Mumbai, Nov 25 – LatestNewsX: Bollywood veteran Anupam Kher reminded everyone that “giving up is not a choice,” reflecting on his breakthrough as a 65‑year‑old in Mahesh Bhatt’s Saaransh and how he’s now able to call Hollywood icon Robert De Niro “one of my best friends” after a masterclass at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
When Kher was just 28, he portrayed a much older man in Saaransh (1984). He later ventured into Hollywood, appearing in films such as Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and the series New Amsterdam, while also working across nearly every Indian language, Variety.com reports.
A long‑time fan of De Niro, he had studied Mean Streets and Taxi Driver while still a student. Decades later, while building his global career, he landed a role in David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook—a project that De Niro had in his watchlist.
The chance to collaborate with his idol seemed realistic, yet De Niro was initially hesitant about the placement of Anupam’s character in a pivotal scene after his own script review. Kher recalls that he stood up and shared his view on the matter, risking both the part and the opportunity to work alongside De Niro. That evening, when the actor offered a drink in De Niro’s van, the older star praised Kher’s performance, Variety.com reports.
“I was honest and didn’t care about being unpopular with the unit,” Kher said. “That’s why today I can call Mr. Robert De Niro one of my best friends.”
During the lecture, Kher spoke about moments when giving up was simply not an option. “What happens in your life becomes your story,” he mused. “Why should life be easy or simple? Why shouldn’t it have problems? Your challenges shape the blockbuster of your biopic.” He added, “Failure is an event, not a person, and the film of your life deserves a blockbuster ending.”
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