Anupam Kher

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Anupam Kher
AnupamKher2.jpg
Kher at the Green carpet of the 18th IIFA Awards 2017
Born (1955-03-07) 7 March 1955 (age 64)
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
OccupationActor, producer, director, teacher
Years active1982–present
TitleChairman of the Film and Television Institute of India
Term11 October 2017 – 31 October 2018
PredecessorGajendra Chauhan
Spouse(s)
Kirron Kher (m. 1985)
RelativesRaju Kher (brother)
AwardsFull list
HonoursPadma Shri (2004)
Padma Bhushan (2016)
Websitewww.anupamkherfoundation.org

Anupam Kher (born 7 March 1955) is an Indian actor and the former Chairman of Film and Television Institute of India. He is the recipient of two National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards, he has appeared in over 500 films in several languages and many plays.[1] He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in Saaransh (1984), he holds the record for winning the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian five times in total for: Ram Lakhan (1989), Lamhe (1991), Khel (1992), Darr (1993) and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995). He won the National Film Award for Special Mention twice for his performances in Daddy (1989) and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005). For his performance in the film Vijay (1988), he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Besides working in Hindi films, he has also appeared in international films such as the Golden Globe nominated Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Ang Lee's Golden Lion–winning Lust, Caution (2007), and David O. Russell's Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012). He received a BAFTA nomination for his supporting role in the British television sitcom The Boy with the Topknot (2018).[2]

He has held the post of chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama in India;[3] the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution in the field of cinema and arts.

Anupam Kher was appointed FTII chairman in October 2017,[4] however his appointment was cited as problematic due to his pro-BJP stance[5][6][7] and prolonged absences.[8] On 31 October 2018, he resigned as the chairman of the FTII, citing his work commitments for the American TV show New Amsterdam.[9]

Early life[edit]

Kher was born on 7 March 1955[10] in Shimla, into a Hindu family,[11] his father was a clerk and he had a modest upbringing. He was educated at D. A. V. School in Shimla.[12] In his struggling days as an actor in Mumbai, he slept on railway platform for a month.[13][promotional source?]

In 1978, Kher graduated from the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi;[3] some of his early roles were in plays performed at the Himachal Pradesh University.[14] He taught drama in Raj Bisaria’s Bharatendu Natya Akademi in Lucknow for a small part in his directorial debut movie Sheeshay ka Ghar.[5][15]

Career[edit]

In 1984, a 27-year-old Kher played a retired middle class man who loses his son in Saaransh. Kher said that he lost his hair at a young age, and thus, his first role was playing a 65-year-old at the age of 27.[13] Subsequently, he hosted TV shows such as Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle, Sawaal Dus Crore Ka, Lead India, and The Anupam Kher Show - Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai.

Kher has had many comic roles but he has also played a variety of roles.[vague] For his role in Daddy (1989), he received the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance.[citation needed]

Anupam with wife Kirron, December 2014

He has starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan in many films[citation needed] such as Darr (1993), Zamaana Deewana (1995), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Chaahat (1996), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Veer-Zaara (2004), Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), and Happy New Year (2014).

He ventured into directing with Om Jai Jagadish (2002) and has been a producer, he produced and starred in the film Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005). He received the Best Actor Award from the Karachi International Film Festival for his performance.[citation needed] He played the role of the Police Commissioner, Rathor, in the critically and commercially acclaimed film, A Wednesday.[citation needed]

Kher is known internationally for Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Bride and Prejudice (2004), The Mistress of Spices (2006) and Lust, Caution (2007), Speedy Singhs (2011), and TV show ER. In 2012, he co-starred in the Academy Award-winning Silver Linings Playbook, he has said that he is not desperate to be part of the Hollywood circle and "Silver Linings Playbook was very interesting to do because it was the best role for an Asian actor, and had an amazing cast."[13]

Kher has written and starred in a play about his own life called Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, which was directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.[14][16]

Until recently,[when?] he served as chairman of the Indian Film Censor Board.[citation needed]

In 2007, Anupam Kher and Satish Kaushik, who studied togher at NSD,[3] started a film production company, Karol Bagh Productions,[17] their first film, Tere Sang, was directed by Satish Kaushik.[18]

In 2011, he starred alongside Mohanlal and Jayaprada in the Malayalam language romantic drama Pranayam. Kher chose Pranayam as one of the seven best films of his career.[19]

He also starred in a number of Marathi films such as Thoda Tuza...Thoda Maza,[20] Kashala Udyachi Baat,[21] and Punjabi films such as Yaaran Naal Baharan.[22]

In 2009, Kher voiced Carl Fredricksen in the Hindi-dubbed version of the Disney-Pixar animated film Up.[23]

Anupam Kher has also appeared in The Dirty Politics; the movie also features Om Puri and Jackie Shroff.[24]

In 2014, Kher starred in the British film Shongram, a fictional romantic drama set during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.[25]

In 2016, Anupam Kher was a narrator in the ABP News documentary TV series Bharatvarsh,[26][27] which showcased the journey from ancient India to the 19th century.[28][29][30]

In late 2016, Anupam Kher produced Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par, a TV drama airing on Zindagi.[31]

Starting in fall of 2018, Anupam Kher starred in a new NBC medical drama TV series New Amsterdam[32] as Dr. Vijay Kapoor (a neurologist), he also appeared as Shahbaz Karim in the BBC1 drama Mrs Wilson.[33]

In 2019, Kher starred as the former Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh in the political, biographical drama film The Accidental Prime Minister.[34][35]

Acting career[edit]

Further information: Anupam Kher filmography

Debut, career struggles, and breakthrough (1984–88)[edit]

In 1984, Kher made his acting debut in Bollywood, with the Mahesh Bhatt-directed drama film Saaransh, in which he portrayed a 65 year-old retired middle class teacher who loses his son; the film was a moderate box office success though Kher's performance earned him widespread praise. He won a number of awards for his portrayal of the old father, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

From 1985 to 1988, he continued to work in several other projects. All of them were moderately successful, and his performance in that films was not well received. However, Kher's performance as Shyam Lal, a man whose daughter is forced to dance for making money for him, in N. Chandra's action thriller Tezaab (1988), which was the top-grossing film of the year and co-starred Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, was highly anticipated. Later in 1988, his performance in the poorly-received Vijay was praised too, winning him a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Public recognization (1989–99)[edit]

Kher's career improved in 1989, when he received wider recognization for his performances in Ram Lakhan, a thriller by Subhash Ghai, and Daddy, a television film that reunited him with Bhatt; the former co-starred an ensemble cast including Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Dimple Kapadia, Raakhee, Satish Kaushik, Amrish Puri and Paresh Rawal, and featured Kher in the supporting part of Deodhar Shastri, a man who disapproves his daughter's marriage with her childhood friend who is also her love interest. Ram Lakhan proved to be the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year with a gross of over ₹326 million (US$4.7 million) worldwide. The latter earned him universal acclaim, with several critics calling it his best performance at that point. Both Daddy and Ram Lakhan earned Kher several awards; for the former, he won a National Film Award — Special Mention and a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance; and for the latter, he garnered his first Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role (shared with Kaushik), also known as the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian.

Later in 1989, Kher starred in a sequel to the 1986 fantasy film Nagina, entitled Nigahen: Nagina Part II. Co-starring alongside Sridevi and Sunny Deol, he portrayed a snake charmer named Gorakh Nath, it did not perform well at the box office. He then appeared in a cameo for Yash Chopra's love triangle Chandni, and portrayed a police inspector in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's action film Parinda alongside Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff and Nana Patekar. Despite received a poor opening, Parinda was a critical and commercial success. Kher's final film of the year was Pankaj Parashar's slapstick comedy ChaalBaaz alongside Sridevi, Deol, and Rajinikanth. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, ChaalBaaz emerged as an economic success.

In 1990, Kher portrayed the antagonistic role of Hazari Prasad, a miser who tries to find a rich woman to marry his poor son, in Indra Kumar's directorial debut—the romance Dil, co-starring Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit. Dil received positive reviews from critics, and Kher's performance was praised. With domestic revenues of over ₹180 million (US$2.6 million), Dil was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year, and Kher received a Best Supporting Actor nomination at Filmfare for his work.

In 1991, Kher once again received acclaim for his work in Yash Chopra's romantic drama Lamhe, which starred Sridevi and Anil Kapoor in lead roles and featured him as Kapoor's childhood friend. Lamhe was a box office failure in India, but was an overseas success. Despite the film's poor performance at the box office, Kher won his second Filmfare Best Comedian Award for his performance.

The following year, Kher collaborated with Anil Kapoor for the fifth time (alongside Madhuri Dixit and Aruna Irani) in Indra Kumar's drama Beta (1992), the top-grossing Bollywood production of the year with a worldwide gross of ₹235 million (US$3.4 million). His comical performance in the film earned him another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. Later that year, he portrayed Dixit's uncle in the drama Khel, which earned him a third and a second consecutive Filmfare Best Comedian Award.

Kher next reunited with Yash Chopra for the romantic thriller Darr (1993), co-starring Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, and Sunny Deol, in which he starred as Chawla's brother. One of the top-grossing Hindi films of the year, it earned over ₹200 million (US$2.9 million) worldwide, and garnered Kher a fourth and a third consecutive Best Comedian at Filmfare. In addition to other awards, it won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

In 1994, Kher portrayed the owner of a factory in Raj Kanwar's thriller Laadla alongside Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Aruna Irani, Raveena Tandon and Farida Jalal, it received mixed reviews from critics, though became commercially successful, and grossed over ₹110 million (US$1.6 million) worldwide. Greater success came to Kher later that year when he starred alongside Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit in Sooraj R. Barjatya's romance Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, which became the highest-grossing Bollywood film at that point, with global revenues of over ₹1.85 billion (US$27 million). He eventually earned another Best Supporting Actor nomination at Filmfare, and the film proved his second consecutive movie to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film.

Kher's only release in 1995 was Aditya Chopra's romantic drama Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, about two non-residental Indians who fall in love during a trip across Europe. Kher's work as Dharamvir, the father of Khan's character, fetched him a fifth Filmfare Best Comedian Award. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge emerged as his second consecutive film to earn over ₹1 billion (US$14 million) worldwide, becoming a blockbuster just like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, and third consecutive film to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film. His next two films were the box office flops Chaahat (1996) and Gudgudee (1997). In both these films, Kher's performance was not well received.

He next starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukerji, and Archana Puran Singh in Karan Johar's romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). In this film, Kher played the comic role of Mr. Malhotra, a college principal, it was the top-grossing film of the year, with a worldwide gross of over ₹1.07 billion (US$15 million), to become Kher's third blockbuster success in the last four years, and garnered him another Best Comedian nomination at Filmfare.

In 1999, Kher played the father of Anil Kapoor's character in Satish Kaushik's women-centric drama Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain, that received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, he then teamed with David Dhawan for the comedy-drama Haseena Maan Jaayegi starring Sanjay Dutt, Govinda and Karisma Kapoor. Both these films were major commercial successes and among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 1999, with the latter earning over ₹360.93 million (US$5.2 million).

Personal life[edit]

His wife, actress Kirron Kher, is a Member of parliament from Chandigarh, belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party,[36][37] her son, his stepson, is actor Sikandar Kher.[38] In 2010, he was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of the Pratham Education Foundation, which strives to improve children's education in India.[39]

Kher is an ardent supporter of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi.[40][41][5]

Controversies[edit]

In 2017, Kher was accused of threatening to ruin the career of a Bengali actor to cover up a voice acting controversy involving his actor wife, Kirron Kher.[42]

Kher is known for his controversial political tweets regarding issues of Kashmiri Pandits,[43][44] 'intolerant' acting community,[45][46][47][48] and state-sponsored terrorism by Pakistan.[49][50]

Awards[edit]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Anupam Kher

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Been there, done that! Anupam Kher starts shooting for 501st film". Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Anupam Kher bags BAFTA Awards 2018 nomination for The Boy with the Topknot; Here's the Complete List". 4 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "NSD Graduates" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Anupam Kher appointed FTII chairman". The Economic Times. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Bamzai, Kaveree (31 July 2019). "The double life of Anupam Kher: Hollywood's favourite desi & BJP's pin-up patriot". The Print.
  6. ^ "Anupam Kher appointed new FTII chairman: His politics in his tweets, from award wapsi to JNU". The Indian Express. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Why Anupam Kher's Appointment As FTII Chairman Is Problematic". HuffPost India. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Naseeruddin Shah on FTII Chairman Anupam Kher: I Don't Think He's Been There More Than Twice". News18. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Anupam Kher Resigns as FTII Chairman Citing 'International Assignments'". NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  10. ^ Sundaram, Lasyapriya (10 March 2017). "Robert De Niro made Anupam Kher's birthday special". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Anupam Kher to work for Empowerment of Kashmiri Pandit Community". Hindustan Times. 11 April 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Hindustan Times". Hindustan Times. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  13. ^ a b c "Anupam Kher". Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  14. ^ a b Sanjay Mukherjee says:. "Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai: Anupam Kher's life struggle". Southasiatimes.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  15. ^ "SHEESHAY KA GHAR | British Board of Film Classification". bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Anupam Kher, like never before!". Rediff.com. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  17. ^ "UTV signs co-production deal with Kher and Kaushik". Sify. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  18. ^ "Tere Sang interview". Indyarocks.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  19. ^ "It's festive time for Malayalam films". Rediff. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  20. ^ Kher, Anupam (27 September 2012). "In Pune for the Mahurat of my second Marathi film Thoda Tuza Thoda Maza directed by Anil Kakde. Regional Cinema ki Jai Ho.:)". @anupampkher (in Romanian). Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Kashala Udyachi Baat (Marathi) - Review". wogma.com. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  22. ^ "Yaraan Naal Baharaan Trailer & Info". QuickLook Films. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  23. ^ Businessofcinema.com Team. "Disney.Pixar's 3D film UP to release in India on 18 September". Businessofcinema.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  24. ^ "Dirty Politics to shoot in Jaipur". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  25. ^ Chaudhury, Bodrul (13 August 2013). "Interview with Anupam Kher (Shongram)". Roobla. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014. Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "Anupam Kher to host TV show 'Bharatvarsh'".
  27. ^ "Anupam Kher to host historic show titled 'Bharatvarsh' on TV".
  28. ^ "Anupam Kher will take you into the past with his new TV show Bharatvarsh".
  29. ^ "Anupam Kher's new TV show Bharatvarsh: All you need to know about the series".
  30. ^ "Anupam Kher to host interactive quiz show 'Discover India'". Times of India. 8 June 2010.
  31. ^ "Anupam Kher does a cameo in his debut TV production Khwaabon Ki Zamin Par". Hindustan Times. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  32. ^ "NBC picks Anupam Kher's US TV show New Amsterdam for a full season".
  33. ^ "Anupam Kher's British mini-series Mrs Wilson premieres on BBC One". Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  34. ^ "Can't Change Facts: Anupam Kher To Congress On Controversy Over 'The Accidental Prime Minister'". https://www.outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 31 July 2019. External link in |website= (help)
  35. ^ "After 'Accidental Prime Minister', Manmohan Singh will be in everyone's hearts: Anupam Kher". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Anupam Kher on Kirron: I don't get to meet my wife much now". The Indian Express. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  37. ^ Sawhney, Anubha (13 July 2002). "Anupam Kher: A retake of life's scenes". Times of India. Retrieved 31 May 2007.
  38. ^ "Sikandar Kher Reveals Why He Can't Ask Anupam Kher To 'Recommend His Name' For Films". NDTV.com. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  39. ^ "Anupam Kher's new role". movies.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  40. ^ "Don't mind being called 'chamcha' of Narendra Modi: Anupam Kher". Hindustan Times. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  41. ^ "Anupam Kher Meets Narendra Modi, Says PM's Vision for India is Reassuring". News18. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  42. ^ "When Anupam Kher threatened to ruin the career of an actor". National Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  43. ^ "Naseeruddin Shah & Anupam Kher battle it out over Kashmiri Pandits". The Economic Times. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  44. ^ DelhiMay 29, Mail Today New; May 30, 2016UPDATED:; Ist, 2016 18:04. "Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher argue over Kashmir Pandit rehabilitation". India Today. Retrieved 31 July 2019.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  45. ^ DelhiDecember 22, India Today Web Desk New; December 22, 2018UPDATED:; Ist, 2018 21:41. "Anupam Kher to Naseeruddin Shah: How much more freedom do you need?". India Today. Retrieved 31 July 2019.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  46. ^ "Anupam Kher: Aamir Khan thinks he should have opinion on everything - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  47. ^ "Aamir Khan, India has made you what you are: Anupam Kher slams actor". Hindustan Times. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  48. ^ "Here's what Anupam Kher has to say about the silence of the 'intolerance gang' amid the West Bengal turmoil". Republic World. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  49. ^ "7 instances that chronicle @AnupamPkher, the angry man of Twitter". The Indian Express. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  50. ^ "Anupam Kher's on pro-Pakistan lobby: 'One who couldn't serve his country, of what good is he to another'". The Financial Express. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2019.

External links[edit]


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