Veteran Actor Poonam Balam, Known for Villainous Roles, Battles for Life in Hospital

You may not recall his name, but veteran actor Poonam Balam’s face is instantly recognizable from countless films. Renowned for his villainous roles in Sunny Deol’s blockbuster “Ghatak,” Suniel Shetty’s “Rakshak,” and Anil Kapoor’s “Nayak,” the actor is now fighting the toughest battle of his life.

Bollywood Villain Actor Ponnambalam Battles Kidney Failure, 750 Injections & Painful Dialysis - YouTube

Poonam Balam has been severely affected by his addiction to alcohol, which has led to both of his kidneys failing. He now has to undergo dialysis every other day just to survive. Though he made a name for himself in Hindi cinema, he also garnered fame as a villain in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films. Today, he lives out his days in extreme pain.

Balam began his acting career in 1988 with Prabhu’s film “Kal Yugam.” His imposing physical presence, intense body language, and piercing eyes made him a memorable villain and soon brought him to Bollywood. Throughout the 1990s, he terrified audiences with his powerful roles, becoming a staple antagonist in many films.

Before venturing into acting, Poonam Balam was an accomplished stuntman known as the “Spare Parts Man” because of his ability to perform dangerous stunts without injury.

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Now, with both kidneys damaged, Balam has shared his ordeal openly. “I have to get injections every other day. In the same spot, I’ve had more than 750 injections over four years. It’s incredibly difficult. I can’t eat salty food or have a full meal. I pray my worst enemies never face what I am going through,” he said, describing his suffering. “I’ve been married for 25 years but have never called my family to visit me in the hospital. I am alone at home. I’ve spent 3.5 million rupees on treatment, yet most people didn’t even bother to check on me. I just want to live alone in this condition.”

Over the years, Poonam Balam has shared the screen with superstars like Suniel Shetty, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith, Vijay, Sathyaraj, and Vijayakanth. In 1999 alone, he acted in as many as 10 films. He was last seen in the 2022 release “Kateri,” but could not continue acting due to his serious illness.

Now, as he counts the remaining days of his life, the film fraternity and well-wishers can only pray for his recovery.