Bob Christo
| Bob Christo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Robert John Christo circa 1938 |
| Died |
20 March 2011 (aged 72) Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Occupation | Civil engineer and actor |
| Years active | 1980–2003 |
Robert John Christo, popularly known as Bob Christo[1] (Hindi: बोब क्रिस्टो), 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 henchman or an Army General.[1][2]
Career
Born in Sydney, Australia, Christo was a qualified Civil Engineer. He had two brothers, Helmut and Mike.[2][3] Known for his brawny physique and bald headed look, Bob arrived in Mumbai, India whilst awaiting a work permit to expatriate to Muscat.[1] It was in Mumbai that he was introduced to Bollywood actress Parveen Babi[2] who helped him with his first steps into the world of Hindi films.
He received his first break, as a typecast villain in the Hindi movie Abdullah in 1980.[4] Christo decided to stay in India and appeared in over 200 movies in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.[5] His film career had restricted him to type-cast roles as an antagonist to the main villain, or a British Indian army officer in pre-war movies.
He had appeared in many of Amitabh Bachchan's hit movies in the 1980s and early 1990s including Mard, Kaalia, Geraftaar, Agneepath, Toofan, and Jaadugar. Amitabh Bachchan's famous dialogue 'Hum Jahan Khade hote hain line wahin se shuru hoti hai' (The queue starts from where I stand) was actually mouthed first by Bob Christo in the movie. It is only after him that Bachchan says his lines.
During later stages of his life, he relocated to Bangalore in early 2000, where he started working as a Yoga instructor[6] and remained disconnected from the Hindi movie industry since 2003. Partly due to how little is known about him and partly due to the number of movies in which he has appeared, Bob Christo has a cult following of sorts. On 17 June 2008, Adil Ray officially announced, as part of the BBC Asian Network's Bollywood month, his intention to search for the legend, Bob. However, he was unsuccessful.
The 72-year-old actor died of "rupture of left ventricle valve" in Bangalore on 20 March 2011. Tributes poured from all over India. He is survived by his wife Nargis and two sons, Darius and Sunil. He has two daughters, Monique and Nicole from previous marriage.[3][7]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aman Ke Farishtey | 2016 | Hindi | |
| Kasam | 2001 | John | Hindi |
| Veer Savarkar | 2001 | William Hutt Curzon Wyllie | Hindi |
| Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain | 1999 | Hindi | |
| Nyaydaata | 1999 | Hindi | |
| Agnichakra | 1997 | Hindi | |
| Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law | 1997 | Hindi | |
| Gupt: The Hidden Truth | 1997 | Boat organiser | Hindi |
| Ram Aur Shyam | 1996 | Hindi | |
| Sarhad: The Border of Crime | 1995 | Hindi | |
| Prem | 1995 | British Officer | Hindi |
| Paandav | 1995 | Hindi | |
| Kismat | 1995 | Hindi | |
| Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se | 1994 | Hindi | |
| Pathreela Raasta | 1994 | Hindi | |
| Aulad Ke Dushman | 1993 | Rexon Warner | Hindi |
| Hum Hain Kamaal Ke | 1993 | English Diamond Dealer | Hindi |
| Gumrah | 1993 | Male cop in Hong Kong | Hindi |
| Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja | 1993 | Mr. Donze | Hindi |
| Aankhen | 1993 | Tejeshwar's Henchman | Hindi |
| Tahqiqaat | 1993 | Goon | Hindi |
| Dil Aashna Hai | 1992 | Goverdhan's man | Hindi |
| Deedar | 1992 | Goon | Hindi |
| Humshakal | 1992 | Rapist | Hindi |
| Mr. Bond | 1992 | Hindi | |
| Tirangaa | 1992 | Hindi | |
| Farishtay | 1991 | Hindi | |
| Vishnu-Devaa | 1991 | Bald Fighter | Hindi |
| Saugandh | 1991 | Hindi | |
| Fateh | 1991 | Hindi | |
| Numbri Aadmi | 1991 | Don | Hindi |
| Yodha | 1991 | Hindi | |
| Zimmedaaar | 1990 | Hindi | |
| Doodh Ka Karz | 1990 | Engrez Master 'Gora' | Hindi |
| Agneepath | 1990 | Gora | Hindi |
| Zahreelay | 1990 | Massena | Hindi |
| Aag Ka Gola | 1990 | Natwar's Man Baldy | Hindi |
| Atishbaz | 1990 | Michael | Hindi |
| Dushman | 1990 | Sadashiv's aide | Hindi |
| Gunahon Ka Devta | 1990 | Hindi | |
| Maula Jatt | 1990 | Punjabi | |
| The Great Maratha | 1994 | Ahmed Shah Abdali | Hindi |
| Shehzaade | 1989 | Bob | Hindi |
| Jaadugar | 1989 | Bob | Hindi |
| Toofan | 1989 | Goodmark, Gold Smuggler | Hindi |
| Dost | 1989 | Hindi | |
| Farz Ki Jung | 1989 | Mr. Barker | Hindi |
| Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá | 1989 | Henchman | Hindi |
| Vardi | 1989 | Hindi | |
| Dav Pech | 1989 | Gambler | Hindi |
| Guru | 1989 | Bandit | Hindi |
| Kanoon Ki Awaaz | 1989 | Hindi | |
| Love Love Love | 1989 | Hindi | |
| Meri Garmi | 1989 | Hindi | |
| Sachai Ki Taqat | 1989 | Hindi | |
| Paanch Fauladi | 1988 | Seth Englishman | Hindi |
| Bloodstone | 1988 | Haggerty | English |
| Commando | 1988 | Hindi | |
| Aakhri Adaalat | 1988 | Hindi | |
| Aakhri Muqabla | 1988 | Tiger/Shola/Shaitan | Hindi |
| Mar Mitenge | 1988 | Hindi | |
| Aryan | 1988 | Malayalam | |
| Raj Kapoor | 1987 | Himself during funeral | Hindi |
| Superman | 1987 | Hindi | |
| Mr. India | 1987 | Mr. Wolcott | Hindi |
| Kala Dhanda Goray Log | 1986 | Bob | Hindi |
| Allah Rakha | 1986 | Don | Hindi |
| Palay Khan | 1986 | British Officer | Hindi |
| Prathyekam Sradhikkukka | 1986 | Christopher | Malayalam |
| Mard | 1985 | Simon | Hindi |
| Geraftaar | 1985 | Ram | Hindi |
| Telephone | 1985 | Hindi | |
| Baadal | 1985 | Hindi | |
| Sarfarosh | 1985 | British Man | Hindi |
| Haveli | 1985 | Runaway prisoner English man | Hindi |
| Insaaf Main Karoonga | 1985 | Commander Bob | Hindi |
| Kali Basti | 1985 | Bob Jackson | Hindi |
| Karm Yudh | 1985 | Hindi | |
| Yaar Kasam | 1985 | Hindi | |
| Jeevante Jeevan | 1985 | Boxer Bob Christo | Malayalam |
| Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki | 1984 | Udaybhan's Assistant | Hindi |
| Insaaf Kaun Karega | 1984 | Hindi | |
| Boxer | 1984 | Hindi | |
| Jagir | 1984 | Bandit | Hindi |
| Raaj Tilak | 1984 | Combatant in arena | Hindi |
| Raja Aur Rana | 1984 | Bob | Hindi |
| Disco Dancer | 1983 | International Hit-man | Hindi |
| Jaani Dost | 1983 | Hindi | |
| Nastik | 1983 | Hindi | |
| Haadsa | 1983 | Abductor | Hindi |
| Hum Se Hai Zamana | 1983 | Hindi | |
| Taqdeer | 1983 | Gangster | Hindi |
| Star | 1982 | Samson | Hindi |
| Ashanti | 1982 | Sampat's Man | Hindi |
| Sharaabi Nar | 1982 | Hindi | |
| Bobbili Puli | 1982 | Telugu | |
| Main Intequam Loonga | 1982 | Anthony | Hindi |
| Namak Halaal | 1982 | Hitman | Hindi |
| Kaalia | 1981 | Michael | Hindi |
| Sankharsham | 1981 | Malayalam | |
| Qurbani | 1980 | Hindi | |
| Abdullah | 1980 | Magician | Hindi |
Television
| Title | Role | Channel | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sword of Tipu Sultan | General Matthews | Doordarshan National | Hindi |
| The Great Maratha | Ahmed Shah Abdali | Doordarshan National | Hindi |
| The Indian Trunk | French | ||
| La Nouvelle Malle des Indes | Le major aka Wettlauf nach Bombay West Germany | French |
Works
- Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond, by Bob Christo. Penguin India, 2011. ISBN 0143414623.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Veteran film actor Bob Christo no more". Deccan Herald. Bangalore. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- 1 2 3 Dubey, Bharati (21 March 2011). "Actor Bob Christo passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- 1 2 Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond. Penguin Books. p. 215. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ↑ "Actor Bob Christo critical". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ↑ "Actor Bob Christo dead". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ↑ Kumar, Mala (10 May 2004). "BAD BOY makes it good". The Hindu.
- ↑ "Actor Bob Christo dead". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.