Anupam Kher is a top Bollywood personality today, but it was not always the case, He was born in Shimla and came from a modest background. Before entering films, he studied at the National School of Drama in Delhi and struggled for years in Mumbai, doing theatre and small roles while trying to establish himself in Bollywood. During this time, he even slept on railway platforms.
In a recent interview, Anupam Kher recalled his struggling days in Mumbai and called it ‘miserable’. “To deal with my miserable times I use to create a world of fantasy. In that fantasy world I was always a winner. End mein hero ki jeet hoti hai. To main apni life ka hero tha,” he told Times Now, adding, “Main railway platform pe so raha tha. 27 din Bandra East mein main railway platform par raha.”
The 71-year-old actor also revealed that he felt humiliated while sleeping on the railway platforms. “Maine railway platform pe to maine soch bhi liya tha ki main wapas chala jaunga. Because usse zyada beizzati ka ehsaas kabhi nahi hua. Lack of dignity, beizzati. Gold medalist tha main. Aur padha likha aadmi zyada beizzati mehsoos karta hai,” he revealed.
Kher shared that over the years, those experiences shaped his philosophy towards life. “It became my philosophy that what does not happen in your life or what bad happens in your life, many years later it become the stories of your life,” he shared. Even today, the actor said he tries to look at difficult situations through that lens,” he said.
However, Anupam Kher also confessed that his struggles took a toll on his mental health, due to which he ‘often felt depressed’. “Par aisa nahi tha ki main depressed nahi hota tha. Aisa nahi tha ki mujhe udaas nahi hota tha,” he admitted.
Anupam Kher’s breakthrough came in 1984 with Saaransh, directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Despite being only 28 years old, Anupam played a grieving elderly father in the film. His powerful performance earned widespread praise and immediately made him one of the most respected actors in the industry.
After the success of Saaransh, Anupam Kher became known for his versatility. He appeared in hit films like Karma, Ram Lakhan, Dil and Lamhe, effortlessly balancing comic, negative and emotional roles. His ability to adapt to every genre helped him rise to stardom.
Over the decades, Anupam Kher built a massive career with more than 500 films in Hindi and international cinema. He recently completed 42 years in the film industry when he wrote on social media, “If a clerk’s son from a college department can come to Mumbai with just ₹37, and in his first film, despite being 28 years old, play the role of a 65-year-old man, and 42 years later can say he has done 551 films—anything is possible.”
