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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]

Bob Christo
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

Career

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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, firstly in Magnum Opus “The Sword of Tipu Sultan” and then in the, 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

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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

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Film

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List of Bob Christo film credits
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
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
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 Hindi
Jai Vikraanta Hindi
Prem British Officer Hindi
Sarhad: The Border of Crime Hindi
Kismat Charlie 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

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List of Bob Christo television credits
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

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  • Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond, by Bob Christo. Penguin India, 2011. ISBN 0143414623.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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, 16 January 2018, 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. ^ "Hongkongnalli Agent Amar (1989) Kannada movie: Cast & Crew".
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