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Master of Emotions: Anupam Kher
Veteran actor Anupam Kher is one of the most versatile actors in the Indian film industry. In his career span of four decades, Kher has appeared in over 540 films and 100 plays, over 35 years spanning a wide range of genres and languages, primarily in Bollywood but also in Hollywood and other international cinema.
Anupam Kher’s roles have touched upon a range of emotions as an actor from intense, emotional characters to humorous, supportive roles. Each performance, often paired with memorable dialogues, has cemented his place as a versatile and beloved actor in Indian cinema. He has played iconic characters in critical and commercial hits including Saaransh, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Karma, Khosla Ka Ghosla, A Wednesday, Special 26, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, and The Accidental Prime Minister and The Kashmir Files. In 2019, Anupam Kher was listed as one of the top ten social media influencers in the world. Apart from being an actor, Kher wears many hats: He is a producer, a motivational speaker, an author and an acting coach.
He was educated at D. A. V. School in Shimla. His Passion for acting began at a very tender age when he started imitating his school teachers, his father and his grandfather and eventually joined the theatre in his school and won the award for the fairest Boy in a school Drama.
Although he loved his newfound vocation, he started losing interest in his studies and flunked in class Xth. But instead of receiving a thrashing from his father, he was encouraged for his achievement in drama. His father told him never to take failure as negativity but as a stepping stone for success ahead. This gave him the required boost in his acting career, as he enrolled himself in the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi and graduated in 1978.
After completing his graduation he wanted to come to Mumbai to try acting, but could not come due to financial constraints. He came across an advertisement from an Ex NSD friend who promised Rs 5000 and free accommodation in Mumbai, which finally made him reach the city of dreams to begin his career in theatre before moving to film. When he reached Mumbai in 1981 the friend who promised the job and to pick him up at the station did not arrive, and when he reached his house he declined to recognize him. While he just had 37 Rs in his pocket, he had no option, but to share a 10x10 room with a lady and her family of four.
Anupam Kher was born on March 7, 1955, in Shimla into a Kashmiri Pandit family. His father, Pushkar Nath Kher worked as a clerk in the forest department of Himachal Pradesh and his mother, Dulari Kher was a housewife.
Anupam Kher and Kiran Kher’s marriage is a typical tale of Bollywood film Anupam Kher and his wife Kiron Thakur Singh aka Kiron Kher were theatre artist working together in Chandigarh. They were close buddies and knew each other very well. Their relation was of true friends and nothing beyond that. Hence when Kiron married Gautam Berry, Anupam Kher played an important role during her marriage. However when Kiron came to Mumbai she had lost her charm and bubbly nature. She was now mother of a son and looked unhappy in marriage. Incidentally Anupam Kher too had a rough marriage with his first wife Madhumalti and had divorced her. Thus both were in the same boat. While working together for Nadira Babbar’s play Anupam expressed his emotions’ to Kiron and she reciprocated. Thus like a typical Bollywood film their romance blossomed and the two got married in 1985 after Anupam Kher was established in Bollywood as a brilliant actor with his performance in Mahesh Bhatt’s film Saaransh, making him a star!
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), 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.
| # | Released Date | Type | Credited As | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 Dec 2025 | Film | Actor | Metro In Dino |
| 2 | 17 Jan 2025 | Film | Supporting Actor | Emergency |
| 3 | 14 Jan 2025 | Film | Supporting Actor | The India House |
| 4 | 31 Dec 2024 | Film | ProducerDirector | Tanvi The Great |
| 5 | 08 Nov 2024 | Film | Actor | Vijay 69 |
| 6 | 04 Oct 2024 | Film | Actor | The Signature |
| 7 | 31 May 2024 | Film | Supporting Actor | Chhota Bheem And The Curse Of Damyaan |
| 8 | 01 Mar 2024 | Film | Supporting Actor | Kaagaz 2 |
| 9 | 16 Feb 2024 | Film | Supporting Actor | Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay |
| 10 | 20 Oct 2023 | Film | Supporting Actor | Tiger Nageswara Rao |
| 11 | 19 Oct 2023 | Film | Supporting Actor | Ghost |
| 12 | 28 Sep 2023 | Film | Actor | The Vaccine War |
