Bob Christo

Last updated

Bob Christo
Bob Christo.jpg
Born
Robert John Christo

1938 (1938)
Sydney, Australia
Died20 March 2011 (2011-03-21) (aged 72)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Occupations
  • Civil engineer
  • actor
Years active1980–2003

Robert John Christo, was an Australian-Indian civil engineer and actor in Hindi films. Starting with Sanjay Khan's Abdullah (1980), he went on to act in over 200 Hindi films in the 1980s and 1990s, including Qurbani (1980), Kaalia (1981), Nastik (1983), Mard (1985), Mr India (1987), Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993) and Gumraah (1993), mostly playing roles as a non-Indian henchman or Army General. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Born in Sydney, Christo was a qualified civil engineer of Greek and German descent. [3] [4] He had two brothers, Helmut and Mike. [2] Known for his brawny physique and bald-headed look, Bob arrived in Bombay, India while awaiting a work permit to Muscat, Oman. [1] It was in Mumbai that he was introduced to Bollywood actress Parveen Babi, [2] who helped him transition into Hindi films.

He received his first break when he constructed the jungle palace for Francis Ford Coppola in Apocalypse Now . [5] And later as a villain in the Hindi movie Abdullah in 1980. Christo decided to stay in India and appeared in over 200 movies in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, playing a recurring typecast villain. [6]

Sanjay Khan discovered him and gave him his first break in his movie Abdullah as the villain, and also after many years, Sanjay Khan gave him a break in his first ever television serial, The Great Maratha, where he played the iconic character of Ahmed Shah Abdali.

During the later stages of his life, he relocated to Bangalore in early 2000, where he started working as a Yoga instructor [7] and remained disconnected from the Hindi movie industry since 2003.

Death

The 72-year-old actor died of "rupture of left ventricle valve" in Bangalore on 20 March 2011. He is survived by his wife Nargis and two sons, Darius and Sunil. He has two daughters, Monique and Nicole from a previous marriage. [4] [8]

Filmography

Film

List of Bob Christo film credits
YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
1978 Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan RobertsHindi
The Wild Geese Body doubleEnglishUncredited
1979PehredaarHindi
1980 Qurbani Hindi
Cobra Bob ChristoHindi
Bebbuli [9] Bob ChristoTelugu
Abdullah MagicianHindi
1981 Sankharsham Malayalam
Kaalia MichaelHindi
KalkutHindi
1982ProhariHindi
Ustadi Ustad Se Prem's associated Hindi
Namak Halaal HitmanHindi
Ashanti Sampat's ManHindi
Star SamsonHindi
Disco Dancer International Hit-manHindi
Main Intequam Loonga AnthonyHindi
Sharaabi Nar Hindi
Bobbili Puli Telugu
1983 Taqdeer GangsterHindi
Nastik Hindi
Jaani Dost Cobra's GoonHindi
Naukar Biwi Ka RustomHindi
Hum Se Hai Zamana Hindi
Haadsa AbductorHindi
Bekhabar Hindi
1984 Boxer Hindi
Sharaabi Ruffian #3HindiUncredited
Insaaf Kaun Karega BobHindi
Raaj Tilak Combatant in arenaHindi
Jagir BanditHindi
Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki Udaybhan's AssistantHindi
Sharara Hindi
Raja Aur Rana BobHindi
Sardar [10] Pavana Murthy's GoonTelugu
1985 Karm Yudh Hindi
Sarfarosh British ManHindi
Baadal Hindi
Telephone BobHindi
Geraftaar RamHindi
Mard SimonHindi
Insaaf Main Karoonga Commander BobHindi
Yaar Kasam Hindi
Kali Basti Bob JacksonHindi
Haveli Runaway prisoner English manHindi
Kaakki Sattai Tamil
Jeevante Jeevan Boxer Bob ChristoMalayalam
1986 Viduthalai Tamil
Badle Ki Jwala Hindi
Amma British ColonelHindi
Prathyekam Sradhikkukka ChristopherMalayalam
Kala Dhanda Goray Log BobHindi
Nasihat Hindi
Allah Rakha DonHindi
Avinash BobHindi
Palay Khan British OfficerHindi
Chanakya Sapadham [11] Nero, Diamonds SmugglerTelugu
Hello My Dear Wrong Number BobMalayalam
1987 Kadhal Parisu Tamil
Hukumat DBDN's English FriendHindi
Mr. India Mr. WolcottHindi
Hiraasat BobHindi
Uttar Dakshin BobHindi
Superman BobHindi
Jayasimha Foreign SmugglerKannada
Cooliekkaran Tamil
1988 Commando Marcelloni's HenchmanHindi
Bloodstone HaggertyEnglish
Paanch Fauladi Seth EnglishmanHindi
Mera Shikar Hindi
Mar Mitenge BobHindi
Aryan Malayalam
Aakhri Adaalat Hindi
1989 Ustaad Bob [12] Hindi
Paanch Paapi [13] Hindi
Guru BanditHindi
Vardi HimselfHindi
Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá HenchmanHindi
Farz Ki Jung Mr. BarkerHindi
Kanoon Ki Awaaz Hindi
Dost Hindi
Toofan Goodmark, Gold SmugglerHindi
Jaadugar BobHindi
Siva Tamil
Desh Ke Dushman Inspector BobHindi
Hongkongnalli Agent Amar [14] Kannada
Shehzaade BobHindiUncredited
Apna Desh Praye Log Swami's GoonHindi
Sachai Ki Taqat Hindi
Love Love Love BobHindi
Dav Pech GamblerHindi
Aakhri Muqabla Tiger / Shola / ShaitanHindi
Gharana Shiekh, Diamond MerchantHindi
Elaan-E-Jung Kalanaag HenchmanHindi
Meri Garmi Hindi
1990 Maut Se Mukabala Hindi
Taqdeer Ka Tamasha Shooter GeorgeHindi
Zahreelay MassenaHindi
Agneepath GoraHindi
Gunahon Ka Devta Hindi
Doodh Ka Karz Engrez Master 'Gora'Hindi
Zimmedaaar Man who beat up the press editorHindi
Roti Kee Keemat BobHindi
Maula JattPunjabi
Dushman Sadashiv's aideHindi
Atishbaz MichaelHindi
Athisaya Piravi GoonTamilUncredited
Aag Ka Gola Natwar's Man BaldyHindi
1991 Saugandh KillerHindi
Vishnu-Devaa Bald FighterHindi
Yodha ChristoHindi
Farishtay Terrorist BobHindi
Numbri Aadmi DonHindi
Kaun Kare Kurbanie GoonHindiUncredited
Jungle BeautyJumboEnglish
Fateh Hindi
1992 Mr. Bond BobHindi
Tahalka Captain RichardHindi
Humshakal RapistHindi
Deedar GoonHindi
Sone Ki Lanka Hindi
Dil Aashna Hai Goverdhan's manHindi
Tirangaa Hindi
Saali Adhe Gharwali PeterHindi
1993 Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja Mr. DonzeHindi
Phool Aur Angaar Mr RichardHindi
Gumrah Male cop in Hong KongHindi
Hum Hain Kamaal Ke English Diamond DealerHindi
Aadmi JohnHindi
Tahqiqaat GoonHindi
Aulad Ke Dushman Rexon WarnerHindi
Aankhen Tejeshwar's HenchmanHindiUncredited
1994 Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya Hindi
Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se BobHindi
Pathreela Raasta Hindi
Aaja Re O Sajana Hindi
1995 Jawab Sobhraj's goonHindi
Paandav Hindi
Jai Vikraanta Hindi
Prem British OfficerHindi
Sarhad: The Border of Crime Hindi
Kismat CharlieHindi
1996 Zordaar JohnHindi
Ram Aur Shyam Hindi
1997 Agnichakra Hindi
Gupt: The Hidden Truth Boat organiserHindi
Dhaal Hindi
1998 Kalicharan Hindi
1999 Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain Hindi
Nyaydaata B.C.Hindi
2001 Kasam JohnHindi
Veer Savarkar William Hutt Curzon Wyllie Hindi
2004Rose ThornEnglish
2016 Aman Ke Farishtey Hindi(final film role)

Television

List of Bob Christo television credits
YearTitleRoleLanguage
1990 The Sword of Tipu Sultan General MatthewsHindi
1994 The Great Maratha Ahmed Shah Abdali Hindi
The Indian TrunkFrench
La Nouvelle Malle des Indes Le major aka Wettlauf nach Bombay West GermanyFrench

Works

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Veteran film actor Bob Christo no more". Deccan Herald . Bangalore. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Dubey, Bharati (21 March 2011). "Actor Bob Christo passes away". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  3. Gupta, Gargi. "The passions of Christo". Business Standards. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 Christo, Bob (2011). Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN   9788184755114. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  5. Gianani, Kareena N. (27 March 2011). "'I loved playing the white baddie: Bob Christo". DNA India. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. "Actor Bob Christo dead". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  7. Kumar, Mala (10 May 2004). "BAD BOY makes it good". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2006.
  8. "Actor Bob Christo dead" . The Hindu . 20 March 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  9. Bebbuli Telugu Full Length Movie | Krishnam Raju | Sujatha | Jaggaiah @skyvideostelugu , retrieved 18 January 2024
  10. "Sardar (1984)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  11. "Chanakya Sapadam (1986)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  12. "Ustaad (1989)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  13. "Paanch Paapi (1989) Cast – Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. https://chiloka.com/movie/hongkongnalli-agent-amar-1989