Anupam Kher is an Indian Actor and Producer. He is best-known for his roles in Silver Linings Playbook, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, and Rang De Basanti. He has worked in movies of different languages and is the only actor to win the 5 consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Comic Role.
Contents
Biography/Wiki
Anupam Kher was born on 7 March 1955 (age 65; as in 2020) in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. He did his schooling from DAV Higher Secondary School, Lakkar Bazar, Shimla. Further, he pursued his graduation in Economics from Government College, Himachal Pradesh University. While in college, Anupam participated in various stage dramas and was named as the Best Actor of the Himachal Pradesh University. During the said period, he attended a walk-in audition at the Department of Indian Theatre, Punjab University, Chandigarh; offering a scholarship of ₹200.
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| Real Name(s) | Anupam Kher |
| Profession(s) | Actor, Producer, Director, Teacher, Entrepreneur |
| Birthplace | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Pisces |
| Hometown | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| School | DAV Higher Secondary School, Lakkar Bazar, Shimla |
| College(s) | • Government College, Shimla • Punjab University (PU), Chandigarh • National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi |
| Educational Qualification | Graduate in Theatre Drama |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste/Ethnicity | Brahmin |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
| Address | • 402 Marina, Juhu Tara Raod, Juhu Beach, Mumbai • 'Kherwadi,' an eight-bedroom mansion in Shimla |
| Hobbies | Listening to Old Hindi Songs, Reading |
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| Height (Centi.) (approx.) | 170 cm |
| Height (meters) | 1.70 m |
| Height (feet) | 5’ 7” |
| Weight (Kilograms)(approx.) | 70 kg |
| Weight (Pounds) | 154 lbs |
| Biceps (approx.) | 13 Inches |
| Waist’s Size (approx.) | 34 Inches |
| Chest (approx.) | 40 Inches |
| Hair Color | Bald |
| Eye’s Color | Dark Brown |
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| Debut | Bollywood: Aagaman (1982) Telugu: Trimurtulu (1987)  English: Nehru: The Jewel of India (1987) Malayalam: Indrajaalam (1990)  Kannada: Parijatha (2012)  Marathi: Kashala Udyachi Baat (2013)  Chinese: Lust, Caution (2007)  Hollywood: Gandhi Park (2007) Punjabi: Tera Mera Ki Rishta (2009)  Producer: Bariwali (2000, Bengali film)  Director: Om Jai Jagadish (2002)  TV: Sawaal 10 Crore Ka (2001, as a host) |
| Awards/Honours | Filmfare Awards 1984: Best Actor for the film 'Saaransh'  1988: Best Supporting Actor for the film 'Vijay' 1989: Best Comedian for the film 'Ram Lakhan' 1991: Best Comedian for the film 'Lamhe' 1992: Best Comedian for the film 'Khel' 1993: Best Comedian for the film 'Darr' 1995: Best Comedian for the film 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' National Film Awards 1990: Special Jury Award for the film Daddy 2005: Special Jury Award for the film 'Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara' Honours 2004: Padma Shri  2016: Padma Bhushan  Other Awards 2006: Global Indian Film Award - Best Actor in a Comic Role (Critics) for the film 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' 2015: Kalakar Award for The Actor of the Year 2018: Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Award |
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| Father Name | shkarnath Kher (Worked as a Clerk in the Forest Department) |
| Mother Name | Dulari Kher (Homemaker) |
| Brother’s Name | Raju Kher (Younger, Actor) |
| Sisters | N/A |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife/Spouse | • First Wife- Madhumalti Kapoor (Actress, Divoced in the early 1980s) • Second Wife- Kirron Kher (m. 1985-present)  |
| Ex-Girlfriends | Kirron Kher (Actress, Politician) |
| Marriage Year | • In the late 1970s (with Madhumalti Kapoor) • Year 1985 (with Kirron Kher) |
| Children | Step-Son- Sikandar Kher (Actor) Daughter- N/A |
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| Net Worth (approx.) | ₹400 crore (as in 2018) |
| Salary (approx.) | ₹2.17 crore (as in 2014) |
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| Favourite Food(s) | Fried Prawns In Hunan Sauce, Kashmiri Dum Aloo, Rajmah-Chawal, Chinese Cuisines |
| Favourite Actor | Robert De Niro, Ranbir Kapoor |
| Favourite Actress | Vidya Balan |
| Favourite Film | Sharaabi, Hera Pheri |
| Favourite Politician | Narendra Modi |
| Favourite Restaurant | Sampan in Mumbai |
| Favourite Colour | Black |
| Favourite Sport | Cricket and Kabaddi |
| Favourite Cricketer | Yuvraj Singh |
| Favourite Destination(s) | London and Dubai |
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| Cars Collection | BMW,  Mahindra Scorpio |
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| Controversies | • In May 2016, Anupam Kher raked up a storm on Twitter when he shared a collage of Kashmiri Pandits killed during the 1990 exodus. The tweet came in regard to the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen's 'poster boy' Burhan Wani in an encounter. Twitteratis felt that the tweet instigated 'hate thoughts'. • In January 2016, Kader Khan had a dig at Anupam Kher after seeing his name on the Padma awardees' list. Khan was quoted as saying, "What has Anupam Kher done to receive the Padma Bhushan?" • Anupam and the Congress Politician, Shashi Tharoor, have been involved in mulitple Twitter battles over various issues. For instance, in 2016, after Shashi made a comment on Anupam's statement, "I am scared to be called a Hindu," and Anupam called him a "Congi Chamcha."  • In January 2019, a Patna-based lawyer, Sudhir Kumar Ojha, filed a case against Anupam Kher and Akshaye Khanna to Muzaffarpur's Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) for damaging the image of Manmohan Singh and Sanjaya Baru in the film 'Accidental Prime Minister' (2019). |
Anupam Kher : Lesser known facts
- Does Anupam Kher smoke: No (Quit)
- Does Anupam Kher drink alcohol: Yes
- Anupam was born into a middle-class Kashmiri Pandit family with roots in Srinagar.
- In his childhood, he was a below average student who never scored more than 38 marks. Moreover, he was also mediocre at sports. The only field in which he excelled was theatre and drama.
- He took his artistic skills to the next level when he was pursuing his graduation in Government College, Shimla, and was named the best actor of Himachal Pradesh University.
- When he was studying at the Himachal Pradesh University, he saw a walk-in audition advertisement of Panjab University, Chandigarh; offering a scholarship of ₹200. To attend the audition, Anupam stole ₹118 from his mother, which she had kept at their house’s temple.
- When he first reached Chandigarh for the walk-ins, he was given an option to perform either on a script for girls or boys. Intuitively, he chose the script for girls. His interviewer, Balwant Gargi, gave him the remark, “Very bad but very daring.”
- In the evening of the same day, he returned to Shimla, where he saw the police being called by his parents about the lost money. When his mother asked him about the money, Anupam confidently lied and said that he knows nothing. A week later, when his father asked him, “Where had you gone that day?” he uttered the truth and received a tight slap from his mother. However, his father supported him and said,
Don’t worry he is getting a scholarship of ₹200, he will return your ₹100.”
- On 27 July 1974, he again reached Chandigarh, this time for a longer stint. While learning the dramatic skills at Panjab University, the first lesson that he learned by Balwant Gargi, was how to pour tea properly.
- Anupam first met Kirron Kher when they were both doing theatre in Chandigarh and later became the best of friends.
- During his one year stint at Panjab University’s Department of Theatre, he did theatre plays with Balwant Gargi and Amal Allana, he earned a gold medal that provided him with a direct entry at the National School of Drama (NSD).
- In the late 1970s, Kirron married Gautam Berry, whereas, Anupam married Madhumalati, however, their friendship and doing theatre together, still continued.
- Anupam passed out of NSD in 1978, after which he got a job of a lecturer in drama at the Bhartendu Drama Centre in Lucknow. After a year, he left Lucknow and reached Mumbai on 3 June 1981, where his real struggle began.
- During his initial days in Mumbai, he used to live in a chawl. When he was struggling for survival in Mumbai, he called his brother from Shimla, who started working at a tin factory in Mumbai; earning a salary of ₹700, which made Anupam’s survival a bit easier.
- After being rejected by several film producrs, he met Mahesh Bhatt, who offered him a film ‘Saaransh’ (1984). However, the producers of the Rajshri Films didn’t want to experiment with a new face and opted for Sanjeev Kumar. When Anupam came to know about his exit from the film, he reached Mahesh Bhatt with frustration and called him a “con man.” Mahesh stood by Anupam and gave an ultimatum to the production house that he would do the film only if Anupam will be given the lead role.
- ‘Saaransh’ proved to be the first milestone in his career; as the 28-year-old Anupam played the role of a 60-year-old in the film, which earned him numerous accolades.
- After the success of ‘Saaransh,’ he was offered nearly 100 films in just a span of two weeks.
- The derailed marriage lives of both Anupam and Kirron made them realize love for each other when they both were in Kolkata for a theatre play. According to Kirron, “When he was leaving the room, he looked back at me, and something passed between us. He came and knocked on my door, and said “I want to talk to you. He then said, “I think I have fallen in love with you.” And suddenly there was this immense, intense change, the chemistry exploded. I got a divorce and married him. He had nothing then.”
- He has also essayed the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the 1986 TV Series ‘Raj Se Swaraj Tak.’
- His initial stint as a producer didn’t work out well; as he was under huge debt. To repay the debts, his wife, Kirron supported him by again working in Bollywood.
- He is the only actor to win the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role 5 times.
- Apart from being an actor, he is also a successful entrepreneur and is the proprietor of ‘Actor Prepares’, ‘Final Cut,’ ‘Anupam Kher Company, ‘Anupam Kher’s Talent Company,’ ‘Curtain Call,’ and ‘Anupam Kher Production.’
- In 2008, he founded ‘Anupam Kher Foundation,’ which aims at providing education to underprivileged children and medical care to people with life-limiting diseases.
- After living in the rented houses for several years, Anupam bought the first ever house for his family in Shimla in 2016. He gifted it to his mother and named it “Kherwadi.”
- He is a staunch believer of astrology.
- He is one of the co-founders of People for Animals (PFA), one of India’s largest animal welfare organization.
- He has starred in nearly 500 films in multiple languages including Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, English, and Chinese
- His face has been utilised by the popular YouTube prank caller “California Crook.”
- He has served as the chairperson of both the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Censor Board of India. In October 2018, he resigned from the post of FTII Chairman due to his commitments to an international TV show in the U. S.
It has been an honour, a privilege & a great learning experience to be the Chairman of the prestigious @FTIIOfficial. But because of my international assignments I won’t have much time to devote at the institute. Hence decided to send my resignation. Thank you. 🙏 @Ra_THORe pic.twitter.com/lglcREeYM2
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) October 31, 2018
- In 2019, Anupam portrayed the role of the former Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, in the film ‘The Accidental Prime Minister.’ According to Anupam, it has been his toughest role ever. Moreover, he did meditation for the first time in his life; as he was finding it difficult to bring out the composure of Manmohan Singh on-screen.
