Anupam Kher recalls shutting down Aamir Khan on Dil He Ke Manta Nahin sets ‘with an English phrase’: ‘He complained to Mahesh Bhatt’

“I was fully ready to portray it, but Aamir Khan complained to Mahesh Bhatt saab about my interpretation. He found it wrong and different. Bhatt saab added fuel to the matter and told me about Aamir’s comment. I used an English phrase for Aamir Khan to shut him down,” added Kher, who wanted to remind Aamir he’s a gold medallist from the National School of Drama, unlike Aamir who isn’t a trained actor.

“Aamir was upset with me throughout the film. He was at that stage of becoming Aamir Khan, which he wanted to become. All my love for him,” said Kher. Aamir gained more popularity right after Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin with Mansoor’s 1994 cult college caper Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar the following year.

Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin marked the first time Aamir worked with Mahesh Bhatt. They followed it up with the 1993 romantic comedy Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. Meanwhile, Bhatt gave Kher his big break in Bollywood with his 1984 relationship drama Saaransh. Post that, they collaborated for Janam (1985), Kaash (1987), Thikana (1987), Kabzaa (1988), Daddy (1989), Awaargi (1990), Gumrah (1993), Tadipaar (1993), Papa Kahte Hain (1996), and Chaahat (1996).

In a new, exclusive interview with SCREEN, Kher claimed that seasoned actors like him and Neena Gupta can perform even on their feet because of their education at NSD and experience in theatre. “Without realizing, we’ve worked like theatre in this film (Metro… In Dino). Even in the case of Shiv Shastri Balboa, we did that. That film can be adapted into a very good play. So that’s the advantage of being experienced, educated actors. We can incorporate our experiences into these films which we probably can’t in others,” said Kher.

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He’ll be next seen paired with Neena in Anurag Basu’s romantic anthology Metro… In Dino, the spiritual successor of his 2007 hit film Life.. in a Metro. Kher is also returning to direction 23 years after Om Jai Jagdish with Tanvi the Great, a coming-of-age film about an autistic girl’s dream to join the Indian Army. Kher also plays a supporting role in the movie.