Bob Christo

Robert John Christo, was an Australian-Indian civil engineer and actor in Hindi films. He was however born in Germany, & emigrated to Sydney. 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 henchman or an Army General.[1][2]

Bob Christo
Born
Robert John Christo

1938
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died20 March 2011
(aged 72-73)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
OccupationCivil engineer and actor
Years active1980–2003

Career

Born in Germany , Christo was a qualified Civil Engineer. He had two brothers, Helmut and Mike.[2][3] Known for his brawny physique and bald-headed look, Bob arrived in Mumbai, India whilst awaiting a work permit to expatriate to Muscat.[1] It was in Mumbai that he was introduced to Bollywood actress Parveen Babi,[2] who helped him transition to Hindi films.

He received his first break when he constructed the jungle palace for Francis Ford Copola in "Apocalype Now".[4] 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.[5]

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[6] and remained disconnected from the Hindi movie industry since 2003.

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.[3][7]

Filmography

Film
TitleYearRoleLanguageNotes
Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan1978RobertsHindi
The Wild Geese1978Body doubleEnglishUncredited
Pehredaar1979
Qurbani1980Hindi
Cobra1980Bob Christo
Abdullah1980MagicianHindi
Sankharsham1981Malayalam
Kaalia1981MichaelHindi
Kalkut1981
Prohari1982
Ustadi Ustad Se1982Prem's associatedHindi
Namak Halaal1982HitmanHindi
Ashanti1982Sampat's ManHindi
Star1982SamsonHindi
Disco Dancer1982International Hit-manHindi
Main Intequam Loonga1982AnthonyHindi
Sharaabi Nar1982Hindi
Bobbili Puli1982Telugu
Taqdeer1983GangsterHindi
Nastik1983Hindi
Jaani Dost1983Cobra's GoonHindi
Naukar Biwi Ka1983RustomHindi
Hum Se Hai Zamana1983Hindi
Haadsa1983AbductorHindi
Bekhabar1983Hindi
Boxer1984Hindi
Sharaabi1984Ruffian #3HindiUncredited
Insaaf Kaun Karega1984BobHindi
Raaj Tilak1984Combatant in arenaHindi
Jagir1984BanditHindi
Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki1984Udaybhan's AssistantHindi
Sharara1984Hindi
Raja Aur Rana1984BobHindi
Karm Yudh1985Hindi
Sarfarosh1985British ManHindi
Baadal1985Hindi
Telephone1985BobHindi
Geraftaar1985RamHindi
Mard1985SimonHindi
Insaaf Main Karoonga1985Commander BobHindi
Yaar Kasam1985Hindi
Kali Basti1985Bob JacksonHindi
Haveli1985Runaway prisoner English manHindi
Kaakki Sattai1985Tamil
Jeevante Jeevan1985Boxer Bob ChristoMalayalam
Viduthalai1986Tamil
Badle Ki Jwala1986
Amma1986British ColonelHindi
Prathyekam Sradhikkukka1986ChristopherMalayalam
Kala Dhanda Goray Log1986BobHindi
Nasihat1986Hindi
Allah Rakha1986DonHindi
Avinash1986BobHindi
Palay Khan1986British OfficerHindi
Hello My Dear Wrong Number1986BobMalayalam
Kadhal Parisu1987Tamil
Hukumat1987DBDN's English Friend
Mr. India1987Mr. WolcottHindi
Hiraasat1987BobHindi
Uttar Dakshin1987BobHindi
Superman1987BobHindi
Mr. India1987Foreign SmugglerKannada
Cooliekkaran1987Tamil
Commando1988Marcelloni's HenchmanHindi
Bloodstone1988HaggertyEnglish
Paanch Fauladi1988Seth EnglishmanHindi
Mera Shikar1988
Mar Mitenge1988BobHindi
Aryan1988Malayalam
Aakhri Adaalat1988Hindi
Ustaad1988BobMalayalam
Guru1989BanditHindi
Vardi1989HimselfHindi
Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá1989HenchmanHindi
Farz Ki Jung1989Mr. BarkerHindi
Kanoon Ki Awaaz1989Hindi
Dost1989Hindi
Toofan1989Goodmark, Gold SmugglerHindi
Jaadugar1989BobHindi
Siva1989Tamil
Desh Ke Dushman1989Inspector Bob
Shehzaade1989BobHindiUncredited
Apna Desh Praye Log1989Swami's Goon
Sachai Ki Taqat1989Hindi
Love Love Love1989BobHindi
Dav Pech1989GamblerHindi
Aakhri Muqabla1989Tiger / Shola / ShaitanHindi
Gharana1989Shiekh, Diamond MerchantHindi
Elaan-E-Jung1989Kalanaag HenchmanHindi
Meri Garmi1989Hindi
Maut Se Mukabala1990
Taqdeer Ka Tamasha1990Shooter GeorgeHindi
Zahreelay1990MassenaHindi
Agneepath1990GoraHindi
Gunahon Ka Devta1990Hindi
Doodh Ka Karz1990Engrez Master 'Gora'Hindi
Zimmedaaar1990Man who beat up the press editorHindi
Roti Kee Keemat1990BobHindi
Maula Jatt1990Punjabi
Dushman1990Sadashiv's aideHindi
Atishbaz1990MichaelHindi
Adisaya Piravi1990GoonTamilUncredited
Aag Ka Gola1990Natwar's Man BaldyHindi
Saugandh1991KillerHindi
Vishnu-Devaa1991Bald FighterHindi
Yodha1991ChristoHindi
Farishtay1991Terrorist BobHindi
Numbri Aadmi1991DonHindi
Kaun Kare Kurbanie1991GoonUncredited
Jungle Beauty1991Jumbo
Fateh1991Hindi
Mr. Bond1992BobHindi
Tahalka1992Captain RichardHindi
Humshakal1992RapistHindi
Deedar1992GoonHindi
Sone Ki Lanka1992Hindi
Dil Aashna Hai1992Goverdhan's manHindi
Tirangaa1992Hindi
Saali Adhe Gharwali1992Peter
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja1993Mr. DonzeHindi
Phool Aur Angaar1993Mr RichardHindi
Gumrah1993Male cop in Hong KongHindi
Hum Hain Kamaal Ke1993English Diamond DealerHindi
Aadmi1993JohnHindi
Tahqiqaat1993GoonHindi
Aulad Ke Dushman1993Rexon WarnerHindi
Aankhen1993Tejeshwar's HenchmanHindiUncredited
Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya1994
Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se1994BobHindi
Pathreela Raasta1994Hindi
Aaja Re O Sajana1994
Jawab1995Sobhraj's goonHindi
Paandav1995Hindi
Jai Vikraanta1995
Prem1995British OfficerHindi
Sarhad: The Border of Crime1995Hindi
Kismat1995CharlieHindi
Zordaar1996John
Ram Aur Shyam1996Hindi
Agnichakra1997Hindi
Gupt: The Hidden Truth1997Boat organiserHindi
Dhaal1997Hindi
Kalicharan1998
Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain1999Hindi
Nyaydaata1999B.C.Hindi
Kasam2001JohnHindi
Veer Savarkar2001William Hutt Curzon WyllieHindi
On Wings of Fire2001
Rose Thorn2004
Aman Ke Farishtey2016Hindi(final film role)

Television
YearTitleRoleLanguage
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. "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. 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. Flashback: My Life and Times in Bollywood and Beyond. Penguin Books. 2011. p. 215. ISBN 9780143414629. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  4. Gianani, Kareena N. (27 March 2011). "'I loved playing the white baddie: Bob Christo". DNA India. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  5. "Actor Bob Christo dead". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  6. Kumar, Mala (10 May 2004). "BAD BOY makes it good". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2006.
  7. "Actor Bob Christo dead". The Hindu. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
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