Omkar Das Manikpuri (born 5 August 1970) is an Indian stage and film actor. He is a native of Brindanagarm (Chhattisgarh) and has been a member of folk-theatre doyen Habib Tanvir's, Naya Theatre company for several years. Manikpuri made his Hindi film debut as a lead in Aamir Khan productions' Peepli Live in 2010.[1][2]

Omkar Das Manikpuri
Omkar Das Manikpuri as Charandas Chor play at Bharat Bhavan Bhopal
Born (1970-08-05) 5 August 1970 (age 54)
Brindanagar, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh,
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present
Charandas Chor Play at Bharat Bhavan Bhopal

Early life

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Manikpuri was born and brought up in a village near Bhilai in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh where he attended school until fifth grade when the death of his father forced him to join a village folk-theatre troupe, mandali. He shifted to Brindanagar (Ward No. 20) in Bhilai in 1981.[3][4]

Career

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Manikpuri started his career at the age of 17, as a performer in the local form of folk theatre called Nacha and joined an itinerant village theatre group.[1] Performing often in makeshift and open air stages, he performed as a singer, dancer, mimic and a stand-up comic. Later he joined Naya Theatre which was founded by Habib Tanvir in Bhopal. With the Naya Theatre he has performed, in India and abroad, classics such as Agra Bazaar, Charandas Chor, Kamdev ka Apna Basant Ritu ka Sapna and Sadak.[4][5] It was during a performance of the popular play Charandas Chor in Bhopal, that he was noticed by Anusha Rizvi and Mahmood Farooqui, the co-directors of the film, which led to him auditioning for the film in Bhopal.[4][clarification needed]

In 2010, Manikpuri made his film debut in Bollywood with Aamir Khan productions' Peepli Live, in which he played the lead.[2] Initially he had auditioned for the minor role of Machua, but later was given the lead of Natha, which was till then reportedly to be played by Aamir Khan.[6] In 2014, he performed in Ebn-E-Batuta, directed by Varun Middha.[7] Beginning in 2015, he played Jagannath in the television series Santoshi Maa. In 2017, he performed in the Rajasthani language film Taawdo The Sunlight, he also acted in bollywood film Newton. In 2019, he acted in the Malayalam film Unda alongside Mammootty.[8]

In 2023 released Red Chillies Entertainments' (Atlee directorial and Shah Rukh Khan starrer) Jawan, Manikpuri played Leher Khan's father, a Dalit farmer and a loving father who is unable to repay a loan and ultimately hangs himself to aid his daughter's education through the suicide-compensation amount provided by the government, similar to his character from Peepli Live.

Personal life

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Manikpuri's seven-member family lives in Bhilai's Brindanagar area (Ward no. 20).[4][5]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
as 
2024 Gauraiya Live Rampal
Bengal 1947
2023 Mission Raniganj Bishu
Tumse Na Ho Payega Birju Chaiwala
Jawan Kalki's Father,

A Dalit Farmer

Hindi Film
Bheed
2022 Bhulan the Maze
Srinagar
2021 Sweeper: Service to Humanity Peon
Three Sisters and A Dream
Aao Khelein Gilli Danda
Safaibaaz - The Scavenger Lalan
2020 Pakshi Shepherd
13 Tribute of Love Amerika
Pyar Mein Thoda Twist Dhaniram
2019 The Wayfarers
Unda Kunalchand Malayalam film
Chaturnath Chaturnath
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai? Village man
Hu Narendra Modi Banva Mangu Chu
2018 Lakshksha Lakshksha Short film
Task
Gaon Shambhu
2017 Phir Aaya Satte Pe Satta Kalya
Taawdo the Sunlight Ganglo naai
Newton Lakhma
2015 India's Daughter Documentary film
Bumper Draw Sunderlal
2014 Pizza Sadhu
Munna Mange Memsaab Munna
2013 Monsoon Shootout Taxi driver
2012 Aalaap
Qasam Se Qasam Se
Ab Hoga Dharna Unlimited
2010 Peepli Live Nathadas Manikpuri Debut film

References

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  1. ^ a b "Aamir wanted to play Natha". The Times of India. 13 August 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Anusha will give complex to many directors: Aamir". NDTV. 3 July 2010.
  3. ^ "The making of an actor". Sify. 14 August 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d "Rustic Roots". Indian Express. 10 August 2010.
  5. ^ a b "His Life Was The Method". Outlook. 9 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Yours Rurally, Natha: Omkar Das Manikpuri". Yahoo! Movies.
  7. ^ "Ebn-e-Batuta Movie: Review | Release Date | Songs | Music | Images | Official Trailers | Videos | Photos | News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014.
  8. ^ Sarath Ramesh Kuniyl (June 14, 2019). "Unda movie review: This Mammootty-starrer is a police story with a difference". The Week. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
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