Even before its launch, Bollywood veteran Om Puri's biography, written by his wife, has generated controversy over portions in the book, which refer to his relationship with various women.

Dismissing suggestions that he was upset with his wife Nandita for making public the details of his personal life, the 59-year-old actor said his wife is a journalist of repute and he is proud of her writing.

"The book is a tribute to my friends, my colleagues, my mentors and the women in my life. I am proud of my story, my childhood and my journey and I see it as an inspirational story for millions of Indians," Puri said.

"It pains me that because of the sensationalism of certain segments of the press, my family and I have to go through so much embarrassment. It has been completely blown out of proportion and they have added words I have not said or even heard of," the national-award-winning actor said.

'Unlikely Hero: Om Puri' by Nandita C Puri, is slated to hit book stores later this month.

Indignant with the media focus on his relationships, author Nandita said that the book has been misrepresented. She said that she has tried to present an entire era of Indian cinema through her husband's life story but media has chosen to portray it as "pornography".

"Om Puri is a great actor of Indian cinema and I have tried my best to represent the era of 80s through his story.

The book is about his childhood, about his struggles and his contribution to the cinema. There is only one chapter about his relationships in the book," Nandita said.

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