Nirmal Pandey

Nirmal Pandey (10 August 1962 – 18 February 2010) was an Indian Bollywood actor who was known for his roles of Vikram Mallah in Shekhar Kapur's '' Bandit Queen'' (1994), and Dajjal in television series ''Hatim''. He portrayed a transvestite in '' Daayraa'' (1996) for which he won a Best Actor Valenti award in France. He also appeared in '' Train To Pakistan'' (1998) and '' Godmother'' (1999).Woh kaun? Nirmal Pandey
''Indian Express'', 23 September 2002. He played the role of Kishan Bhatta in Malayalam language film ''Dubai (2001)''.

His last film, ''Lahore'', was released on 19 March 2010, a month after his death.

Early life and education

Born on 10 August 1962 in a Kumaoni family living in Nainital, then in Uttar Pradesh, Nirmal Pandey was educated at Almora and Nainital. He graduated from the National School of Drama, Delhi.

Career

After leaving the National School of Drama he moved to London, with a theater group, Tara, performing plays like ''Heer Ranjha'' and ''Antigone'', and acting in around 125 plays.

After doing two small roles, he was first noticed in Shekhar Kapur's '' Bandit Queen'' (1994). He received positive reviews for films like Amol Palekar's ''Daayra'' (Square Circle) (1996), '' Train To Pakistan'' (1998), '' Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin'' and '' Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain''. He acted in movies like ''Laila'', ''Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya'', ''One 2 ka 4'' and ''Shikari'' and in several television serials, including ''Hatim'', and ''Princess Dollie Aur Uska Magic Bag'' (2005).

In addition to being an actor, he was a singer, and released the album ''Jazba'' in 1999.

In 2002, he directed ''Andhayug'', a Hindi play written by noted playwright Dharamvir Bharati, which follows the 18 days following the Mahabharata war. It had a cast of 70 actors, all of whom belonged to Sanvedna, a theatre group started by him in 1994.

Pandey had an acting institute, Fresh Talent Academy, in Ghaziabad, where he conducted theatre workshops.

Awards and recognition

He holds an unusual record for winning a Best Actor award at the 1997 France's Valenciennes Film Festival for his portrayal of a transvestite in Amol Palekar's '' Daayraa'' (1996). He shared the Best Actor award with the female lead, Sonali Kulkarni, at the Valenciennes Film Festival (France, 1997).

Film Festival

In the memory of Nirmal Pandey, Nirmal Pandey Smriti Nyas and Film Festival was established by film and TV director Anil Dubey and film producer, director and social activist Ravindra Chauhan in May 2020. This film festival is organized on Pandey's birthday, 10 August.
Due to Covid, the first film festival took place online in the year 2020 and the second in the year 2021, which was conducted from Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. In the year 2022, the third film festival was held in his birthplace Nainital, Uttarakhand. In the year 2023, the fourth festival was organized in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and in the year 2024, the fifth festival was organized in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Biography

Nirmal Pandey Smriti Film Festival Co-founder, Filmmaker, Director and Social Activist Ravindra Chauhan has written the biography of actor Nirmal Pandey.

Death

Nirmal Pandey died at the age of 47 on 18 February 2010, from a heart attack in Mumbai about six months before his 48th birthday.

Filmography

Films

Television

References

External links

*

Filmography
- Bollywood Hungama

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandey, Nirmal
1962 births
2010 deaths
Indian male film actors
Indian male stage actors
Indian male television actors
Male actors in Hindi cinema
National School of Drama alumni
Male actors from Mumbai
People from Nainital
Male actors from Uttarakhand
20th-century Indian male actors
21st-century Indian male actors
Male actors in Telugu cinema