Tom Alter’s status was very different in Hindi cinema. He was not only a great actor, but also a sports journalist. He took the first TV interview of the great cricket batsman Sachin Tendulkar, when Sachin was just 15 years old and did not make her debut in the Indian cricket team. This small anecdote shows the specialty of Tom’s life and career that made him different from other artists.
Tremendous grip in Hindi and Urdu
His hold on Hindi and Urdu language was so strong that he was counted among the experts of the language. Since childhood, he was inclined towards acting, due to which he did his studies from Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), where he learned the nuances of acting.
Tom Alter’s career in films
His film career started in 1976 with Dharmendra’s film Charas. From then till 2017, he acted in about 300 films. The specialty of Tom’s acting was his voice and style, due to which he used to fit perfectly in British officers or foreign characters. His list of films includes many hits like ‘Chess Ke Khiladi’, ‘Kranti’, ‘Gandhi’, ‘Aashiqui’, ‘Veer-Zara’. His magic was also seen on the theater. He brought alive the historical characters like Mirza Ghalib, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Sachin Tandulkar interview
Sports were also an important part of journalism in Tom Alter’s life. He worked as a sports journalist in the 1980s and 1990s. During this time, he took the first TV interview of Sachin Tendulkar. At that time Sachin was not in the Indian cricket team.
15 year old Sachin
According to Tom, he received the news in Mumbai that another great batsman was emerging after Dilip Vengsarkar; He was 15 -year -old Sachin Tendulkar. This news inspired Tom to meet Sachin and interview him. This interview was a special turn in the history of cricket, as Tom recognized Sachin’s talent at that time, which later became an integral part of Indian cricket.
Writer was also Tom Alter
Apart from the actor and journalist, Tom Alter was also a writer. He wrote three books, which reflect his deep thinking and dedication to art. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2008, which is India’s fourth highest civilian award. This honor was given for his films, theater and cultural contribution.
Tom Alter is no more
Tom Alter died on 29 September 2017. He was suffering from skin cancer for a long time. He is still alive in the hearts of people through his played characters.