A vast number of urban young Indians associate Anupam Kher with his work in American shows or as a passionate advocate of the BJP. However, the veteran actor with scores of films and impressive performances to his name has had more to his life than his current outing. From his struggles as an actor with no backing in Bollywood, his health issues, his financial debacles or altercation with media, his has been an eventful life. On his 65th birthday, a look at his chequered life.
The actor hit limelight for the first time, back in 1984, when as a 29-year-old man, he essayed the role of a 65-year-old who has lost his only son in Mahesh Bhatt directorial, Saransh. The stellar performance won him many laurels but life was to throw many more challenges at him. Imagine winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in your very first film!
Sadly, between 1985 to 1988, Anupam appeared in a number of films. While he was pretty ‘visible’ and films were moderate successes, his performances weren’t received well, till Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit starrer Tezaab came along. Playing father to Madhuri, the actor was again in spotlight. From there on, his successful turn began, where playing important character roles (mostly father to the lead actor), villains and comic roles, he would be a constant in many hit films. Anupam starred a number of successful films such as Ram Lakhan, Chandni, Parinda, Chaalbaaz, Dil, Beta and Darr to name a few. Come the ’90s and Anupam’s Midas touch with character roles would only get better. He starred in important character roles in superhits like Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenga and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The last three films would seal his image as the comic character actor to have in a film. This is an image that has served him well to this day.
