irmal Pandey, who was known for his role Vikram Mallah in Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1994), for portrayal of a transvestite in Daayraa (1996) for which he won a Best Actor Valenti award in France, Train To Pakistan (1998) and Godmother (1999).
He was supposed to watch his latest film Lahore on 22 February 2010 at a special screening with Humorist R. K. Laxman and Music Maestro MM Kreem. Lahore, scheduled to be released in 19 March 2010, would prove to be Pandey’s last film.
Born in Nainital, Uttarakhand, Nirmal Pandey was educated at Almora and Nainital. He graduated from the National School of Drama, Delhi.
After leaving the National School of Drama he moved to London, with a theatre group, Tara, performing plays like Heer Ranjha, Antigone, and has acted in around 125 plays. After doing two small roles, he first got noticed in Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1996), thereafter 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 also acted in movies like Laila, ‘Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’, ‘One 2 ka 4’ and ‘Shikari’ and acted in several television serials, including Hatim, and Princess Dollie Aur Uska Magic Bag (2005) (Star Plus).
In addition to being an actor, he was also a singer, who released an album called Jazba. In 2002, he directed, Andhayug, a Hindi play, written by noted playwright Dharamveer Bharati, which follows the 18 days following the Mahabharata war. The play has a cast of 70 actors, all of whom belong to Sanvedna, a theatre group started by him in 1994. He also has an acting institute “Fresh Talent Academy” in Ghazaiabad, and also conducts theatre workshops.
Pandey died at the age of 48 on 18 February 2010 from a heart attack in Mumbai.
Films Done By Nirmal Pandey
- Mudrank : The Stamp (2015)
- Lahore (2010) – Anwar Shaikh
- Kedi (Telugu film) (2010)
- Deshdrohi (2008) – Nagesh Kulkarni
- Raajkumar Aaryyan (TV series) (2008) – Senapati Bhujang
- Dacait TV series (2006)
- Princess Dollie Aur Uska Magic Bag (TV series) (2005) – a mysterious king
- Laila (2005) – Filmstar
- Kkavyanjali (2005 ) – Navin Nanda
- Patth (2003) – Bhullar
- Hatim (TV series) ( 2003) Dajjal
- Aanch (2003) – Kirti Thakur
- Deewangee (2002) – Abhijeet Mehta
- One 2 Ka 4 (2001) – Krishan Kant Virmani
- Shikari (2000)
- Dubai (2000) – Kishan Batta (Main Antagonist)
- Hadh Kar Di Aapne (2000) – Sanjay
- Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain (1999) – Dhananjay
- Godmother (1999) – Jakhra
- Jahan Tum Le Chalo (1999)
- Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998) – Thakur Vijay Singh
- Train To Pakistan (1998)
- Auzaar (1997) – Baba
- Daayraa (1996) – The Transvestite
- Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996) – Aditya/Adi
- Bandit Queen (1994) – Vikram Mallah
- Koi Bach Na Payega (1994) (b-grade movie)
- 8 pm(1994) (b-grade movie)
- Son Pari (1994) – Zarakh
- Lucky(1994) – Balthazar
- Inspector Kiran (1994) – the lawyer