Anupam Kher (Kashmiri: انوپم کهیر, Hindi: अनà¥à¤ªà¤® खेर) (born 7 March 1955) is an Indian actor who has appeared in several hundred films and many plays. Mainly working in Bollywood (Hindi) films, he has also appeared in acclaimed international films such as the 2002 Golden Globe nominated Bend It Like Beckham, Ang Lee's 2007 Golden Lion winning Lust, Caution, and David O. Russell's 2013 Oscar winning Silver Linings Playbook.
He has held the post of Chairman of the Censor Board and National School of Drama in India. In 2004, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema. Kher has won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role five times.
Early life
Kher was born on 7 March 1955 and raised in Shimla, into a Brahmin ( Kashmiri Pandit ) family. His father was a clerk and he had a modest upbringing. He received education at D.A.V. School in Shimla. He is an alumnus and a former chairperson of the National School of Drama. Some of his early acting roles were in plays performed at the Himachal Pradesh University.
Kher is married to fellow actress Kirron Kher (since 1985). Her son, his stepson, is actor Sikandar Kher.
Career
Kher made his acting debut in the 1982 Hindi movie Aagman. Then in 1984 came Saaransh, where 28-year-old Kher played a retired middle class Maharashtrian man who has lost his son. He hosted TV shows such as Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle, Sawaal Dus Crore Ka, Lead India and the recent The Anupam Kher Show - Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai which has become a big hit on its 1st episode when Shah Rukh Khan was invited as his guest. He has had many comic roles but has also played the villain such as his acclaimed role as terrorist Dr. Dang in Karma (1986). For his role in Daddy (1989) he received the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance.
He has starred alongside Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan many times in films such as Darr (1993), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Chaahat (1996), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000) and Veer-Zaara (2004).
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. The role of the Police Commissioner Rathor, played by him in critically and commercially acclaimed A Wednesday is also very much appreciated.
Kher is known internationally for Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Bride and Prejudice (2004), Speedy Singhs (2011), his appearance on the hit TV show ER, and more recently in The Mistress of Spices (2006) and Lust, Caution (2007). In 2012 he co-starred in the Academy Award-winning Silver Linings Playbook.
Kher has written and starred in a play about his own life called Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, which is directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.
Until recently he served as chairman of the Indian Film Censor Board. He is an alumnus of National School of Drama (1978 batch) and was its director between 2001 and 2004.
In 2007, Anupam Kher, with his batchmate of NSD, Satish Kaushik, started a film production company, Karol Bagh Productions. Their first film, Tere Sang, is being directed by Satish Kaushik.
He was appointed in 2010 as the goodwill ambassador of the Pratham Education Foundation, which strives to improve children's education in India.
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.
He also starred in a number of Marathi films such as Thoda Tuza...Thoda Maza, Kashala Udyachi Baat and Punjabi films such as Yaaraan naal bahaaraan.
He is widely regarded as an intellectual talk show participant.
In 2009, Kher has given his Hindi voice to Carl Fredricksen in the Disney-Pixar 3D animated film Up, which was his first dubbing role and his very first voice role.
Anupam Kher is currently shooting for The Dirty Politics. The movie also features Om Puri and Jackie Shroff.
In 2014, Kher starred in the British film Shongram, a fictional romantic drama based around the factual and historical events of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Awards and recognitions
Civilian award
- 2004: Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema
National Film Awards
- 1989: National Film Award â€" Special Jury Award: Daddy
- 2005: National Film Award â€" Special Jury Award: Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara
Filmfare Awards
- Wins
- 1984: Best Actor, Saaransh
- 1988: Best Supporting Actor, Vijay
- 1989: Best Comedian, Ram Lakhan
- 1990: Critics Award for Best Performance, Daddy
- 1991: Best Comedian, Lamhe
- 1992: Best Comedian, Khel
- 1993: Best Comedian, Darr
- 1995: Best Comedian, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
- Nominations
- 1986: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Janam
- 1991: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Dil
- 1992: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Saudagar
- 1994: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
- 1997: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Chaahat
- 2013: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Special 26
Screen Awards
- 1994: Best Supporting Actor for 1942: A Love Story
- 1999: Best Comedian for Haseena Maan Jayegi
Bollywood Movie Awards
- 1999Â : Best Supporting Actor for Salaakhen
- 2007Â : Best Comedian for Khosla Ka Ghosla
Other awards
- 2000: Actor of the Decade Award (Millennium Honours)
- 2000: Best Actor in a Comic Role at the Sansui Viewers Choice Awards
- 2001: Real Life Hero Award at the Zee Gold Bollywood Awards
- 2005: "Divya Himachal Award" for excellence 2005, with the blessings of H.H. Dalai Lama
- 2005: Best Actor Award from the Karachi International Film Festival for Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara
- 2006: Best Actor Award at the Riverside International Film Festival at California for Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara
- 2006: GIFA awards: Critics Choice Awards â€" Best Actor in a Comic Role for Khosla Ka Ghosla
- 2013: Outstanding Achievement in Cinema award at The Asian Awards.
- 2015: Kalakar Award for The ACTOR Of The Year in Kolkata
Recognition
- He was honoured by Walk of the Stars as his hand print was preserved for posterity at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai.
Filmography
Director
Producer
Actor (Partial filmography, in Hindi language unless noted)
Dubbing Animated Films
Playback Singer
Television
Actor
References
External links
- Anupam Kher at the Internet Movie Database
- Anupam Kher Foundation
- Anupam Kher's Actor Prepares
