Bob Christo
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use Indian English Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image 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]
Career
Born in Sydney, Christo was a qualified civil engineer of maternal Greek and paternal German descent.[3][4] He had two brothers, Helmut and Mike.[2] Despite his Australian nationality, Christo spent much of his youth in West Germany qualifying as an engineer following his return to Australia. Known for his brawny physique and bald-headed look, Bob arrived in Bombay, India in 1978 while awaiting a work permit to Muscat, Oman following several job stints to support his three children including in Vietnam following the death of his first wife in a car accident in 1974. [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, firstly in Magnum Opus “The Sword of Tipu Sultan” and then in 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 his previous marriage.[4][8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan | Roberts | Hindi | |
| The Wild Geese | Body double | English | Uncredited | |
| 1979 | Pehredaar | Hindi | ||
| 1980 | Qurbani | Hindi | ||
| Cobra | Bob Christo | Hindi | ||
| Bebbuli[9] | Bob Christo | Telugu | ||
| Abdullah | Magician | Hindi | ||
| 1981 | Sankharsham | Malayalam | ||
| Kaalia | Michael | Hindi | ||
| Kalkut | Hindi | |||
| 1982 | Prohari | Hindi | ||
| Ustadi Ustad Se | Prem's associated | Hindi | ||
| Namak Halaal | Hitman | Hindi | ||
| Ashanti | Sampat's Man | Hindi | ||
| Star | Samson | Hindi | ||
| Disco Dancer | International Hit-man | Hindi | ||
| Main Intequam Loonga | Anthony | Hindi | ||
| Sharaabi Nar | Hindi | |||
| Bobbili Puli | Telugu | |||
| 1983 | Taqdeer | Gangster | Hindi | |
| Nastik | Hindi | |||
| Jaani Dost | Cobra's Goon | Hindi | ||
| Naukar Biwi Ka | Rustom | Hindi | ||
| Hum Se Hai Zamana | Hindi | |||
| Haadsa | Abductor | Hindi | ||
| Bekhabar | Hindi | |||
| 1984 | Boxer | Hindi | ||
| Sharaabi | Ruffian #3 | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| Insaaf Kaun Karega | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Raaj Tilak | Combatant in arena | Hindi | ||
| Jagir | Bandit | Hindi | ||
| Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki | Udaybhan's Assistant | Hindi | ||
| Sharara | Hindi | |||
| Raja Aur Rana | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Sardar[10] | Pavana Murthy's Goon | Telugu | ||
| 1985 | Karm Yudh | Hindi | ||
| Sarfarosh | British Man | Hindi | ||
| Baadal | Hindi | |||
| Telephone | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Geraftaar | Ram | Hindi | ||
| Mard | Simon | Hindi | ||
| Insaaf Main Karoonga | Commander Bob | Hindi | ||
| Yaar Kasam | Hindi | |||
| Kali Basti | Bob Jackson | Hindi | ||
| Haveli | Runaway prisoner English man | Hindi | ||
| Kaakki Sattai | Tamil | |||
| Jeevante Jeevan | Boxer Bob Christo | Malayalam | ||
| 1986 | Viduthalai | Tamil | ||
| Badle Ki Jwala | Hindi | |||
| Amma | British Colonel | Hindi | ||
| Prathyekam Sradhikkukka | Christopher | Malayalam | ||
| Kala Dhanda Goray Log | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Sathkaara | Kannada | |||
| Nasihat | Hindi | |||
| Allah Rakha | Don | Hindi | ||
| Avinash | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Palay Khan | British Officer | Hindi | ||
| Chanakya Sapadham[11] | Nero, Diamonds Smuggler | Telugu | ||
| Hello My Dear Wrong Number | Bob | Malayalam | ||
| 1987 | Kadhal Parisu | Tamil | ||
| Hukumat | DBDN's English Friend | Hindi | ||
| Mr. India | Mr. Wolcott | Hindi | ||
| Hiraasat | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Uttar Dakshin | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Superman | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Jayasimha | Foreign Smuggler | Kannada | ||
| Cooliekkaran | Tamil | |||
| 1988 | Commando | Marcelloni's Henchman | Hindi | |
| Bloodstone | Haggerty | English | ||
| Paanch Fauladi | Seth Englishman | Hindi | ||
| Mera Shikar | Hindi | |||
| Mar Mitenge | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Aryan | Malayalam | |||
| Aakhri Adaalat | Hindi | |||
| 1989 | Ustaad | Bob[12] | Hindi | |
| Paanch Paapi[13] | Hindi | |||
| Guru | Bandit | Hindi | ||
| Vardi | Himself | Hindi | ||
| Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá | Henchman | Hindi | ||
| Farz Ki Jung | Mr. Barker | Hindi | ||
| Kanoon Ki Awaaz | Hindi | |||
| Dost | Hindi | |||
| Toofan | Goodmark, Gold Smuggler | Hindi | ||
| Jaadugar | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Siva | Tamil | |||
| Desh Ke Dushman | Inspector Bob | Hindi | ||
| Hongkongnalli Agent Amar[14] | Kannada | |||
| Shehzaade | Bob | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| Apna Desh Praye Log | Swami's Goon | Hindi | ||
| Sachai Ki Taqat | Hindi | |||
| Love Love Love | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Dav Pech | Gambler | Hindi | ||
| Aakhri Muqabla | Tiger / Shola / Shaitan | Hindi | ||
| Gharana | Shiekh, Diamond Merchant | Hindi | ||
| Elaan-E-Jung | Kalanaag Henchman | Hindi | ||
| Meri Garmi | Hindi | |||
| 1990 | Maut Se Mukabala | Hindi | ||
| Taqdeer Ka Tamasha | Shooter George | Hindi | ||
| Zahreelay | Massena | Hindi | ||
| Agneepath | Gora | Hindi | ||
| Gunahon Ka Devta | Hindi | |||
| Doodh Ka Karz | Engrez Master 'Gora' | Hindi | ||
| Zimmedaaar | Man who beat up the press editor | Hindi | ||
| Roti Kee Keemat | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Maula Jatt | Punjabi | |||
| Dushman | Sadashiv's aide | Hindi | ||
| Atishbaz | Michael | Hindi | ||
| Athisaya Piravi | Goon | Tamil | Uncredited | |
| Aag Ka Gola | Natwar's Man Baldy | Hindi | ||
| 1991 | Saugandh | Killer | Hindi | |
| Vishnu-Devaa | Bald Fighter | Hindi | ||
| Pucca Badmash[15] | Walcott | Hindi | ||
| Yodha | Christo | Hindi | ||
| Farishtay | Terrorist Bob | Hindi | ||
| Numbri Aadmi | Don | Hindi | ||
| Kaun Kare Kurbanie | Goon | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| Jungle Beauty | Jumbo | English | ||
| Fateh | Hindi | |||
| 1992 | Mr. Bond | Bob | Hindi | |
| Tahalka | Captain Richard | Hindi | ||
| Humshakal | Rapist | Hindi | ||
| Deedar | Goon | Hindi | ||
| Sone Ki Lanka | Hindi | |||
| Dil Aashna Hai | Goverdhan's man | Hindi | ||
| Tirangaa | Hindi | |||
| Saali Adhe Gharwali | Peter | Hindi | ||
| 1993 | Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja | Mr. Donze | Hindi | |
| Phool Aur Angaar | Mr Richard | Hindi | ||
| Gumrah | Male cop in Hong Kong | Hindi | ||
| Hum Hain Kamaal Ke | English Diamond Dealer | Hindi | ||
| Aadmi | John | Hindi | ||
| Tahqiqaat | Goon | Hindi | ||
| Aulad Ke Dushman | Rexon Warner | Hindi | ||
| Aankhen | Tejeshwar's Henchman | Hindi | Uncredited | |
| 1994 | Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya | Hindi | ||
| Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se | Bob | Hindi | ||
| Pathreela Raasta | Hindi | |||
| Aaja Re O Sajana | Hindi | |||
| 1995 | Jawab | Sobhraj's goon | Hindi | |
| Paandav | K.K.'s (Kiran Kumar) henchman | Hindi | ||
| Jai Vikraanta | Hindi | |||
| Prem | British Officer | Hindi | ||
| Sarhad: The Border of Crime | Hindi | |||
| Kismat[16] | Charlie Walcott | Hindi | ||
| 1996 | Zordaar | John | Hindi | |
| Ram Aur Shyam | Hindi | |||
| 1997 | Agnichakra | Hindi | ||
| Gupt: The Hidden Truth | Boat organiser | Hindi | ||
| Dhaal | Hindi | |||
| 1998 | Kalicharan | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain | Hindi | ||
| Nyaydaata | B.C. | Hindi | ||
| 2001 | Kasam | John | Hindi | |
| Veer Savarkar | William Hutt Curzon Wyllie | Hindi | ||
| 2004 | Rose Thorn | English | ||
| 2016 | Aman Ke Farishtey | Hindi | (final film role) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Sword of Tipu Sultan | General Matthews | Hindi |
| 1994 | The Great Maratha | Ahmed Shah Abdali | 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. Template:ISBN.
See also
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References
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External links
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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- Pages with script errors
- 1938 births
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- 21st-century Indian male actors
- 2011 deaths
- Australian civil engineers
- Australian people of German descent
- Australian people of Greek descent
- Australian emigrants to India
- Australian expatriates in Germany
- Australian expatriates in Austria
- Australian male film actors
- Indian autobiographers
- Indian male film actors
- Indian people of German descent
- Indian people of Greek descent
- Male actors from Bengaluru
- Male actors from Sydney
- Male actors in Hindi cinema
- Male actors in Hindi television
- Male actors in Kannada cinema
- Male actors in Malayalam cinema
- Male actors in Tamil cinema
- Male actors in Telugu cinema
- Naturalised citizens of India
- Scenic designers