FINE ACTOR & GOOD HUMAN BEING! 

Veteran Actor of Film, TV & Stage..Tom Alter at last left the stage of this world!

American descent Tom Alter was a gold medallist of acting in that time 'Film Institute of India' at Pune. He appeared on Hindi screen in 1975.

He soon acted as Capt. Weston in great filmmaker Satyajit Ray's Urdu film 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi' (1977). After that he played such British officer roles in films like Manoj Kumar's 'Kranti' (1981)..But this (foreign) actor always loved our country India!

Tom Alter in 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi' (1977).

He played different kind of roles in films here like in 'RK's 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' (1985) & with Amitabh Bachchan in Vikram Bhatt's 'Aetbaar' (2004). He also acted in regional films like Assamese 'Adajya' (1996).

He also worked in English films like historical epic 'One Night with the King' (2006) in which he portraited King Saul! Apart from this he also acted in Television serials like 'Khamosh sa Afsana' and this year he did last 'Rishton Ka Chakravyuh'!

I remember meetings with Tom Alter at FTII, Pune..In first meeting I started talking with him in English; but kindly puting his hand on my shoulder he made that conversation in Hindi..He was fluent in Urdu-Hindi!

Tom Alter in a role of Poet Ghalib!

After that I saw his performances live there..in one stage play he portraited great Poet Ghalib and then in another play..Mahatma Gandhi!

Tom Alter in a role of Mahatma Gandhi!

I think he was a strong believer in Secularism!!

He was honoured with 'Padmashri' by our Government of India'!

My humble homage to him!!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti',Pune]