Anupam Kher Quotes

After working with Woody Allen, sharing screen space with De Niro was a dream come true.

One time I nearly experienced failure was when I was acting in ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ in 1994. One day, I woke up and found that part of my face was paralysed.

An actor is only a part of the film, not the whole, and very often, he is moulded by the director. That is why a good director can make so much difference to a film.

I approach every role with the same commitment because I’m being paid for it. To not do so would be unethical.

Drama school, you know, I own an acting school, Actor Prepares.

You are never too old for applause. What’s satisfying is that I’m being appreciated for what I was trained for.

I think in my mother tongue. That’s Hindi.

If my life can inspire people, then a television show where guests talk about their challenges and what makes them unique would work.

I wrote a book on life coaching, because my life became my own reference point how to live.

I was able to overcome my failures because I was always confident of my abilities and was sure I could achieve what I had set out for.

I think if you laugh at your troubles and tell the whole world what went wrong, you can’t be frightened by anything.

Every time I’ve crossed to a new level of film acting, the film has been a breakthrough project.

It is important to be financially savvy when you turn producer. As a director, you just need to have a good script in hand.

As for my stand, I think it has become difficult in our country to be a Hindu and a liberal at the same time.

It’s important for couples to be friends first and to respect each other as individuals.

I know that some of the characters I played were trash. But then, I chose to take up those roles, as I enjoyed doing them.

I don’t think that I will say that we are less talented in Bollywood, but our functioning is different. We cater to a different kind of audience.

In every role that I do – whether I’m a teacher, actor or mentor – I do it with total dedication and as much honesty as I feel is required because there’s no alternative to honesty and hard work.

In India, film sets are like a family atmosphere.

I’ve done 480-odd films, have my own acting school, won awards, etc. and now host a successful TV chat show – what else can I ask for? Yes, of course, every journey has its ups and downs, but that’s part of life.

You may be in a medical or engineering college, but not all will stand first in class. It depends on who studies the most.

I was 28 when I played the role of a 65 year old man in my first film.

I still feel I belong to the theatre. There is nothing more challenging and exciting for an actor than performing before a live audience. The stage is the real testing ground for an actor.

Practice makes an actor excel. It is like cycling and motor driving. It is an art, which can be learnt and practised.

I was failed in all other aspects of filmmaking and was completely bankrupt because my dreams were higher than realities. So I started my acting school in a small room with 12 students to prepare future actors and actresses.

I was neither good in sports nor at studies, but I always wanted to stand out and be noticed.

I cannot take away the fact I am a small-town boy from India, from a lower-middle class family, and was actually standing in front of De Niro – not on an equal level, but as an actor, on the same pedestal.

People tend to scare you pointing out your shortfalls. If you voluntarily admit your faults, then people won’t have anything to point out.

I have played 50 different kinds of fathers and villains. Only mediocre actors play the part the same way.

There are many brilliant actors, including our own Dilip Kumar, but Robert de Niro is something else.

I’m not a cribber, or someone who criticises. People who criticise are not doers. I’m a doer.

I enjoy being recognized. I’ll be very sad if people stop recognizing me. I’ll be very sad if I’m not interviewed, because that’s a very amazing process.

Harper Collins gave me a letter of intent saying that they want me to pen down my autobiography. When I was recollecting the incidents of my life for that, I selected only those incidents which were turning points in my life. I staged it instead of writing it.

I had spent many days hungry; had slept on railway stations at times because I did not have money to pay for a hotel room… there were moments when I felt I had compromised my dignity as a human being and as an actor.

I am aware that as an actor, I can blame others for the failure of a film, the director, the script, choice of co-stars, timing of the release and so on. But now, as the director, I will have to shoulder all the blame.

I would like congratulate everyone who was a part of ‘Life of Pi.’