Bob Christo
Born
Robert John Christo

1938 (1938)
Sydney, Australia
Died20 March 2011 (2011-03-21) (aged 73)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Occupations
  • Civil engineer
  • actor
Years active1980–2003

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 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 in his first ever television serial, 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 a previous marriage.[4][8]

Filmography

Film

List of Bob Christo film credits
Year Title Role Language Notes
1978 Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb DastaanRobertsHindi
The Wild GeeseBody doubleEnglishUncredited
1979 PehredaarHindi
1980 QurbaniHindi
CobraBob ChristoHindi
AbdullahMagicianHindi
1981 SankharshamMalayalam
KaaliaMichaelHindi
KalkutHindi
1982 ProhariHindi
Ustadi Ustad SePrem's associatedHindi
Namak HalaalHitmanHindi
AshantiSampat's ManHindi
StarSamsonHindi
Disco DancerInternational Hit-manHindi
Main Intequam LoongaAnthonyHindi
Sharaabi NarHindi
Bobbili PuliTelugu
1983 TaqdeerGangsterHindi
NastikHindi
Jaani DostCobra's GoonHindi
Naukar Biwi KaRustomHindi
Hum Se Hai ZamanaHindi
HaadsaAbductorHindi
BekhabarHindi
1984 BoxerHindi
SharaabiRuffian #3HindiUncredited
Insaaf Kaun KaregaBobHindi
Raaj TilakCombatant in arenaHindi
JagirBanditHindi
Kasam Paida Karne Wale KiUdaybhan's AssistantHindi
ShararaHindi
Raja Aur RanaBobHindi
Sardar[9] Pavana Murthy's Goon Telugu
1985 Karm YudhHindi
SarfaroshBritish ManHindi
BaadalHindi
TelephoneBobHindi
GeraftaarRamHindi
MardSimonHindi
Insaaf Main KaroongaCommander BobHindi
Yaar KasamHindi
Kali BastiBob JacksonHindi
HaveliRunaway prisoner English manHindi
Kaakki SattaiTamil
Jeevante JeevanBoxer Bob ChristoMalayalam
1986 ViduthalaiTamil
Badle Ki JwalaHindi
AmmaBritish ColonelHindi
Prathyekam SradhikkukkaChristopherMalayalam
Kala Dhanda Goray LogBobHindi
NasihatHindi
Allah RakhaDonHindi
AvinashBobHindi
Palay KhanBritish OfficerHindi
Hello My Dear Wrong NumberBobMalayalam
1987 Kadhal ParisuTamil
HukumatDBDN's English FriendHindi
Mr. IndiaMr. WolcottHindi
HiraasatBobHindi
Uttar DakshinBobHindi
SupermanBobHindi
JayasimhaForeign SmugglerKannada
CooliekkaranTamil
1988 CommandoMarcelloni's HenchmanHindi
BloodstoneHaggertyEnglish
Paanch FauladiSeth EnglishmanHindi
Mera ShikarHindi
Mar MitengeBobHindi
AryanMalayalam
Aakhri AdaalatHindi
1989 UstaadBob[10]Hindi
Paanch Paapi[11] Hindi
GuruBanditHindi
VardiHimselfHindi
Sachché Ká Bol-BáláHenchmanHindi
Farz Ki JungMr. BarkerHindi
Kanoon Ki AwaazHindi
DostHindi
ToofanGoodmark, Gold SmugglerHindi
JaadugarBobHindi
SivaTamil
Desh Ke DushmanInspector BobHindi
ShehzaadeBobHindiUncredited
Apna Desh Praye LogSwami's GoonHindi
Sachai Ki TaqatHindi
Love Love LoveBobHindi
Dav PechGamblerHindi
Aakhri MuqablaTiger / Shola / ShaitanHindi
GharanaShiekh, Diamond MerchantHindi
Elaan-E-JungKalanaag HenchmanHindi
Meri GarmiHindi
1990 Maut Se MukabalaHindi
Taqdeer Ka TamashaShooter GeorgeHindi
ZahreelayMassenaHindi
AgneepathGoraHindi
Gunahon Ka DevtaHindi
Doodh Ka KarzEngrez Master 'Gora'Hindi
ZimmedaaarMan who beat up the press editorHindi
Roti Kee KeematBobHindi
Maula JattPunjabi
DushmanSadashiv's aideHindi
AtishbazMichaelHindi
Athisaya PiraviGoonTamilUncredited
Aag Ka GolaNatwar's Man BaldyHindi
1991 SaugandhKillerHindi
Vishnu-DevaaBald FighterHindi
YodhaChristoHindi
FarishtayTerrorist BobHindi
Numbri AadmiDonHindi
Kaun Kare KurbanieGoonHindiUncredited
Jungle BeautyJumboEnglish
FatehHindi
1992 Mr. BondBobHindi
TahalkaCaptain RichardHindi
HumshakalRapistHindi
DeedarGoonHindi
Sone Ki LankaHindi
Dil Aashna HaiGoverdhan's manHindi
TirangaaHindi
Saali Adhe GharwaliPeterHindi
1993 Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka RajaMr. DonzeHindi
Phool Aur AngaarMr RichardHindi
GumrahMale cop in Hong KongHindi
Hum Hain Kamaal KeEnglish Diamond DealerHindi
AadmiJohnHindi
TahqiqaatGoonHindi
Aulad Ke DushmanRexon WarnerHindi
AankhenTejeshwar's HenchmanHindiUncredited
1994 Kaun Apna Kaun ParayaHindi
Insaaf Apne Lahoo SeBobHindi
Pathreela RaastaHindi
Aaja Re O SajanaHindi
1995 JawabSobhraj's goonHindi
PaandavHindi
Jai VikraantaHindi
PremBritish OfficerHindi
Sarhad: The Border of CrimeHindi
KismatCharlieHindi
1996 ZordaarJohnHindi
Ram Aur ShyamHindi
1997 AgnichakraHindi
Gupt: The Hidden TruthBoat organiserHindi
DhaalHindi
1998 KalicharanHindi
1999 Hum Tum Pe Marte HainHindi
NyaydaataB.C.Hindi
2001 KasamJohnHindi
Veer SavarkarWilliam Hutt Curzon WyllieHindi
2004 Rose ThornEnglish
2016 Aman Ke FarishteyHindi(final film role)

Television

List of Bob Christo television credits
Year Title Role Language
1990The Sword of Tipu SultanGeneral MatthewsHindi
1994The Great MarathaAhmed Shah AbdaliHindi
The Indian TrunkFrench
La Nouvelle Malle des IndesLe major aka Wettlauf nach Bombay West GermanyFrench

Works

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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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. ↑ "Sardar (1984)". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ustaad (1989)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Paanch Paapi (1989) Cast – Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
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