Understanding the Question: Merchant Ivory Actor Who Died in Dec 2017

The question asks to identify a famous actor or actress known for their work in English movies produced by Merchant Ivory Productions, who passed away in December 2017. This requires knowledge of actors associated with Merchant Ivory and their death dates.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at the options provided and consider their association with Merchant Ivory Productions and their death dates:

Identifying the Correct Actor: Shashi Kapoor and Merchant Ivory

Based on the analysis, Shashi Kapoor had a significant and well-known association with Merchant Ivory Productions. He starred in several of their notable English-language films, which helped him gain international recognition alongside his successful career in Bollywood.

Key Merchant Ivory films featuring Shashi Kapoor include:

• The Householder (1963)
• Shakespeare Wallah (1965)
• Bombay Talkie (1970)
• Heat and Dust (1983)

These roles solidify his status as a famous actor who worked extensively with Merchant Ivory Productions.

Confirming the Death Date

The question specifies that the actor/actress died in December 2017. Historical records confirm that Shashi Kapoor passed away on December 4, 2017. This date matches the requirement in the question precisely.

Comparing this with the other options:

• Om Puri died in January 2017.
• Reema Lagoo died in May 2017.
• Vinod Khanna died in April 2017.

None of the other prominent actors listed who passed away in 2017 died in December of that year and also had a significant Merchant Ivory filmography comparable to Shashi Kapoor.

Therefore, Shashi Kapoor is the actor who fits all the criteria mentioned in the question: famous actor, worked with Merchant Ivory Productions in English movies, and died in December 2017.

Revision Table: Key Details for Merchant Ivory Actor

Additional Information: Merchant Ivory Productions

Merchant Ivory Productions was a partnership between director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Known for their elegant and critically acclaimed films, often period dramas, they frequently featured Indian actors and settings, bridging Indian and Western cinematic worlds. Shashi Kapoor was one of the actors who became closely associated with their work, appearing in four films over two decades.