Anupam Kher On Modern Love, Jealousy, Regrets, Discipline, Acting & Legacy | FO381 Raj Shamani

15 Jul 2025 · 1 h 11 min

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In short

Podcast Notes: Raj Shamani's Figuring Out with Anupam Kher

Episode Overview

  • Title: Anupam Kher On Modern Love, Jealousy, Regrets, Discipline, Acting & Legacy
  • Host: Raj Shamani
  • Guest: Anupam Kher, a celebrated actor, producer, and author
  • Key Themes: Relationships, personal growth, societal changes, and legacy.

Introduction

  • Raj Shamani introduces the podcast's purpose: to help individuals grow and seize opportunities in various life aspects.
  • Emphasizes the Golden Age for India and the importance of personal development.

Key Discussions

  1. The Void of Not Having Children
  2. Anupam Kher reflects on his decision not to have children and the emotional complexities of solitude as one ages.
  3. Discusses how understanding life can lead to loneliness, especially in a world full of superficial connections.
  1. Generational Perspectives on Love
  2. Old Love vs. Gen Z Love: Kher contrasts how previous generations approached love and relationships with today's norms.
  3. He believes past relationships were nurtured over time, while today's relationships often lack depth due to a fast-paced lifestyle.
  1. Finding the Right Person
  2. Kher advocates for prioritizing kindness over compatibility when seeking a partner.
  3. Advises on the importance of mutual respect and the essence of discovering a partner over time.
  1. Relationship Dynamics Today
  2. Discusses why today's generation often prioritizes independence over family-building.
  3. Reflects on how societal expectations can lead to dissatisfaction in relationships.
  1. Insecurities and Comparison
  2. Kher talks about the burden of comparison, especially in the entertainment industry.
  3. Highlights the culture of insecurity stemming from constant exposure to others' success via social media.
  1. Legacy and Memory
  2. Kher shares his biggest dreams, including winning an Oscar.
  3. Discusses the importance of how he wishes to be remembered, emphasizing kindness and the impact on others' lives.

Key Takeaways

  • Mutual Respect: In long-term relationships, love may change, but respect and kindness should remain constant.
  • Self-Growth: Personal development is vital; one should always strive to grow and learn, regardless of age.
  • Honesty and Vulnerability: Authenticity in relationships fosters stronger connections but often leads to insecurities.
  • Cultural Shifts: Societal changes affect relationship dynamics significantly, with modern relationships often lacking the depth and patience of previous generations.

Conclusion

  • Kher concludes with reflections on the importance of optimism and authenticity in life.
  • The discussion wraps up with a call to recognize and cherish love in all forms, urging listeners to invest in their relationships.

Final Remarks

  • Raj encourages listeners to subscribe and share their thoughts on the episode.
  • Emphasizes the transformative power of conversations and the impact they can have on personal growth.

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Listen to the full episode [here](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE0Jo6NF_JYO5-phess8GKafKMtPv3tfZ).

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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00People who are struggling with relationship, what would you tell them?

0:07If you think the person is right, don't let go of that person. Love may go out of window, but a mutual respect, mutual kindness should never go. A friendship should never go. Do you think that was better or is it better? Today's generation doesn't get the opportunity to be bored. That's why the people who are more broke and become more. Anupam Kher, an actor, producer and author, they have worked in their career more than 540 in films. and won many national awards for acting. Today, we will know what their insecurities in life and why they didn't get support in the latest film as a director.

0:42How do you know this is the right time for marriage? The moment you find a person who is even 10 % closer to you, get married and discover the relationship afterwards and have a life of togetherness. Before compatibility? Compatibility is important to work. Or you can find compatibility.

1:03ITELY

1:26BAKAHL BHAile Do you feel angry? Yes, I do. I play a dictator as a acting school. Number one, you have to discipline. Talent comes second. What's the biggest dream you have right now? Oscar. People say, what is what is going to be Oscar? Everything is going to be good. How do you want to be remembered?

1:47Before we move on, subscribe to this channel so that we can make a more insightful and better podcast. and this whole show audio experience Spotify available where you can follow us enjoy the show

2:05I saw a lot of things I was reading so I saw that your relationship is very beautiful you told me with your father and with your mom now the world knows you and your wife all the relationship is very beautiful but before we go there I want to ask you I have a statement that I have read that that you have a void of not seeing a kid growing up. I didn't have it earlier. Because, but I think when you grow older in age, you, growing in years is a process of, and I'm not romanticizing it, is a process of loneliness. And this is a great example, He said the more you understand life, the more you will become lonelier.

3:01And the more you understand life, it can only happen with age. And for a person like me, there are so many fake people, even at the age of 70 or 65 or whatever. They have lived a fake life. I have not. So I, and I also don't camouflage feelings. because I think it should be open as much as you can, as long as it doesn't hurt anybody. So I did feel when I was 60 that,

3:39because I do a lot of work with children. My foundation does a lot of work. I am fond of children in terms of, I used to do a show called Say Na Something to Anubham Ankal. which was a children's show. So, somebody asked me, do you feel this? I said, yeah, and it's a truth. But that doesn't mean that… But it was time for your decision that you don't want kids. So, it didn't happen for the first time first. It did not be… Kiran could not conceive it. And then once she conceived, then she had to sort of… It was not growing in the right manner. And I was too busy making it big. I was too busy. So he didn't have it.

4:24And Sikandar was good. He was good for me. He was very small. He was 4 years old when I married Kiran. So he didn't feel it. Just because he was feeling it, why didn't he feel it? There's no answer to it. But in today's generation, if you know, dink and category, double income, no kids, a category of people, that's going to grow. that both husband and wife are ambitious, they want to spend on themselves and that doesn't go to responsibility when they don't want it. I think they will feel bad about it when they will be in their late 50s. I always say how many people don't do that. It is not the question of to increase it forward.

5:12Not only that. It is the question of, as I said to you again, that the sense of loneliness becomes more. Now, as I can work for 10 or 8 hours, I can work for 9 hours. I do a lot of work. You asked me if you can do so many things. Because I think somewhere I don't want to be on my own. You're scared for me? No, it's a hole. A hole means a hole is the right word. But emptiness is, you know, all these interpretations of sadness. I'm not saying it from a sad point of view. I'll say that I am a people's person. I like to be around the crowd. I don't eat alone. I have eaten alone. I'm in a hotel, so I don't eat alone.

6:08I go to the lobby and eat. I'm afraid to sit with someone. I think that my grandfather used to say that eating food alone is the biggest act of loneliness. and his physical example is that you have got some bread, you have got some bread, you have got some bread, this is the action. Now you have it, but nothing is left to eat.

6:31These are my thoughts. I like people. I'm a people oriented person. If I'm in a cab, or auto, I talk to them. I go to the morning with people. I know everything about people. which helps me as a person. So I think that some people like solitude. I don't like solitude. I like mix of both. I'm a very people's person and I'm a very lonely person. Lonely is not what I love alone. You want your time. Today's generation says, I want me time. I don't want me time. I have enough of me time. Another thing which today's generation, and I think I am from today's generation, But one of the things which they say, which I don't agree with at all, which they say, that's the way I am.

7:16If you say that is the way I am, that means you have finished your growth. I will at the age of 95 also not say that's the way I am. Why? Because there is so much to learn. So much to grow. Every single day. Every single day there is so much to observe, learn. we are actors even human beings my grandfather also not necessarily you are an actor but there is so much to learn how can I be the same person though my father was the same person in terms of going and coming back but he was not the same person timing was he was you know you picked up today's generation

8:00let's talk about that What does that mean? My generation? When you were 20s My generation is today I'm going to wipe you I agree Till now I could agree with that I think it's not the generation only It is also I grew up in a small town On a hill station There 6 months ago It was a lot of eyes You liked it After that 3 months ago I was thinking about telling you that I would like you. And I was a Indian middle school girl. I liked the English middle school girls. Why? Because there was a little outgoingness. Now I was a girl in my play. I play my own play on my life. Something can happen on stage.

8:55So there was a girl who had a mini skirt. wearing a jacket, I can say that she had a pout but she had a face like this. So, I was walking with her with my best friend. And we were walking and when she came back, we were going to get to know Peeta. So, we are talking about everything took time and everything lasted for a longer time. And we did not have much knowledge about love. We rise in love. We do fall. Do you think that was better or now? I think that was better. Why? Because I think relationships should be nurtured and the result should be taken. You should take your own time to discover a relationship.

9:46It's discovery.

9:51Without passing judgment, I'm not saying that. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are madly in love at this time also. but there was time to discover other person goodness, good qualities and buri qualities time lagta tha

10:13abhi kya hai both of them are independent and rightfully so the girl and the boy my mother and father were married for 59 years because first of all they were arranged marriage so they will be 7-8 years or 10 years to be able to discover then the mother had taken the role that I have to keep my family and my father will do a job and grow the children so there was no roles were divided and today is because of the social structure and rightfully so the girls are educated the girls are empowered why should they take any kind of nonsense from a boy or something Men by nature are insecure. Why do you say this?

11:00Men by nature are insecure. Love in general. In general. In a relationship.

11:09Because women are much more superior than men. Because anybody who has the capability of giving birth to another life and preserving that life for nine months and then going through the childbirth and then giving her own, feeding her and things like that, she has to be much more superior than that. There is no way about it. I am very sure about that. Women are super power. And much more, and then to expect them to sort of take a back seat is not right.

11:45And we are not talking about typical couples. We are generally talking about that.

12:02That's why you remember that you have the time to listen to them. There was an association of smell. There was an association of visual. You have to play an antakshir. You never play the latest songs. Yes, they play the old songs.

12:28I'm just giving an example. So past has always a great nostalgia. So that's why your relationship, you will remember. Daddy film is a great dialogue. That when you go to your old college, your old school, you don't think it's the same. You think it has deteriorated. No, it has not deteriorated because the current batch of students think this is the best thing that has happened. But your memory had a romanticized feel about the school. Yeah. So that's why it's different. In today's time, I think there's always an element of preserving your independence even before the relationship has started. Explain.

13:14Like, you get someone 만에, 당 coincidentally,

13:24you need to stand up so it's starting only on a defensive note. You need a guardup

13:34qualification unless given your own will be This is a donde it does You need a guardup Now you want to make a relationship. You have to find a place. Let's write a little here. You are already dealing with a situation which is over emphasized with your thought process in the beginning. So, from the beginning, and what is the purpose of a relationship? If you want to If the purpose is only to have sex And to have physicality When the purpose is complete, what is it? But if the purpose is to have a long relationship I meet many young people who are now in their late 30s I say, why are you doing this?

14:27That you should meet such a person Which can go through Are you that person and jis ke saath woh guzar sake so they are so I just feel that confusion adds to the relationship in today's time there was no confusion ever there was no expectations I always say this too that the day I married that day I decide that the friction will be going to be because now you are thinking that this person will be going to be a life I don't want to I like this toothpaste better I like you are grown up with certain habits like I don't like a green towel and when I was little we used to use a towel small little you are also in today's time you are also okay to let go is it a good thing or a bad thing if you think the person is right don't let go of that person How do you get the right person?

15:35I don't know from the heart From the heart, it seems to be right No And then later only you get to know That it's bad No, your cost is not bad I can't say anything My cost is good In general I am saying Your cost is not in particular to you I think you should look for a kind person Kindness is the first quality that I tell so many of my cousin, sisters, your nieces, if they ask me what kind of a husband we should look for or a boyfriend, I said kind person. You know, here's what I feel. You know, when you love with the person and you come with the person, in six months, the person changes. Exactly.

16:22there's so much stimulation, information, content. Also, 100%. What do you think? Then how do you know he or she is the right person or was the right person? ドEPPAR GUT FEELING which came out we kill this gut feeling because we find that itgus vares. And if the relationship goes to us, and that's entangemus that Bored would take it from one of us. This instinctive qualities

17:11So the lack of innocence in today's time is the deciding factor of the longevity of a relationship. Beautiful. I think so. That's the only way I will be able to describe. There is no innocence. Even when we are innocent We are not wanting to be innocent Because the other person will think I am an idiot So we are going to be a mask So we are going to be a mask The easiest thing in the world And the most difficult thing in the world Is to be yourself Because your strength is you So we are trying to be Now most of the people Are trying to be in a certain mold Because they think this is the mold To be cool This coolness It is a dangerous To me Being honest is being cool Being punctual is being cool Being compassionate is being cool Because that is what Coolness is not Yeah I think you are cool Because you have chosen To be the way you are And do this podcast Not though I want to know you I am just not ridiculing I'm just exaggerating not some people start

18:35start copying themselves after a certain point because they think and it happens with actors also that's why the growth stops after a point that formula that style has been done and then when failure comes then the world feels like that you are a failure except for your because Because you, I'm, okay, the other thing, I would say the special thing is that I'm never surrounded by people. In terms of, I have no staff member, I won't leave the airport, I won't leave the airport, I won't leave the airport, I won't leave the airport, I won't leave the airport, I won't leave the airport, I won't leave the airport.

19:07I, if people give me any body, I have an official bodyguard with me because of certain reasons. But otherwise, that also, I'll give it to you soon. So I do not fall into this paraphernalia of what makes a star. Today, when there was no social media, or we are sitting down the tree and the friends are still unbearable. Whether it's Anil, Jackie, Mitunda, all of our friends are still there because we were sitting down the tree and we were trying to take a bath and talk. Now we don't talk. We are talking at people today. We are not talking to people. Maybe that's why podcasts are very, very successful because this is the only time I have not got distracted and not looked at my phone, including me.

19:55So, there is an organization. Now, I believe it's in India also called Listen. People send volunteers to listen to older people. In Japan, it's a business. It's a business. Yeah. The loneliness of this thing is over there. Quite high. In Hindustan, this is the most important thing. I was in America for three years in New York. I was a little bit frustrated because whatever I was talking about, I was thinking that he was not doing the thing. He was acting. But in Hindustan, it's the best.

20:28you don't need not everybody has a psychiatrist in India because there are people around you who are asking you lots of things or there are astrologers

20:43that is the beauty of India and I hope it retains but in bigger cities that's also now disappearing. So when you talked about relationships The independence I understand your relationship. I think I think this trend was in the past for a long time but a lot of people realized the importance of the things and they're trying to get out of that shell and they're trying to get out of that shell and they're trying to get out of that shell and they're trying to better relationships I have so many people with me here from different cities. They're the first you let us know how to make friends how to go out so I think now people realize to talk but the point that is so true independence I am independent you are on my own that is actually killing and making people apart and I feel that we As I say about acting, some people do acting as acting.

21:51That is also in the normal life. We do acting as a way to make a relationship. This is a mode. There are so many people who think they don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend. They are not happening. So you need to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend to be happening. The disease of happening is very dangerous. That's why Rishthe zahadha Tootte hai Banne se zahadha Or Pretend karte hai Ki toot gaya Toh koji baat ni hai It's okay Nahin Investment hoti hai Relationship mein You have to invest You have to invest And if by Any chance Metro Indra mein Badi badi khub surat line hai I don't know the exact line But if me The sum total is that Kabhi kabhi رشتے کو برقرار رکھنے کے لیے اسی انسان سے دار بار پیار میں پڑھنا پڑھتا ہے اسی ایک انسان سے Is it easy to do آپ کی اتنی long lasting relationship رہی It is easy I think what is important is that look love may go out of window but a mutual respect a mutual admiration mutual kindness should never go a friendship should never go The concern should never go Love changes Compassion You can't feel what you used to feel In the earlier 5-6 years What's the difference When you first time You married day one That's what I'm saying The difference is that You become a habit But it has to be a good habit So if you know the person We were very good friends before we got married But even in I remember my mom and dad.

23:41It was not that they didn't have to sleep. They didn't have to sleep. They didn't have to sleep. They didn't have to sleep. What did I find out in the morning? My mom asked me. What did I do? Then what did my brother do? I saw that my father had to keep it there at night. And that night he had to keep it at night and keep it at the other side. It's for fun. It's for fun. I think if you have grown up in a normal circumstances where parents have spent time with you and given you a sense of security, you grow up with a sense of security. Problem in today's life is that husband and wife are so busy working out their relationship, working out their togetherness, working out their careers, that the children and the worst thing is to give them mobile to distract them.

24:29Do you feel that priorities change as it was tolerance? Like before… attention span will decrease in life what I mean that is when I talk to my parents or I talk to my dad to my dad to my dad my mom my dad was the goal of life to make a very fulfilling good family and make a family good and make a family and make a family and make a family and make a family and make a lot of money that the family thrive and the dad also talked about their family was the same that they would always aspirations now like family aspirations their priority today when I talk to people no that is not do you think that's why our threshold come yeah because there is you don't have anybody to fall back on I remember something that happened I was just late on my dad I was late cousin brother we were sleeping in half and we were my friend my friend

25:47I think family plays a very important role. And joint family can be very important. are not that joint family. Now we don't make a relationship. Now we try to make ourselves. And we can make a relationship or make a relationship. Why did it happen? Because we are all running fast nowhere. Why do you say nowhere? Because constantly you are made to feel somebody is doing better than you. You are constantly made to feel that. You pick up the phone. Normal podcast. You have 4 million on Instagram. 7 million on Instagram. I will reach 4 to 7. You have 500 Facebook friends. You are made to feel inferior in a given time today.

Read the full transcript

26:36It was like you were able to study in the year. I was 59 in class. It was not a year. Every day and 10 times in a day you are made to feel inferior. So how will you feel? That is why my first book, the best thing about you is you is about this that you have to draw strength from yourself you are the source because God has made you different because that's why to give an example that's why your fingerprints don't get anyone in the world and then the power of life makes you ordinary when you can become extraordinary chances but I also feel that many people insecurity to first reason second and larger reason is that people have an illusion that today there are many options available so people can't be satisfied I tell you all people are scared what do you mean by this what do you mean because world is making you feel scared what sense because information of news information is so distinct and constantly information which you want to see as a voyeurist is not about good things.

27:53So you live in an insecure world. You feel insecure. Either this is happening, war is happening, here is happening, something is happening, something is happening, someone will run away, someone will kill their husband. You are fed with so much of negative feelings that you think what kind of a world am I living in? So you are trying to survive yourself. And when you are surviving, how will you find your strength? And your strength can only come from your own self, from nowhere else. How can you find it? By telling yourself that let me start from scratch. Don't lose your speciality which is you.

28:33Which is you are the best thing that has happened to yourself. You are. You are the best thing that has happened to yourself because but when you are younger, somebody has to keep telling you. that's why upbringing there's a big difference but it's a flip side if you start believing in yourself and you're special and you're very good then you'll give it to others so you'll give it to yourself that you'll adjust and you'll make a new life because you'll make a bubble how can you make a bubble how can you make a bubble you'll believe you'll believe you'll believe that I'm special I'll do these things I like this.

29:19Now, because you're so strong that you're giving the importance that you're changing and you're changing. Maybe then I did not communicate rightly. What I meant to say that first, accept the ordinariness of yourself. And then understand. Not that I'm a big, big thing, I'm a big, I'm a big, I'm a big, I'm a big, I'm a big, I'm a big, I'm a big, no, no, no. What I meant was that there is something, I have to draw my strength, like I said at the beginning, that I'm not insecure, I'm not insecure. I don't do it. I don't do it. I don't do it. I don't do it. I don't do it. But I try to... And this was when I came here.

29:54My job was done. My job was not only acting because of the drama school. I was able to change the failure to change positivity. That's why I survived for so many years and on my own terms. but it's not that I don't have a big people from me I don't have a lot of a big people from me but what do all the people happy? The point is that I am happy with what I am because I am first of all myself and I am happy to pronounce constantly and that I live in a rented apartment I have made that into a speciality now that I am being arrogant I am saying that My grandfather said that the man is not afraid of the rain and this is true but unfortunately you see the path of life after living life as I say it may be clear that people can hear but you will learn only by going through life that is the truth of life people who are struggling with relationships and for xyz reason a independent because of the good secure relationship because they think there is a better or options or if someone has a wrong thing I will leave it whatever xyz things what would you tell them how can they find the right kind of love or build right kind of so before with all my love for the younger generation that they want to have their own language also you know so I listen to a lot of things like in relationship benching pardon my language I don't want to use this word but so and so buddies that we are but deep buddies and you want to be to be cool you accept that but emotions you don't accept if I am if someone has a love for someone, there is a certain amount of you feel that you can talk about like I do.

32:17But because norm is okay, it's okay, it's okay. Do you think that everyone has a love for us? Everyone has a love for us? Of course. Love is the most important. Cool is the term. Who needs it? No, no, no. You see, generation ka kuch na kuch ek hota funda ab my to because I want to be happening in my own mind I try to learn ki kya bol rery hai ki kya sikh rery but I don't feel like I want to to p I we say say that will say PQR STP 2 LMT duty D I basically Basically, we will be like the people of the people. When there was no language.

33:14So, I have no answer for that. How can they do that? But having said that, I have no answer. The only answer is, if you recognize love, go for it. Don't let go of it. Because it's most important and most of any kind of. We talk about love, relationship, we talk about the girl, girl. Parents' love. Teachers' love. Brother's love. My brother, little brother Raju, he's the greatest brother I think anybody can have. Greatest. Because he has accepted who I am. He has accepted my success with a lot of grace. And that is very difficult. So that's why he's the best brother. That's why our relationship will always stay.

34:03And when you grow up as a brother or sister, always have a reference point of your childhood. I get horrified when I see brother and sister fighting like two biggest enemies. So in my mind, always with my brother, we were singing while mother was cooking. Sajan, rejhut, matabulu. These were our songs. How can I change that when we are grown up? But the credit goes to him equally. So I think if you recognize Any kind of love Don't let it go Problem is People recognize it And let it go Because they think That more better Do you think You can get more better You can get I'm an eternal We both are Eternal optimist You can get Why not get You can get Love Love Love How do you know this is the right When you know this is the right Right time For marriage I think the moment you find a person Who is even 10 % or 20 % Or 30 % maximum Closer to you, get married And discover the relationship afterwards Love is the only most confusing Emotion in today's time Because Because where all are on.

35:29So, I'll tell you why. You are living with somebody or you're in a relationship with somebody to discover what kind of a person it is. But there is no sense of amazement. There is no sense of wonder about that person. At the end of it, we are basically saying what I like in this habit is. We both have felt that what I like in this habit is. This is a shame. I have told this last time I have no guilt. Now we can marry. I think they should culminate a relationship when they are discovering it. And have a life of togetherness to find the rest of the things. Really? Compatibility before? You don't know?

36:15Your father had been married. How old was he? 30 years ago. He had been married for compatibility.

36:39I like to accept people as they are. So I love people who want to sort of explore and thing like that. But I just feel that and allow me to say the word. you make your compatibility RMB? I just write work. I was just a slow and slow recording going up your work. Not totally hard. I gotta beimposed to be actor now. But I had a few milestones in relationship maybe or profession maybe. If I had something else to accept success over the life, So I can do a little bit of compatibility. It's not that mine is the best marriage in the world. To be very honest, it's very difficult to sort of in today's time.

37:29Suppose for a girl, she's in love with this particular boy. So she and she does not know where she stands in his life because some people are not vocal. And some people are not even as lucky as let's say you and me, that your partner is ready as much as you are ready. It happens that you are just doing it and then you get exhausted after a point. No, you do get exhausted. Look, exhaustion is part of a relationship. At some stage, that so-called fire may disappear. But what will remain is memories and what will remain that you both will want to work on it. I think that is what has remained in me, in my relationship.

38:19I have sometimes hurt her, I think. I know that. But what I have kept alive is my respect for her, my togetherness of emotion, and my compassion. And that's what is very important. And that if you keep Alive forever Then you keep building the relationship In a great way What's your biggest dream?

38:51So I made a film Tanvi the Great After 23 years I directed a film

39:00And I think it's come out quite well We did the world premiere At the market of Gant Film Festival Then we did a screening I think it should reach the ultimate possibility of do brilliantly virtually very well get all the awards because I think it's the most mature work of mine and there is great entertainment so what's the dream for it movie will should have movie should be received well by people is that it it will receive well what's the biggest dream you have right now let me put it there on your podcast Oscar now people say a lot what is Oscar what is it everyone they say everything everything needs everything because whether it is marketing of the American Academy I am a member of the Academy whether it is the way they have brought it up it is the ultimate holy grail for this particular industry right it is there are other festivals which are amazing Khan Film Festival but

40:24but it's a brilliant film. So I'm not, what it does in terms of business, what it achieves. That's a separate issue. But according to me, it's one of my best work. So, I didn't want to go to any regular producers to ask for money. Okay. Because I wanted to make the film which I thought should be. Because I was getting clearer in the way I want to see the film. Also, I wanted the girl to be absolutely new. People have not seen her. Okay. I went to few producer directors. They gave me with concern. They gave me gyan. And out of concern. They met me nicely. But they said what gyan did you? If you take a big heroine then we may have to give you.

41:28Then there is a very financial type. who said that good story, we'll come to the next day. I met them next day. They said that news is not good. So I was like, I'm going to sit and sit and go. I'm going to sit and sit and sit. I'm not working with you. News is not good. I'm not going to finance the film. Okay. And it's a big film. It's a 50 crore film. It's not a small film. Okay. So then I said, how do I do it? Where do I get it? Then I finally found a person who said, I will present the film, finance the film. I will give you 25 crore of film. So everything went up well. I signed actors. Signed Matlab.

42:15I spoke to Arvind Swami, Bamanirani, Jackie Shroff. I was doing a role. And Pallavi Joshi. And one month before the shooting was to start, this gentleman said, I can't do it. Postpone. So my CEO Herman said, sir, I said, no, if this picture doesn't make this picture, it will never make it. And I have no much money. So I said, if it's a big deal, we'll sign the M.M. Kareem sir. Or we'll have to do it first. Then I wrote to a few friends of mine. So it's a public-funded film. there are nine co-producers of the film and we are we are ready with the film film is releasing on 18th of July and the most amazing thing is that none of the actors have taken money so far why because I had no money to pay them so that is what is very moving.

43:28The only person who is paid, of course the staff and technician is the main girl. She gave her money because Shubhangi comes from a very humble beginnings. And I also wanted a girl from my acting school actor prepares. So I'm consumed in the last for the three years for the film for Tanweed the Great. And you asked me, what is it? What a dream? So I have told you my dream. But If it's not a cause, then my heart will break. I will not take a dream. It should not be closed. So, I have seen when you ask me, I have seen ups and downs. I was the darling of all filmmakers. I have done films with almost everybody.

44:16As I said, 545 films. But I am not the most happening person in the world. But for myself, I am very happening. if you if I go through my life story I think it's the very happening story son of a clerk of a forest department so we start comparing notes and today the world is always trying to make you feel that somebody is doing better than you social media her minute when I was here someone got me he said you are doing good for this because someone else has done unfollow her. So these are the stories that come up. So I think I've seen and I also do not let the old man in. I'm 70 now. And it's a great story.

45:04Clint Eastwood was in 92 to 93. He was a great friend who wrote songs in the country. And he's 95 now. 10 days back he became 95. So he said that what are you doing next year? He said, I'm starting a new film. He said, what? At 93, you are starting a new film? He said, I don't let the old man in. So I think that I'm too excited about life. It's so beautiful to be alive. It's so beautiful. So I'm not coming here and having a chat with you just because I'm excited about it. You like it. You love everything. Yes. We have age difference. You believe the same thing. but there are many people who don't have optimism even though there are a lot of talent they are mediocre people who are mediocre are not optimistic they are hoping to think to become better, optimism with hard work you are not only optimistic, I am not only optimistic, optimism has a dash of amazing amount of hard work and honesty my father had told me that failure is an event, never a person you were a clerk My father, when I was in fifth standard, and when I watched my last film before he passed away, my father had the same expression.

46:25Wow, what a good thing! He was so good. But he felt that it was good. I grew up in a joint family. Grandparents' wisdom. wisdom to tell us we didn't tell us we said what is the difference? so we have to go with your shlokos you are going to go you are going to go you are going to go you are going to go so I I have to tell you 14 people We were very happy. We were very happy. We were very happy. My dad had a day. My dad had a day. I said, how could we be so happy? How could we be so happy? It was a good thing. When a kid is very happy,

47:27when a teenager, a teenager, a 12-year-old kid, when a kid is sad, that it is a good thing.

47:59So these are the stories which make you who you are. So I think that's the only way to live Optimism is the only way to live Otherwise I can think that I wish I was Shah Rukh Khan or Brad Pitt But how many people must be wanting to be me So this is the difference That life comes from living But I was optimistic But because if you are very optimistic And kuch pinnacle hooga life mein jis se har insaan apne abko kahin a kahin compare kertai ho bulta hai ki mein or ooper jau ga optimism mein or aage jau ga right to kubhi compare nai kertai kud ko kis se merah naam pata kia anupam is ka matlab apko pata hai uncomparable when you are honest and you are optimistic there is a certain amount of arrogance that you get arrogance baut ضرور it's not a negative quality arrogance is not negative arrogance if used in the right manner arrogance is not looking down at anybody arrogance is I'll make a different point it's a different point so when I said that my name is uncomparable so it's not like that I have excitement if someone has achieved it I think I have achieved it but not out of jealousy jealousy is also jealousy is a very healthy sign if used in the right manner.

49:30When was the jealousy? When I was in India I was taking and I took Amrish Ji to take the role for MoGambo.

49:43What feel was it? I was small. Small. I felt small. Small as in you are not good enough? When I watched the film, I thought I was like, Amrish Ji didn't roll. I didn't know how to do it. but before sheikhar kapoor interpretation different and in that interpretation mogiambho was a very you know not so stiff fluid was very fluid it was very mcleavian if I have to use that word so so so so so so so so so so so so

50:29They did it for themselves. But that I understand now. But at that time you didn't. Do you feel inferior? Yeah. Inferior, small, hurt. Why? All those feelings. and then jealous of I was yeah how did they get or do a role like One Flew or The Cuckoo's Nest is one of my favorite films Jack Nicholson I would love to do something like that I love that that's the only film which I saw in Pune Pune Film Institute 12-3 3-6 6-9 9-12 next day then 12 to 3 I feel bad that I have not got a film like that and whether if I get that film whether I will be able to do that the way Jack Nicholson did it so that is that is the kind of professional jealousy which is very very healthy why healthy because it makes you push yourself and push yourself a lot of years before when I was in the film I was not able to struggle.

51:47That was the perfect example of jealousy. So I had a photo of a shirt. Because it was a world of war. I had a office office. And Ram Kielkar Ji, a writer was famous. So I said, this is a very dignified, bald, sexy look. But when you go bald initially, you go bald, you go bald. And you go bald, you go bald. And in Bombay, in the 80s, you go bald. I mean, you go bald. ھالانکہ میں گولڈ میڈلس تر ڈراما سکول سے تو میں بڑی مشکل سے ڈراما سکول سے کچھ تیار بیار ہو کے گیا وائٹ شرٹ پہن کے بارش پڑ گئی پھر انہوں نے بٹھایا تو جہاں آپ بیٹھے وہاں پر سونلال کانور جی بیٹھے ہیں اور ساتھ میں رام کھیل کر جی بیٹھے ہیں اور میں نے اپنی فوٹوگراف نکال کے دی اور انہوں نے فوٹوگراف دیکھتی بھاجی دیکھو بندنوں کمال ہے and 5-6 photograph dixter rè and tariff kar tere or bole tu the thik hai tere pichya art playmich kohon hai man gai jih mar gya

52:48man gai last month he mar gya wo tih jealousy ki photograph may dixha raha ho bárish mein map bhi kiya raha ho or ye ek-dusree tariff kar raha and that was jealousy and now he he was my best friend anang desai but that became a story again I said to you that what life is not in life what you think a failure will become stories and I look at my life as a film that's why I remember who I remember I remember sentences I remember what my father said that's what I remember it's like a real that is going on tell me what you remember father was my forest department in the forest and that was the most amazing thing that our fathers have done they were going to go to the house and they were going to the house 12 miles 12 kilometers away and this was a monotonous life they were coming to the house daily same life and yet he was kind my mother always said they were taking some money to buy some money like they were taking some food who got a girl who got a girl, he said, no, what is it?

54:05No, no, no, no. Okay, so four gave them, eight. So I asked them, why do you do it? Mom always does it. One day, two lipstick came, so one person gave it. Then she studied it. Who gave it? So they said, the easiest thing in the world is to make somebody happy. So I think that, the easiest thing in the world is to make somebody happy. And I think that stayed with me. So I try, I try my level best. But you know, all these things should not make you feel or your viewers feel that that does not mean that I don't get angry. That does not mean that I won't get disappointed. That does not mean that I must not have made somebody unhappy.

54:50As long as you know what you are doing, I think it's beautiful. Do you feel angry today? Yes, I feel. Because sometimes I have seen your social media posts and feels like this is a way that is anger or distastefulness or I am irritated or what is it? No, irritation and anger is different I am very easy to do like I am acting school as a dictator I am because my acting teacher was the same I think that when you learn which is a form of art you have to discipline is number one in that Talent comes second So I'm a very disciplined actor Dictator Tell me why Why did he say that Because Charpent trades with a Of a dictator Just as time Time cup aband ho na Aگر 8 wajay class hai Toh aapko 8 wajay Poonch na hi chahiye Just as if Safai aagar school mein hai Toh safai rakhna hi chahiye Meera toh pehle Toh my paagal tha Bulta tha ki Aagar aap Tien dhin shave kia Bagaar hai Toh my apko nikal dunga Thir myre sath valon Sabne meere teachers Bagaar hai Sabnei bula Ya kya bheokofi hai Just because you don't have hair doesn't mean that.

56:03And in today's generation, they like to wear a beard. Anil Kapoor has a little trouble. So, I like that. I do not, I have a system of complete discipline over there. Dictator is a very strong word, but that you sort of understand. I got the understanding. Yeah. So, that I think makes it easy.

56:28I feel that Halal ki bharawal mullikon mein Classes mein chay ka pyalah lhe ker Ja ke teacher ke saath Ese dhusti mein Danse mein aisa ni hota Gurukul Jho parampara hai Danse mein aisa ni hai Classical music mein aisa ni Acting mein aisa smachta hai Because acting aisa lagtata hai Khi her mahalye mein Eek shahid kapoor hai Her mahalye mein Eek alia bhatt hai Danse jis ko aata hai Wo s'mejta hai Acting karta ho mein that's not the truth dance is a I can't dance as a performer I can't dance so there's a casual attitude towards learning acting because everybody can sort of pick up a dialogue and say that I can do this how bad they can do it and how good they depend on the watch so acting a course not only teaches you how to be an actor but it also teaches how to be humble, how to be nice because it's profession as a student or as this thing, there are a lot of disappointments.

57:340.001 % make it out of millions of people who come to this city. I am one of those 0.00%. I have no business to be unhappy. I have no business to be dissatisfied or sad. God has given me so much. So, that whole attitude because here it is very easy to see. Then tomorrow there are casting directors, there are platforms. But one thing which is good is that today how you look is your plus point. It's not the only point. No, but as you see, casting director, if you look like me, or whatever you think, I don't see good, I don't see so good, that's your plus point. Not in the early 80s if you don't have hair and you don't look like a hero.

58:21So I always tell my students that you are lucky to be in the era of place where you look the way you look is your plus point. Why is that? Because casting in today's series casting, you don't only look for, you look for real people. You're not looking for a chocolatey hero kind of a thing. So today you have various kinds of actors. If you see series or if you see performances and movies, you see they're not classic looking people first it was that type of type he's going to be a villain character actor he's also a man this whole nonsense about character actor this is first it was that bald man can't become a hero so luckily I got my first film I was 27 and I played a 65 year old man role in Saranj I was curious to know this because the first role usually you say if you have more age then technically now you have played so much how do you play a young role then your career is finished I'll be right back from 40 years of course it worked for you and you did it right it didn't work for me I made it work for me because I would have been an idiot if I had not done that role I needed to establish myself as an actor and no other film if I had five films as a hero in the sea singing, dancing, dancing, dancing, dancing, I would have not survived.

59:56I was a trained actor. I understand what I need. Also, beggars can't be choosers. I had been three years in Bombay. But the moment Bhatsa narrated this script, I said, I did not even think. So I get surprised when people say, how did you do that? It's been a great role for me. I had a Fifty's role for today. I am speaking on behalf of the distant sector. It's a celebration of none. It's a lot of repairs. It's a lot more than I realized. I were in theaters. I were in Metro Sinema ,لا talking 's. I sent my del 특 team. I was looking down at all the time. But that followed me. Also, if Sarans gave me the goal of being the kind of person that I want to be.

1:00:45B.V. Pradhan was the kind of person I always want to be. B.V. Pradhan was straightforward, principled, fearless. So sometimes role give, your first role can give you a way of life. I thought that I was thinking that a man in 27 years old looks like a man in a way of life. Now I'm 70, I still don't look like B.V. Pradhan. But it gave me that way of I asked the first day when the film was in January 1984 so I said I said we have been doing it for 6 months now you give me one word which is the total sum total what is that word I'll ask you also afterwards so he said compassion B.B. Pradhan is a compassionate man he understands the point of view of a not so good person also.

1:01:46He understands the point of it. He listens to them. So compassion stayed with me. So now I'm going to ask you, if you have to describe yourself in one word, what will that word be? Dreamer. Dreamer. Yeah. That's the only word which comes to me. Yeah. So may you continue to dream on even when you are 70. That's what I am. that I'm a dreamer with compassion and with the experience of so many years. So you want to be dreamer with compassion. I am. You are. Yeah. And that's what you strive to be even. And I have no fear of failure. It's a lethal combination. Very lethal. Yeah. It's a lethal combination.

1:02:29What do you do? My dialogue was in Saharanj. He was a politician. Neeloo Pule has been in the role. He is also reached in the police station. Now he's a very powerful politician and this man is an old man. and he was saying that you what will do you will kill me more than you so I'm not afraid of me now what will you do so I feel like a small feeling of me I don't understand another thing I don't say I don't say I don't say I can say I can say I can say I can say I can say I can say but if I have done something or done something then I will not lie to myself because that's the only way to make it better Tell me a time Where you have spoken to people Give me an example I have spoken to many times For not giving me I have spoken to Kiran Today is my birthday So I have The sheep I have given it So he told me Today is my birthday It is my birthday It is my 14th So I have spoken No I have spoken to 14 Because sometimes You lie to people Not to hurt them And also to Camouflage your mistake Yeah aah I'm saying I told my husband for a stupid when I died you said this was kind of a I said I said he goes my hands I told and dramas when I got my school PV…

1:03:55I got a note of passing this class.- Yes, when I…

1:04:09… cricket kheel ra ta to my teacher Jai Ram sir nne dekh liya or onna nne ka ki kama kyun nne kya home work kyun nne kya to my nne kya sir ya hat kya utar de siko to I think bade chute bhe bholen I think when I say deltay ho I try not to but you know as sometime as I said you sometime don't want to hurt people to us ke liye I think ab somebody ask how am I looking I can't say not good I think I think we keep our happiness in the other hand so I think we've said we've said I was given to give me drama school canteen so I was given to give me he's told his story he's given now he's kept 28 so there are so many events do you at this age with so much wisdom now you have insecurity in security to stay what's your insecurity what's your biggest insecurity fear of alzheimer's memory loss because i have seen people who have gone through who were alzheimer patient i think the first tragedy that a human being can go through is the wiping of the past and not knowing who is dilip saab ko alzheimer hua tha last ke kuch salon tak dilip saab ko पता है नहीं था कि वो दिलीब साब है, दिलीब कुमार है, राउनल्ड ड्रीगन, I did a film कल मैंने गांधी को नहीं मारा, उसके अंदर, उसके लिए मैंने रिसर्च किया, sometimes.

1:05:44पहले थी कभी insecurity? हाँ, when you want to make it, you slept on the railway platform. किस बात की insecurity, like what? that nothing will happen to me my father wrote a letter when you will get a role you will get a role you will get a role or I'm playing a role but now all the films will not be a role this is the insecurity that this picture will be or not this is the insecurity because so much money has gone into it so insecurity always before I came I thought that today's interview will go good or not because you want to give your best everywhere you want to give your best because your competition is with your own self my competition is not with anybody else I have a very high standard for my own self so that gives you insecurity okay here's my last question to you where when you think you have been misunderstood by the word I always like what is the biggest misunderstanding about you people think I always have lived on my own facts with compromises where I think But that sense of independence Which is in my mind Like I broke this myth of typecasting I felt I am not a character actor I am an actor Who is at par with the heroes Even though I get one tenth or one hundredth But we are actors This whole nonsense about character, actor, actor Lead hero and all of that So I think that sometimes unnerves people.

1:07:25He is a big independent man. But that's not, that's my survival instinct. I am, I am friends of friends. My relationship is being with friends. I have great relationship with all my co-actors. I ask if this was good, that was good, or not. Unless, and it takes me, takes a lot for somebody to break my trust. but then I switch off so sometimes I think people think yaar he's a very independent person he's not right he's what comes in the face he's what tells you

1:08:01so I think these are the factors but I have learnt to live with myself and I'm happy with who I am and I'm very proud of what I have done to my life how do you want to be remembered? how does it matter? how am I remembering? Where do I remember? Where do we remember Malan Brando, Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar? Somebody in some people's lives I made a change. In some people's lives I made a difference. By my kindness, by my humanness. If some people remember me, I'll be happy. Not for world to remember. they will know we remember where Kishore Kumar remember where they remember when they were birth date they were on Twitter or something we all trend but how many lives did you touch while you were there is most important and I think I have touched a lot of lives by what my father told me that the easiest thing in the world is to make somebody happy that's the that's a very beautiful thing I've never heard somebody say the easiest thing in the world is to make somebody happy.

1:09:10I really liked it. Thank you so much, sir. Thank you for coming here. So what were you reading? What did you say? That background of yours, that your father. Okay, okay. Basic you were. Then I have seen some clips. Do you think we should change something about it? I think we should have much more fluidity like the way you are. You're a very fluid person. People will take you seriously. Your plus point is that you're a great listener. I have done a podcast People are not wanting to listen to the answer They are already thinking of the next question And they are also trying to say How brilliant I am You are genuinely a seeker You genuinely want to seek And I think that's your strength Thank you so much for watching this episode Now you have to do three things First of all, subscribe to this channel Because as much as you subscribe We will get better and valuable guests For you Number two, tell me in comments what you like and what bad you like in this episode so that we can repeat those mistakes.

1:10:11And which guests you want to see in our podcast so that we can take them and give you more value. Number three, you have to share this episode with someone. Because one conversation can change someone's life. I'll see you next time. Until then keep figuring out.

1:10:35Thank you.

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(00:00) – Intro


(02:06) – Void of Not Seeing a Child Grow Up


(07:56) – Old Love vs Gen Z Love


(15:29) – How to Find the Right Person


(22:50) – How to Build a Long-Lasting Relationship


(24:30) – Why Today’s Generation Doesn’t Prioritise Building a Family


(27:19) – Why People Aren’t Satisfied with One Person


(31:07) – How to Find the Right Kind of Love in Today’s Generation


(35:02) – Right Time to Marry


(38:48) – His Biggest Dream


(45:44) – Why People Don’t Feel Optimistic Even When They Have Talent


(48:27) – Comparison & Jealousy


(53:30) – Father’s Memory


(54:54) – About His Acting School


(59:00) – Story of the Film Saaransh


(01:03:12) – Times He Lied in His Life


(01:05:01) – Insecurities


(01:06:32) – Misunderstood Anupam Kher


(01:08:12) – How He Wants Everyone to Remember Him


(01:09:15) – BTS


(01:09:53) – Outro



In today’s episode, we have Anupam Kher, actor, producer, and author, sharing his reflections on ageing, relationships, insecurity, and the cost of ambition. He opens up about the decision to not have children, the emotional complexity of solitude, and how different life feels as one grows older. We explore what it means to live with both gratitude and regret, and how personal choices are often shaped by timing and priorities.

We talk about the changing nature of love, why kindness should come before compatibility, and how the absence of innocence is affecting modern relationships. Anupam also shares his thoughts on insecurity in men, the burden of comparison, and how he’s turned failures into survival instincts.

In the final segment, he reflects on the fear of memory loss, how he’s misunderstood, and the one dream he still holds close. He shares lessons from his father, why he believes real people are finally being cast on screen, and what he wants to be remembered for.

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About Figuring Out


Figuring Out Podcast is a Candid Conversations University where Raj Shamani brings raw conversations with the Top 1% in India.

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