Kher hopes to entertain‚ inspire with his ‘life’

Acclaimed Bollywood actor Anupam Kher visited Nepal 25 years ago to shoot a film. He doesn’t remember the film’s name but he says he loves the people here. He is back again — Kher landed in the Capital on August 21 — this time to stage his acclaimed one-man-play Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai on August 22 to raise funds for Koseli Foundation, a school that educates children of slums and streets. He is doing the show for free.

At a press conference held on August 21 at Cine de Chef, CTC Mall, the prolific actor expressed his interest to work in Nepali film, talked about the play and tid-bits of his life while entertaining the media with his witty talk, whistling, teasing and good comic timing.

Before the meet, the actor talked to Sharada Adhikari about his autobiographical play and life’s experiences in an exclusive interview

How do you feel being in Nepal after 25 years?

I feel lovely. I like Nepal and its people because I have born and grown up in Shimla, a hill station. Hill people are real, innocent and very nice. So, I like the people of this Himalayan region. I am happy to be in Nepal and I am happy to see so much development here. When I came 25 years ago, it was little less crowded — it is more crowded now.

You are here to stage Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. How do you feel about it?

I have done this play worldwide. Tomorrow is going to be my 320th show. It has been received well because though the play is about my life, everybody can see glimpses of their life in my life. The play is about hope, inspiration, failure and how to come out of failure. It is important that if I am doing a play, it should change some thinking process of certain people and that’s what I hope to do here.

Also the play is funny because I look at life in a funny manner. I don’t take life so seriously.

So, it will be nice to entertain and inspire people at the same time.

You are doing the play as a charity show for Koseli Foundation. Your Anupam Kher Foundation is also working for less privileged children. Why do you work for children?

I think it is very important to do some kind of charity in life because life is not only about cinema and acting or business. We need to give a part of our life for society. I have chosen children because they are at the beginning of their life. If I can make a difference in their life, I would be very happy.

Koseli Foundation is also doing great work. I went there today and I was very happy with the kind of work they are doing. I support them and would be very happy to support any such organisation in the world.

Why did you choose to stage your autobiography rather than writing it?

I was asked to write my autobiography by two major publishing houses. When I was recording it, I heard the tapes of 10 hours and found my life very dramatic and funny. Then I thought I am an actor and should try and perform about my life rather than write it. I am the first actor in the world who has done his autobiography on stage. I also get to meet a lot of people, interact with them, personally inspire them hopefully with my story. That is why I decided to perform it.

Has this play affected you as an actor and as a person?

As a person, it took the fear of failures from my life. We all are frightened of failures. But in this play I talk about my failures and

laugh about them. When you tell of your own shortcomings and failures to the world, the world has nothing to frighten you with. This play also changed my thinking that Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai (anything can happen).

As an actor it gave me much more strength, it made me feel more creative. I got to meet so many people all over the world through this play.

You have spent almost three decades in Indian Cinema. How do you look back at your life and career?

I don’t look back at this stage of my career — when I am 90 I will look back at it. I don’t look back at life. You look back at life only when you need to change things about it. Otherwise you will do better at what you are doing because you mature as a person. You understand life.

You have been in TV shows, films and theatre. Which medium do you like the most?

I am very lucky to be a cinema actor — I have done varieties of roles that are exciting. On TV also I have done various things. But certainly in theatre because there have been live audience and there is no chance of retake, that is very very challenging.

What are your plans during your stay in Nepal?

I certainly want to go to Pashupatinath temple. I want to go to one of the monasteries also. I want to eat Nepali food, which my organisers have postponed — they were supposed to take me tomorrow and they have postponed it for the day after. I hope they don’t cancel it. I have also come here to relax.

Do you have any memories of Nepal 25 years ago?

Peace. I hope I will get that back.

Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai will be staged at the Army Officers’ Club at 5:30 pm on August 22. It is sponsored by AECC Global in association with MS Group, with Ballentines Whisky, BEKO, Huawei, Cine-de Chef and Trishakti Cement as cosponsors. We Fear Silence (WFS) has managed the event with Jet Airways (airlines partner), Ford (travel partner), Soaltee Crowne Plaza (hospitality partner), XL Light and Sound (logistic partner), Himalaya TV (television partner) and Spaces (magazine partner) and is powered by Royce energy Drink and Sagarmatha Cement. Jagadamba Steel, Featherlite, The Grill House and Glazetech and Tiger support it. The Himalayan Times is the official print media.

Source: The Himalayan Times (thehimalayantimes.com)