Lights, camera, action? Mogambo khush hua!

Creativity, they say, is its own inspiration... and fosters fertile imagination with ageless grace. Such is the creative spirit which has guided actor Amrish Puri throughout his life. Now 70 years young, the Mogambo of moviedom yearns to add to many more years of fruitful work to his celluloid career.
"I am often surprised by the thought that I am experiencing the 71st year of my life," says Puri, "I still need atleast 50 more years to complete the many things which I intend to do. In fact, my hands are full at the moment." The man betrays an enthusiasm which would put many to shame — not least of all, those in Bollywood.
In the pipeline for Puri are Rishtey, which is slated for release on December 6 and sees him playing father to Karisma Kapoor; The Hero; Sanghaar and Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya. In between writing his memoirs, Amrish Puri is as busy as busy can be. "I am always short of time," he says with a chuckle, "For an actor, age is important only as far as looks are concerned. But I can play any character between 40 and 80. The situation keeps changing. So, my reel age and real age are always competing with each other."
For a man who has four grandchildren and started acting after 20 years of government service, Puri''s youthfulness belies his age. "I enjoy working with the young breed of actors as much as I do with my more senior colleagues," he offers, "For me, each film is a new experience. Even if it means acting with the same set of people, there is always something special about the process of film-making. But one thing I have noticed is that although the new generation is upbeat and sincere, it lacks proper training."
A Bollywood veteran in the true sense of the term, Puri concedes that, despite having so much to look forward to in life, he always nurses a feeling of regret. "I believe that I could have been better. Whenever I see my earlier films, I feel I could have put in better performances. The fact is that I have always wanted to be the best," he explains.
Perhaps, it is this quest for excellence which has helped Puri''s popularity cross countries and cultures. "When I was in New York recently, a young Pakistani asked me to wait for a while. Baffled, I didn''t know what to do — but he was soon back with a newly purchased camera and clicked my photograph. I was really touched. This is the kind of high which keeps the actor in me going."
Like always, there is a spring in his step. And, with satisfaction written all over his face, Amrish Puri lends a language of expression to his happiness. The secret is out. Yes, it takes appreciation to make Mogambo khush!
sanghitasingh@indiatimes.com