Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently shared deeply personal stories of his early struggles in Mumbai and the profound last words of his father, who tragically passed away from a rare illness.
The Early Grind: Sleeping on a Platform
Anupam Kher, a celebrated outsider who built a successful career in Bollywood, vividly recalled his initial days in Mumbai. He revealed a period of intense struggle where he spent 27 days sleeping on a railway platform in Bandra East.
He noted that the police were surprisingly kind, often allowing him to sleep undisturbed before the last train arrived. Kher even reconnected with the son of one of those compassionate officers years later, a testament to the unexpected kindness he found during those trying times.
Despite the lack of work, Kher highlighted the supportive spirit of the film industry back then. He remembered how filmmakers and writers would still take the time to meet with aspiring actors, offering a glimmer of hope.
A Breakthrough Role: Saaransh
A pivotal moment in Kher’s career came from one such meeting with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Bhatt cast him in the 1984 film *Saaransh*, a role that would redefine his path.
In *Saaransh*, Kher, then a young actor, portrayed a 60-year-old man grieving the loss of his only son. His powerful performance earned him significant critical acclaim and marked a major turning point in his cinematic journey.
His Father’s Battle with a Mysterious Illness
During the same candid conversation, Kher opened up about one of the most emotional experiences of his life: the death of his father. He recounted the heartbreaking details of his father’s decline due to a very unusual illness.
“He died of starvation,” Kher shared, explaining that for his father, food began to taste like sand, and water felt like acid. This strange condition made it impossible for him to eat or drink, leading to extreme frailty.
Towards the end, his father was too weak to speak, barely managing to draw lines when he tried to communicate. Kher, trying to comfort him, offered a general response, but noticed his father’s disappointment.
The Profound Final Words
His father called him closer, and Kher leaned in, his ear almost touching his father’s mouth. In a whisper, just 20 minutes before he passed away, his father uttered two incredibly powerful words: “Live life.”
Kher described this moment as “phenomenal”—a dying man urging his son to embrace life fully. It was a testament to his father’s own journey and his desire for his son to live without regret.
- Anupam Kher spent 27 days sleeping on a Bandra railway platform during his early struggles.
- His breakthrough role came in *Saaransh* (1984), where he played a 60-year-old man at a young age.
- His father died of starvation due to a rare illness that made food taste like sand and water like acid.
- His father’s last words to him, just minutes before passing, were “Live life.”
Anupam Kher’s journey highlights not only the challenging path to success in Bollywood but also the deeply personal lessons and profound moments that shape an individual’s life.
