Anupam Kher
Born	(1955-03-07) 7 March 1955 (age 57) Shimla, India[1]
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Actor, producer, director
Years active	1982–present
Spouse	Kirron Kher

Anupam Kher (born 7 March 1955)^[2] is an Indian actor who has appeared in nearly 450 films and 100 plays.^[3] Though mainly appearing in Bollywood films, he has had roles in some films from other nations as well. He has held the post of Chairman of the Censor Board and National School of Drama in India.^[3]

Early life[link]

Anupam Kher was born into a Kashmiri Pandit family and lived in Shimla and was educated at D.A.V. School there. He is an alumnus and a former chairperson of the National School of Drama. Some of his early acting was in plays performed at the Himachal Pradesh University.^[2][4]

Career[link]

Kher made his acting debut in the 1982 Hindi movie Aagman. Then in 1984 came Saaransh, where 28-year old Kher played a retired man who has lost his son. He hosted TV shows such as Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle, Sawaal Dus Crore Ka and the recent Lead India. He has had many comic roles but has also played the villain such as his acclaimed role as terrorist Dr. Dang in Karma (1986). For his role in Daddy (1989) he received the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance. Kher has won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role five times, more than any other actor.

He has starred alongside Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan many times in films such as Darr (1993), Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Chaahat (1996), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000) and Veer-Zaara (2004).

He ventured into directing with Om Jai Jagadish (2003) and has also been a producer. He produced and starred in the film Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005). He received the Best Actor Award from the Karachi International Film Festival for his performance in the film.

Kher is known internationally for Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Bride and Prejudice (2004), his appearance on the hit TV show ER, and most recently in The Mistress of Spices (2006) and Lust, Caution (2007).

Kher has written and starred in a play about his own life called Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, which is directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.^[4][5]

Until recently he served as chairman of the Indian Film Censor Board. He is an alumnus of National School of Drama (1978 batch) and was its director between 2001 and 2004.

In 2007, Anupam Kher, with his batchmate of NSD, Satish Kaushik,^[6] started a film production company, Karol Bagh Productions. Their first film, Tere Sang, is being directed by Satish Kaushik.^[7]

He has recently been appointed the goodwill ambassador of the Pratham Education Foundation, which strives to improve children's education in India.^[8]

In 2011, he starred alongside Mohanlal and Jayaprada in the Malayalam language romantic drama Pranayam. Kher has chosen Pranayam as one of the seven best films of his career.^[9]

He also starred in a number of Punjabi films such as Yaaraan naal bahaaraan.

He is also widely regarded as an intellectual talk show participant.^[10]

In 2009, Kher has given his Hindi voice to Carl Fredricksen in the Disney-Pixar 3D Animated film Up, which also bounds to not only be his first dubbing role, but to be his very first voice role in his career, overall. ^[11]

Personal life[link]

Anupam Kher is married to fellow actress Kirron Kher.^[1] Her son, his stepson, is actor Sikander Kher.^[12] His brother Raju Kher^[1] is also an actor, who appeared in Anupam's directorial debut Om Jai Jagadish. A Kashmiri Brahmin by birth,^[13] Anupam Kher has been working for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits by bringing to global attention the issues concerning the community.^[14]

Awards and recognition[link]

Filmfare Awards[link]

Wins

• 1984: Best Actor, Saaransh
• 1988: Best Supporting Actor, Vijay
• 1989: Best Comedian, Ram Lakhan
• 1990: Critics Award for Best Performance, Daddy
• 1991: Best Comedian, Lamhe
• 1992: Best Comedian, Khel
• 1993: Best Comedian, Darr
• 1995: Best Comedian, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

Nominations

• 1986: nominated: Best Supporting Actor Award, Janam
• 1991: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Dil
• 1992: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Saudagar
• 1994: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
• 1997: nominated: Best Supporting Actor, Chaahat

National Film Awards[link]

• 1990 - National Film Award - Special Jury Award: Daddy^[15]
• 2006 - National Film Award - Special Jury Award: Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara^[16]

Star Screen Awards[link]

• 1994: Best Supporting Actor for 1942: A Love Story
• 1999: Best Comedian for Haseena Maan Jayegi

Bollywood Movie Awards[link]

• 1999 : Best Supporting Actor for Salaakhen
• 2007 : Best Comedian for Khosla Ka Ghosla

Other awards[link]

• 2000, Actor of the Decade Award (Millennium Honours)^[15]
• 2000, Best Actor in a Comic Role at the Sansui Viewers Choice Awards^[17]
• 2001, Real Life Hero Award at the Zee Gold Bollywood Awards^[18]
• 2004, Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema^[19]
• 2005, "Divya Himachal Award" for excellence 2005, with the blessings of H.H. Dalai Lama^[20]
• 2005, Best Actor Award from the Karachi International Film Festival for Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara^[21]
• 2006, Best Actor Award at the Riverside International Film Festival at California for Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara^[22]
• 2006, GIFA awards: Critics Choice Awards - Best Actor in a Comic Role for Khosla Ka Ghosla^[23]

Filmography[link]

Director

Producer

Actor (Partial filmography, in Hindi language unless noted)