Anupam Kher 7-March

His critical and commercial success in over 100 plays and almost 400 films stand testament to this eternal optimism that gave rise to the drive and passion that catapulted Padma Shri award-winning actor Anupam Kher to the heights of being considered one of the greatest actors of contemporary cinema

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Shimla-bred Anupam Kher enrolled and passed out of Chandigarh’s Punjab University and the National School of Drama in Delhi (an institute where he would later be the Chairman), with gold medals in acting. He then took up teaching dramatics in Lucknow till finally landing up in Mumbai starting off his glorious career on the silver screen with National award-winning roles in Saaransh and Daddy. He carried forward his golden streak in films like Karma, Lamhe, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge,Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara, Khosla Ka Ghosla andA Wednesday to name a few.

He went international when he worked with acclaimed director Gurinder Chaddha and Oscar award-winning director Ang Lee.

He extended his genius into production of such national and international award winning films such asBariwali and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara.

Showered with innumerable accolades and awards, he holds the distinction of winning no less then 8 Filmfare awards in a row. He has held the post of Chairman of the Censor Board and National School of Drama. He was recently awarded the Teacher’s Lifetime Achievement for his contribution to cinema and social work.

Not one to sit back and rest on his laurels, in 2005 Anupam Kher established his dream project Actor Prepares a premier acting school in the heart of Mumbai, where he takes time off his very hectic schedule to personally impart some of his acting secrets to tomorrow’s actors and superstars. After opening branches in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad, he has gone international with his school by becoming the first actor to open a professional acting school in London; no less in association with Ealing Media School and Heathrow City Partnership.

Shredding the comfortable cocoon that a star of his stature would live within, concerned with giving back something to society and those less privileged then him, he has for many years now been a teacher to differently-abled children and is one of the founder members of The People For Animals.

In 2008, years of hard work and planning finally culminated in the establishment of The Anupam Kher Foundation to spread education among less privileged children and to provide palliative care to people with life-limiting diseases.

Take the histrionics of an acting guru, add the genius of a thespian , combine the flair of a producer and director, and the humanitarian aspect of a Dalai Lama award-winner for his contribution to Cinema and social work, and you have some measure of Anupam Kher.