Celebrating four decades of an illustrious career in Bollywood, Anupam Kher reflects on his journey and the evolving landscape of the Hindi film industry. From his debut in Saaransh (1984) to his recent successes, Kher’s career has been marked by versatility and resilience.
“People try to write you off based on the number of years you spend in an industry. But I have started doing my best work now,” Kher remarks, describing his journey as “a dream run” and emphatically stating, “it’s just the beginning.”
Source : HT
A Changed Industry
Kher has witnessed significant transformations in Bollywood. “Initially, I did everything with a sense of competition or to be called the best. But now, I am not in any race,” he shares. According to Kher, today’s industry is dominated by box office figures and social media metrics, creating a landscape where proving one’s worth with every project is crucial.
Source:- india today
Over 40 years, Kher has been part of 541 films, including iconic titles like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), A Wednesday (2008), and The Kashmir Files (2022).
Advice from a Legend
Reflecting on advice that has guided his career, Kher recalls a piece of wisdom from the late filmmaker Manmohan Desai: “When I was shooting for Saaransh, he was shooting for Mard (1985) in the same place and he told me to ‘keep yourself busy, don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t become choosy, just work every single day.’”
Venturing West
Kher’s career also includes successful stints in the West with films like Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and TV shows like New Amsterdam. “It was challenging because I am a product of Hindi medium and I think in Hindi. I was petrified because I don’t think in English,” he admits. Despite these challenges, Kher prides himself on breaking the myth of typecasting by embracing a variety of roles.
As Kher looks to the future, he remains optimistic and energized. His journey, marked by continual growth and adaptation, underscores his belief that the best is yet to come. “I did mediocre roles also, and I own them, but I also did Saaransh at the age of 27. I broke the myth of typecasting,” he concludes, underscoring his determination to keep evolving and contributing to cinema
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