Anupam Kher recalls the time when he went bankrupt, suffered facial paralysis: ‘People thought my career was over’

Anupam Kher has previously opened up about overcoming bankruptcy. Talking to Hindustan Times, Kher said, “In 2004, because I am not a business-minded person, I almost went bankrupt and then started all over again. I am a sum total of my failures. People started calling me thespian, veteran, and legend – which meant you should be given a lifetime achievement award and walk into the sunset. But I refused to do that. I went abroad and did an American series. After turning 60, people think about retirement but I started building my body.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher)

Also Read | When Abhishek Bachchan quit college to help Amitabh Bachchan as he dealt with Rs 90 cr debt: ‘He had to borrow money from staff to put food on table’

In his Instagram note, Anupam Kher also recalled the time when he had facial paralysis. He shared, “When I had facial paralysis during the shooting of a Hum Aap Ke Haun Kaun, people thought my career was over. I overcame it. I was a Hindi medium guy. I went on to do huge Hollywood films with top Hollywood artists like Robert De Niro, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Keira Knightley, among others.”

The veteran actor recalled his struggling days and wrote, “When I started out, I had spent many, many days hungry like many wanting to break out here; had slept on railway stations at times because I did not have money to rent a room… there were moments when I felt I had compromised my dignity as a human being and as an actor.”

Anupam Kher credits his failures, struggles and his father for fueling his craft and inspiring him to give better performances.

At 69, Kher will be seen playing the role of Vijay, a 69-year-old man who wants to be a triathlete, in Vijay 69. For the role, the actor learnt swimming and trained to be a triathlon athlete. “I broke my shoulder, suffered countless injuries, but it was all worth it,” shared the actor in his note.

Anupam Kher’s Vijay 69 will stream on Netflix from November 8.