Tom Alter, an outstanding Indian cinema actor with an appearance resembling a foreigner, made his looks a strength on screen. Although he was originally American, he fully embraced Indian culture. He passed away in 2017, and his last film was released nine years after his death.
The film 'Dial 1975', which was initially planned for release in 2016, remained in development for a long time due to several reasons. This movie is based on the events of the 1975 emergency. Tom's son, Jamie Alter, said that his father was very enthusiastic about this project because it gave him the opportunity to try something new after many years of playing similar roles. The film also features a talented actor like Keke Menon.
Jamie added that in 2023, when he worked with Keke Menon, Menon himself expressed regret over why the film had taken so long to be released. The film was directed by Navneet Bahal and Vibhu Kashyap and is dedicated to the 1975 emergency. It was originally titled 'Sun 75' but later received the name 'Dial 1975' and was released on the Wave OTT platform.
It is reported that the film was delayed year after year due to objections from the censorship board, lack of funds, and problems with theater screenings. Tom Alter, born in Musuri, Uttarakhand, immersed himself so deeply in Hindi and Indian culture that he quickly became one of the most reliable actors in Hindi cinema. The actor began his career in the 1970s and played numerous roles in films such as 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi', 'Kranti', 'Ram Teri Ganga Mali', 'Gandhi', and 'Vir-Jara'. His specialty was not only his English accent or foreign look but also the depth in his pronunciation of dialogues, voice, and acting, which made even minor roles memorable.
Active in three fields—theater, cinema, and television—Tom Alter proved that acting has no nationality. An actor who fully embodies a role becomes a favorite of the audience. Tom Alter, who worked in films in over 100 different languages during his 37-year career and was considered a theatrical legend, died of cancer on September 29, 2017.


