Basic Info
- Full Name: Anupam Kher
- Date of Birth: 7 March 1955
- Place of Birth: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Nationality: Indian
- Height: Around 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Early Life & Education
- Born into a modest family in Shimla; father was a forest department clerk and mother a homemaker.
- Studied at D.A.V. School, Shimla, and later pursued Economics at Himachal Pradesh University.
- Shifted focus to acting and trained at the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, graduating with top honors.
Acting & Film Career
Debut & Breakthrough
- First film appearance: Aagman (1982).
- Breakthrough role: Saaransh (1984), where he played a grieving elderly father at a young age, earning wide acclaim and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Versatility & Key Roles
- Has acted in over 540 films and 100+ theatre productions across Hindi, regional, and international cinema.
- Known for a wide range of roles—comic, villainous, dramatic.
- Notable films include Karma, Tezaab, ChaalBaaz, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Khosla Ka Ghosla, A Wednesday, Special 26, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, and The Kashmir Files.
- International credits include Bend It Like Beckham, Silver Linings Playbook, and Lust, Caution.
Other Contributions
- Directed and produced films.
- Founded the acting school Actor Prepares in 2005.
- Served as Chairperson of the National School of Drama and held roles in film certification and cultural institutions.
Awards & Honors
- National Film Awards: 2 wins, including special mentions.
- Filmfare Awards: 8 wins, with a record 5 wins for Best Performance in a Comic Role.
- Government Honors: Padma Shri (2004) and Padma Bhushan (2016).
Personal Life
- First marriage to Madhumalati; later married actor-politician Kirron Kher in 1985.
- Stepfather to actor Sikander Kher (Kirron’s son from her first marriage).
- Brother Raju Kher is also an actor.
- Has openly shared about challenges in having biological children and values legacy over property ownership.
Recent & Ongoing Work
- Continues to act in Hindi and international films.
- Engages in motivational speaking, television projects, and runs workshops through his acting school.
Anupam Kher official Instagram handle is @anupampkher
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