Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting · GODL-India · source
Name	Anupam Kher
Birth date	7 March 1955
Birth place	Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Occupation	Actor, Director, Producer
Years active	1982–present
Spouse	Kirron Kher
Children	Sikandar Kher

Anupam Kher is an Indian film and stage actor, director, producer and teacher known for his versatility across Hindi cinema, global productions and theatre. With a career spanning decades, he has portrayed a wide range of characters from comic roles to intense dramatic parts in films, television and international projects. He has worked with leading directors and actors from Bollywood and appeared in cross-cultural films that connected Indian cinema with global audiences.

Early life and education

Born in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, he grew up in a Punjabi family with roots in Punjab, India and experienced childhood relocations to Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. He attended schools in Saharanpur and later trained at the National School of Drama in New Delhi, a prominent institution associated with alumni such as Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri. His formative years included exposure to regional theatre groups and cultural centers in Delhi and interactions with practitioners from companies like Rangakarmi and the Indian People's Theatre Association.

Acting career

He made his film debut in the early 1980s and gained attention with performances in commercially successful and critically acclaimed works alongside stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and directors including Mansoor Khan, Mahesh Bhatt, Karan Johar, and Saagar Gupta. Notable Hindi films include collaborations with filmmakers like Govind Nihalani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Santoshi, and Basu Chatterjee. He earned widespread recognition for roles in films that also featured actors such as Sridevi, Kajol, Madhuri Dixit, and Anil Kapoor. His portrayals have ranged from comic foil and eccentric uncle to strict father and bureaucrat in projects produced by companies like Yash Raj Films, Dharma Productions, and Tips Industries.

Across the 1990s and 2000s he alternated between mainstream entertainers and offbeat independent cinema, sharing screen space with performers such as Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. He worked under the direction of foreign and Indian auteurs including Christopher Nolan-era contemporaries and art filmmakers like Deepa Mehta, Anurag Kashyap, and Ritesh Batra. His approach often involved intensive character study and adaptation to varied cinematic styles, ranging from the masala framework of studios like Percept Picture Company to arthouse platforms associated with NFDC.

Theatre and stage work

His stage career began in Delhi where he collaborated with theatre practitioners from institutions such as the National School of Drama and companies linked to personalities like Habib Tanvir and Ebrahim Alkazi. He has performed in Hindi and English plays, sharing stages with artists including Feroz Khan (actor), Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Ratna Pathak Shah. He founded and conducted acting workshops and seminars, drawing participants from television and film industries and partnering with cultural organizations like the British Council and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. His theatrical repertoire includes both classical adaptations and contemporary productions staged at venues such as Prithvi Theatre and the National School of Drama Auditorium.

International and Hollywood projects

He expanded into international productions, appearing in films and series that connected him with Hollywood and global cinema networks. He featured in projects alongside international actors and filmmakers including Emma Thompson, Helen Mirren, Richard Gere, and directors associated with studios like Universal Pictures and Warner Bros.. His international credits include roles in English-language films and television series that involved collaborations with producers and casting directors active in Los Angeles and London. He participated in co-productions that involved cross-border crews from countries like United Kingdom, United States, and Canada, and performed at film festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival.

Awards and honours

Over his career he has received multiple awards and nominations from major Indian institutions including the Filmfare Awards and national recognition via institutions such as the National Film Awards (India). He has been honoured by state governments and cultural bodies, and received civilian accolades that placed him among recipients associated with the Padma Shri and other national lists. Film festival juries and international academies have acknowledged his work through retrospectives and lifetime achievement recognitions connected to organizations like the Film and Television Institute of India and global film societies.

Personal life and advocacy

He is married to Kirron Kher, a theatre and film actress and politician associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and they reside between Mumbai and Chandigarh. Their son, Sikandar Kher, is also an actor who has worked in Hindi films and regional projects. Beyond acting, he has been involved in advocacy for mental health awareness, film education and actor training, conducting workshops and speaking at academic institutions such as the University of Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and international centers like Harvard University and Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He has also participated in charitable initiatives linked to organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and NGOs working on arts outreach in urban and rural settings.

Category:Indian male actors Category:1955 births Category:Living people