Altering our perceptions of Goras on-screen!

The loss of Tom Alter, is a big blow for the theater and film fraternity. A lot of people having been sharing how he was a guiding force for their careers, on stage and on the celluloid. Actors like Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher and the likes, remember Tom Alter as an actor, who gave his best and changed our perceptions of a white man in Indian cinema. 

Tom Alter - born to parents who were American Church missionaries in Mussorie, was cultured and educated in the prestigious Woodstock school. He was always awed by cinema and in particular, acting in theater, which was always his first love.

The early '70s in India, had many superstars and Rajesh Khanna was one of them. Alter has gone on record to say, how Rajesh Khanna and his acting histrionics made him take to arts and acting in particular, leading him to join the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune in the mid '70s. This was to become his second home, and oracle of education. 

His diction in Hindi and Urdu, made him a standout, leading him to work in many plays and skits. He shot to fame in the movie Charas, where he played the role of a Malta-based customs officer, with much conviction. This lead to many villainous roles being donned by him in the early '80s. His character in Ram Teri Ganga Maili, is still remembered, simply because of how subtly he portrayed it.

Television was an equal patron-or of his skills. Some of the best serials on Doordarshan, India's very own Government-owned channel, had Alter in keys roles; a few of his serials had no shelf life, just because Alter were in them. He had audiences hooked and never let them move off their seats. 

Starring in over 300 films, plays and skits, is no mean feat and getting into the skin of the character was the reason why Alter was much respected. 

His love for cricket and Urdu poetry went on till his final days too. Truth be told, Alter was one of the first individuals to interview Sachin Tendulkar, the cricketing genius, when he was starting out his career and condolences have poured in from the master as well. Alter never missed a chance in penning down his thoughts and found Urdu poetry, as the perfect means to share his thoughts. 

He was awarded the Padma Shri - the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2008 for his contribution to arts and cinema, by the Indian Government. Much respect to Tom Alter, who altered perceptions of a white man in Indian movies and left a mark for himself. The loss of Alter is a void that cannot be filled easily, since beneath the multi faceted actor, lay a simple, God fearing and honest human being. 

#RIPTomAlter - May you find many more awesome ways to entertain audiences in heaven, with your pure diction and milky white, boyish charm. 

Salute to the Tom Alter - the human being excellente. 

#TomAlterWowedAudiences by @harryrockerz