Anupam Kher was one the many notable ‘outsiders’ in the filmy world of Hindi Cinema, who made it big in the mainstream without any ‘connections’ within the establishment.
Although the actor suffered for years to due to being typecast on only a certain kind of roles, his career has has been filled with some pretty unforgettable roles that have established him as a household name over time.
In a recent post for Humans Of Bombay, the actor detailed his journey from a small town boy with a financially humble background, to a well-established actor of tinsel-town.
Remembering his childhood, Kher stated:
“I have vivid memories of Mom dropping me to school. Before leaving, she’d say, ‘Your best day is today.’ And as a kid, I believed it. It helped me dream; made me forget how poor we were. Papa only made 90 Rs. a month, so Mom had to sell her jewellery to put us into good schools.”
He also remembered his early days of struggles in showbiz, and coming to Mumbai with barely anything to support him, financially:
“Her values were all I had when I came to Mumbai to be an actor with 37 Rs. At times I’d sleep on the platform, but never told her & when Mom fell sick, she didn’t tell me; we both tried to protect each other. And after I started doing films, Mom kept me grounded, ‘No matter how high you fly, always be humble.’
From a young, unknowing boy, to a one of the best talents we have in Indian cinema today.
Anupam Kher has certainly come a long, long way.