionally charged drama.

 

Junoon Tom Alter(c)Cinevistasa Limited

Shaktiman (1997)

A very different role portrayal as ‘Mahaguru’, Tom Alter really proved his worth as a versatile actor in the hit series ‘Shaktiman’. His role required him to be fluent in Sanskrit, that was laced in Hindi and he nailed it to the T! If you remember watching ‘Shaktiman’ as a kid, you will definitely remember Alter’s role.

 

Shaktiman Tom Alter(c)Doordarshan Television Series

Veer-Zaara (2004)

‘Veer-Zaara’, a renowned film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, had a lot of powerful character play. One of Tom Alter’s recent films, he fit into the role of a doctor beautifully.

 

Veer-Zaara Tom Alter(c)Yash Raj Films

 

 

 

 

 

Oct 012017
 

In a career spanning over 4 decades, Tom Alter worked in as many as 56 films. One of the finest actors Hindi cinema ever saw, Tom Alter was excellence redefined. With his demise at the age of 67, Indian cinema has lost a precious gem. As people poured tributes over social media mourning the passing of the legend, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar remember the time he first met Tom Alter. He posted his first interview ever taken and it was by none other than Tom Alter.

Through my first ever TV interview, met a true sports lover and a good human being. You will live in our hearts forever. RIP #TomAlter pic.twitter.com/BJ0fjqaSzM

— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 30, 2017

Dated 19th January 1989, a time when many of us weren’t even born, the interview was taken when Tendulkar was merely 16 years old and was his first ever television interview.

Tom Alter loved sports. He played cricket for a Bollywood team called ‘Match Cut Club’ and co-wrote a book on India’s World Cup triumphs with Ayaz Memon. Not many know this, but Tom Alter worked as a school teacher in Haryana and even became a cricket coach for his students there.

Sachin Tendulkar's Heart-Warming Tribute To Tom Alter Will Bring In A Rush Of Nostalgia & Memories © Facebook/GujBook

He was a man of many talents. Besides being an actor par excellence, he was also a columnist, a director, writer and TV host. A fluent speaker of Hindi and English, he was well-versed with Urdu as well. He was known to recite Urdu poetry and his portrayal of Mirza Ghalib in the play ‘Ghalib’ by Pierrot’s Troups is one of the most memorable acts he has performed.

RIP, sir. 

Sep 302017
 

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the death of veteran theatre and film personality Tom Alter, who passed away in Mumbai after losing his battle with skin cancer.

Ram Nath Kovind
Ram Nath Kovind

“Sad to hear of demise of veteran actor Tom Alter. He will be remembered by film lovers. Condolences to his family,” Kovind tweeted. “The PM (Prime Minister) expressed grief on the demise of Tom Alter and recalled his contribution to the film world and theatre. He extended condolences to the family and admirers,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

Alter was battling stage four skin cancer at a Mumbai hospital, where he was admitted earlier in September. He returned home on Thursday and breathed his last on Friday night. He was 67. In 2008, Alter was honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.

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Sep 162017
 

Tom Alter

Tom Alter was recently diagnosed with cancer. One of his films is garnering rave reviews on the festival circuit.

Also read: Veteran actor Tom Alter suffering from cancer

Alter and Shernaz Patel feature in Bhargav Saikia’s fantasy short, ‘The Black Cat’, based on Ruskin Bond’s story of the same name.

It premiered at FilmQuest in Utah, US, last week. There is also a screening at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival in Guwahati on Sunday.

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