‘Success is boring… it’s one-dimensional’: Anupam Kher

I think people confuse talking about India with talking politics. I was born on March 7, 1955. India was born on August 15, 1947. So I always say I’m eight years younger to India and we both grew up together. I am a born nationalist. Today, nationalist and patriotic are different. I don’t understand that. I speak in favour of India without worrying about the consequences. This happened only after 2014, when we became open about our likes and dislikes. The need to be liked gets us manipulated. I have no need to be liked.

Do you feel that there are few people in your industry who believe in that kind of authenticity, considering all the paparazzi and airport looks?

It’s not the film industry alone that gets papped these days. Initially, I used to get impressed but not anymore. I don’t think we should worry about it. It’s a business of looking good at the end of it. But that does not last for long. Ten years ago, I decided I didn’t want to own a house. I live in a rented apartment and it liberated me.

In India, celebrities don’t want to be seen as having political views. You chose not to do that. Has that shrunk the professional space for you?

I did not take sides as a politician but as an Indian. But it did take its toll, because I used to be the most popular person in every blockbuster. But the other effect was that from a character actor, I became a lead actor. All the films I have done in the last seven-eight years are as a lead, whether it is Kashmir Files, Signature or Vijay 69. It also made me work in New York for three years where I did New Amsterdam. When you’re pushed to the wall, the only way is to discover something new.

Why do you think we have become so allergic to political views?

Initially, we all belonged to the same party, the Congress party. Until the Emergency, there was no Opposition. When social media came, people learnt about other sides. That’s where the divide happened.

How can we create an environment where it would be okay to disagree?

The moment you decide to leave your happiness in somebody else’s hand, they will make sure that you are not happy. There’s not a single person in the world who is liked by everybody. One should understand that.

You got unlucky with the release date of Tanvi the Great.

We did the world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. We went to New York where Robert De Niro watched the film. We showed it to the President of India because it’s about an autistic girl who wants to join the army to fulfil her father’s dream. Everything was fine but the world wanted, and rightfully so, to see a love story. It was released with YRF’s Saiyaara and got completely wiped out. Here, even if you are releasing a film in 400 theatres, if another film is doing well, they will remove your film. It was a failure that was heartbreaking but I am a survivor. And since things don’t usually work out for me the first time around, I decided to re-release it again (on September 26) in one theatre in 17 cities.

You’ve seen failure, you’ve also seen a lot of success. Do you have more conviction now when you are faced with failure?

I am a success story of my failures. I think failure is multidimensional; it teaches you so much. Success is boring, it’s one-dimensional. The most important thing for me was that I grew up in a joint family of poor people but we were very happy. That was an atmosphere where failure didn’t frighten me. And success did not mess with your head.

Anupam Kher (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Let’s explore a contradiction. Many say they owe their success to the traditional Indian way of living. Indra Nooyi once told me and now you are saying it — community raising a child, joint families etc. Yet Bollywood’s most recent stories, by and large, are hating on those settings.

Hindi cinema is at a bankruptcy stage in terms of themes and storytelling and I am part of those movies. We are all trying to be Tarantinos. We are in a confused state of affairs. The ’90s and ’80s were the best. The films used to entertain you, make you feel good. I miss those films. Having said that, I think Indian cinema is the greatest cinema in the world. If an Indian actor is given that kind of money and script, we may be able to do what Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad Pitt do, but can they do Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam? They can’t. So this is a phase… the Amrit Manthan. I think after 4-5 years, things will settle down and we will be back.

The films you have done have a message beyond entertainment. You seem to know the power of convincing an audience.

The confidence of writers in Hindi cinema today is a little shaky. Look at Kantara, Pushpa… they are rooted films. Look at Hanu-Man. There is a new Malayalam film called Lokah. The audience today is educated. They do not have only one channel and there are so many sources of entertainment.

Do you feel you have to act differently for a smaller screen vis-à-vis the big screen?

No. Because I have done so much work, I can do it. I will say the lines and it will look believable.

Rapid Fire with Anant Goenka:

One thing that scares you about the future.

Lack of sensitivity… we are becoming more mechanical.

The one change in the film industry that excites you, and one that frightens you.

We are getting towards professionalism. The warmth that we share on the sets is going away.

The one film you liked this year.

The Studio. It was very good.

The last film whose success you were surprised by.

Saiyaara.

The one role everyone praises, but you wish you never did.

Nigahen, the sequel to Nagina in which Sridevi turns into a snake.

You once mentioned that you were unhappy that Mogambo’s (in Mr. India) role went to Amrish Puri. Do you think you would have done a better job?

No. Never.

Which director contributed more to your career, Yash Chopra or Subhash Ghai?

Mahesh Bhatt made me a known name, but stardom came to me with Subhash Ghai’s Karma.

Is it easier for intelligent films to get mass appeal and box-office success today than it was earlier?

I don’t think intelligence has anything to do with the audience. Dil ki cheez dil ko lagti hai (A film made with heart tugs at your heart strings).