From Stuntman to Screen Villain: The Heartbreaking Struggle of Ghatak and Nayak’s Iconic Actor Poonam Balam

You may not remember his name, but you’ve surely seen this actor’s face—writhing in pain on a hospital bed today, but once a menacing villain on the silver screen. Known for powerful roles in Sunny Deol’s blockbuster Ghatak, Suniel Shetty’s Rakshak, and Anil Kapoor’s Nayak, actor Poonam Balam is now fighting the toughest battle of his life.

A Fallen Star’s Silent Suffering

A once-fearless screen villain, Poonam Balam is now at the mercy of a relentless illness. Years of alcohol addiction have left both his kidneys damaged beyond repair, forcing him onto life-saving dialysis every other day. Once celebrated in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films, the villain who terrified audiences is today counting his days in unbearable pain.

A Legacy of Villainy on Screen

Poonam Balam started his acting career in 1988 with Prabhu’s film Kal Yugam. His robust frame, intense body language, and chilling eyes quickly made him a favorite for villainous roles. So impactful was his image that Bollywood soon took notice, casting him in many dangerous and memorable roles throughout the 90s.

Before becoming an actor, Poonam was a skilled stuntman—renowned as “Spare Parts” for his ability to perform dangerous scenes without injury.

The High Cost of Illness and Isolation

Now, both his kidneys have failed. Explaining his ordeal, Poonam says, “I need an injection every other day. I have taken 750 injections at the same spot over four years—it’s incredibly tough. I can’t eat salty food or eat to my heart’s content. May God never show even my enemies these days. I’ve been married for 25 years, but I haven’t called my family to the hospital. I am all alone at home. I’ve already spent 35 lakhs on treatment. Sadly, many didn’t even bother to ask about me.”

Despite sharing the screen with superstars like Suniel Shetty, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith, Vijay, Sathyaraj, and Vijayakanth, Poonam Balam now lives in painful solitude. At his peak, he worked in 10 films in a single year (1999) and last appeared on screen in the 2022 film Kaatteri. His deteriorating health prevented him from facing the camera since then.

A Prayer for the Forgotten

As he awaits the uncertain future, Poonam Balam spends his days alone, fighting a battle that most of the world no longer notices. We pray for his recovery and hope his contributions to Indian cinema are never forgotten.