Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher
Kher in 2013
Born (1955-03-07) 7 March 1955 (age 69)
Simla, PEPSU, India
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
WorksFull list
OfficeChairman of the Film and Television Institute of India
Term11 October 2017 – 31 October 2018
PredecessorGajendra Chauhan
SuccessorB. P. Singh
Spouses
Madhumalti Kapoor
​
​
(m. 1978, separated)​
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(m. 1985)​
ChildrenSikandar Kher (stepson)
RelativesRaju Kher (brother)
AwardsFull list
Websitewww.anupamkherfoundation.org

Anupam Kher (born 7 March 1955) is an Indian actor, director and producer who works primarily in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning over four decades, he has acted in more than 540 films. A veteran of Indian cinema,[1] Kher is recipient of two National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards for his acting performances.[2] Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to Indian cinema and arts.

Kher made his acting debut with Mahesh Bhatt-directed drama film Saaransh (1984), which marked Kher's breakthrough role, earning him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of an elderly father. Since then he starred in several other supporting roles. He was highly appreciated in negative roles in films such as Karma (1986), Tezaab (1988) and ChaalBaaz (1989). For Vijay (1988), he won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance. In 1989, Ram Lakhan garnered him wider recognition for his comic performances and won him Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role and for Daddy, he won a National Film Award – Special Jury Award and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance. In later years, Kher was nominated for Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Dil (1990), Saudagar (1991), Lamhe (1991), Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), Chaahat (1996), Special 26 (2013) and Uunchai (2022).[3] He was nominated in the category of Filmfare Award for Best Comedian for films, such as Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991), Shola Aur Shabnam (1992), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000), and won for Khel (1992), Darr (1993) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995).[4]

Kher's other acclaimed roles include Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), Buddha Mar Gaya (2006), A Wednesday! (2008), Baby (2015), M. S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) and The Kashmir Files (2022); for which he received a nomination in the Filmfare Award for Best Actor category.[5] 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 NC-17 rated Lust, Caution (2007), David O. Russell's Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and Anthony Maras' Hotel Mumbai (2019). He received a BAFTA nomination for his supporting role in the British television film The Boy with the Topknot (2018).[6]

He has previously served as the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama in India.[7] Kher was appointed Chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in October 2017.[8] His appointment was controversial, given his support for the Bharatiya Janata Party.[9][10][11][12] A year later, he resigned as the chairman of the FTII, citing his work commitments for the American TV show New Amsterdam.[13]

  1. ^ "Been there, done that! Anupam Kher starts shooting for 501st film". The Economic Times. IANS. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Anupam Kher Awards: List of awards and nominations received by Anupam Kher". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. ^ "7 Greatest Films of Anupam Kher".
  4. ^ "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (there goes the bride)". Indian Film Festival, The Hague. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Anupam Kher: I have always been the face of change; the problem is that the world has only now acknowledged it". 20 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Anupam Kher bags BAFTA Awards 2018 nomination for The Boy with the Topknot; Here's the Complete List". Indiatvnews. 4 April 2018. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. ^ "NSD Graduates" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Anupam Kher appointed FTII chairman". The Economic Times. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  9. ^ Bamzai, Kaveree (31 July 2019). "The double life of Anupam Kher: Hollywood's favourite desi & BJP's pin-up patriot". The Print. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  10. ^ Kaushik, Krishn (12 October 2017). "Anupam Kher appointed new FTII chairman: His politics in his tweets, from award wapsi to JNU". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Why Anupam Kher's Appointment As FTII Chairman Is Problematic". HuffPost India. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Naseeruddin Shah on FTII Chairman Anupam Kher: I Don't Think He's Been There More Than Twice". News18. 31 August 2018. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Anupam Kher Resigns as FTII Chairman Citing 'International Assignments'". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.