In his
initial years till 1983 in Mumbai, Anupam Kher struggled like millions of
newcomers with a dream and survived doing plays at the theatre. At one of the
plays, he was once spotted by Director Mahesh Bhatt, who called him at
his residence. An excited Kher reached his house with a cassette o .. Read More
In his
initial years till 1983 in Mumbai, Anupam Kher struggled like millions of
newcomers with a dream and survived doing plays at the theatre. At one of the
plays, he was once spotted by Director Mahesh Bhatt, who called him at
his residence. An excited Kher reached his house with a cassette of a TV play
Wapsi, in which he had played an old man. Incidentally, Bhatt’s film ‘Saaransh’
was also based on an old man and his fight against the corrupt system. Bhatt
was impressed and signed him for the film.
Kher felt on
the cloud nine and he thus began preparing for the role. The film’s shooting
was to commence on January 1, 1984, when suddenly Kher came to know that Bhatt had
replaced him with Sanjeev Kumar. He was shattered and in a fit of fury,
he reached Bhatt’s house and confirmed the news. To his horror, Bhatt confirmed
but assured Kher he has another old man role for him in the film. Kher was
heartbroken and like a child, he broke down and began hurling abuses at Bhatt.
In an interview, Kher said, “I had decided to
leave Mumbai but before going I wanted to curse Bhatt for showing me a dream
and then breaking. But after watching my angst and my confidence to do justice
to the character Bhatt Sahab immediately called Rajshri Pictures (Producers of
the film) and said he would be making the film only with Kher or not make
the film. Rajshri Films agreed and the rest is history.”
Saaransh was released on May 25, 1984.
Although the film didn't perform well commercially, but was a huge critical
success and was chosen as India’s official entry for the Academy
Award for Best Foreign Language Film, while it was not nominated. Kher played a
60-year-old man at the age of 29, grieving his son’s death, who pleaded for the
last remains of his body. The role depicted pathos and emotional depth and his
portrayal of loss, courage, and moral strength won him immense critical acclaim
and won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor. After Saaransh, Kher signed
57 films in one week and to his fortune most of the films were super hits
like Arjun, Aakhree Raasta, Karma, Tezaab, Vijay, Hatya, Kaash,
Sansar and Ram Lakhan.
In
K.Bhagyaraj's Crime drama Aakhree Raasta 1986, Kher co-starred alongside Amitabh
Bachchan which became a hit. His next film Subhash Ghai’s ensemble
actioner Karma wherein he played the ruthless villain "Dr.
Michael Dang" alongside Dilip Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor,
Naseeruddin Shah, and Sridevi. The film became a blockbuster hit, and Kher got
noticed by the audience. The same year, he played a supporting role in Insaaf
Ki Awaaz which was another commercial success. In 1987 Kher played a series
of negative roles in films, such as hits Hatya, Zakhmi Aurat and the blockbuster
Tezaab which became the highest-earning film of the year. In
1988, Vijay failed at the box office but won him the Filmfare Award
for Best Supporting Actor. In 1989 he starred in Ram
Lakhan, Tridev and Chandni, all three of which were backed
up with chartbuster music, emerged as massive blockbusters at the box office
and were among the top five highest-grossing films of the year.
Some of
his most memorable performances are -as a middle-class man in Khosla Ka
Ghosla (2006), and as a criminal in Special 26 ( 2013). Police
Commissioner Rathor in A Wednesday! (2008), as the Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh The Accidental Prime Minister (2019), a brain disease
patient in Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara or an alcoholic father
in Daddy. While he has excelled in doing serious character roles in
Saaransh, Vijay, and Sansar, he has nailed the comic roles too
in Darr, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Ram Lakhan, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun,
Lamhe, Darr, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. He has played some of the iconic
negative roles as a villain in Films like Karma, Roop ki Rani Choron Ka
Raja, and Tezaab. His film The Kashmir Files has been
declared as the most iconic film in Indian cinema having gathered worldwide
acclaim, and record-breaking box office collections, both at domestic and
international markets. Most recently in the film Vijay 69, where he
plays a sports icon winning a triathlon at the age of 69.
Stint
in Hollywood, Direction & Production
Kher has
worked with acclaimed international directors such as Ang Lee, David O.
Russell, Woody Allen, Gurinder Chaddha and the Wachowskis. Some of his
international projects include the films Silver Linings Playbook, Hotel
Mumbai, The Boy with the Top Knot, The Big Sick and the series Sense 8 and New
Amsterdam.
He also
ventured into direction and production and made the clean, family drama Om
Jai Jagadish (2002) showcasing Indian values, which failed at the box
office. As a producer, he made hard-hitting films like Maine Gandhi Ko
Nahin Mara (2005) which fetched him a special jury National Award
for outstanding performance but did not do well commercially.
Television
Shows
Anupam
Kher has done many TV shows as a Host like Say Na Something To Anupam
Uncle, Sawaal Dus Crore Ka, Lead India and The Anupam Kher Show -
Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai in which he brought many top stars who narrated
their rags to riches story thus inspiring millions of people to keep trying as
hard work pays off!
Awards
& Recognitions:
In 2004,
Kher was bestowed the Padma Shri Award, followed by the Padma Bhushan, the
third highest civilian award in India, in 2016, for his distinguished service
of higher order in art. He is a recipient of the IIFA Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Indian Cinema, was nominated for the prestigious British Academy
Film Awards (BAFTA), and received a record-breaking eight consecutive Filmfare
Awards.
For performance in Saaransh
Kher won his first National Film Award – Special Jury Award as well
as the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics). For his performance
as a greedy father in the film Dil, Kher received his third nomination
in the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. His performances
in Saudagar and Lamhe earned him a Nomination in the
Best Supporting Actor category for the Filmfare awards.
A Motivational Speaker & Teacher
Anupam Kher is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (USA). He was formerly the Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the National School of Drama and Film Certification Board of India. In addition to his acting career, he established Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares in 2005, a world-renowned acting school. In 2010, he was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of the Pratham Education Foundation, which strives to improve children's education in India. In addition to his acting career, he established Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares in 2005, a world-renowned acting school. On 20 September 2021, Kher was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Philosophy of Hindu Studies by the Hindu University of America.
Anupam Kher is the only actor in the world who has staged his biography in the play Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai (Nothing is impossible) which has completed over 400 shows worldwide and is the genesis of his reputation as a motivational speaker, widely sought by corporations and educational institutions including Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Kellogg School of Management.
As a Philanthropist
He was awarded the Dalai Lama Award for his work with underprivileged children through the Anupam Kher Foundation, founded in 2008, and was also appointed as a UN Ambassador for the HeForShe campaign.
