Anupam and anything can happen any time

Artist on knowing celebrities up close and personal and his own evolution into a star

NEW DEHLI: Social media has become the perfect platform for stars to connect with their fans, but veteran actor Anupam Kher holds that celebrities have personal lives that shouldn’t get disturbed. “Today, you can’t stay away from social media. People can judge you by your Twitter, Facebook and other social media accounts. But behind that, celebrities’ off-screen lives are as personal as anybody else’s. So, they should not be disturbed there,” he said.

Anupam, who’s heading back to television with the second season of talk show The Anupam Kher Show - Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, interviewed the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Mahesh Bhatt on the previous season of the show. He shared that celebrities feel comfortable sharing their personal lives with him.

Read: Anupam Kher denied Pakistani visa due to security reasons

“Celebrities know me for the last 30 years. I’m genuinely interested in their lives. That’s why they’re very comfortable in sharing their personal lives with me. They know I’ll not ask them any question that’ll make them uncomfortable,” he stated. “I’m not only a chat show host but also their friend. I’m also sometimes an unqualified psychiatrist. Just like the audience, I’m also keen to know what makes these celebrities stronger and passionate about their work because I personally have gone through that state.”



When asked what viewers can expect from the show this time around, he said, “It’s a better season than the last one. The inspirational stories of the guests are unbelievable. From Priyanka Chopra to Irrfan Khan to Manoj Bajpai to Gulzar sahab and Anil Kapoor, they all have amazing stories to tell of their past. These stories not only entertain you but also inspire you.”

He further said, “It’s a show that I can do my whole life because we have so many people in the country, who can become such inspirational tools and what today’s youth and audiences need is a show on television, which not only inspires but also entertains them.”

Married to actor and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirron Kher, Anupam came into limelight with his role in the 1984-film Saaransh and went on to star in movie, such as Ram Lakhan, Daddy and 1942: A Love Story. Among his international credits are Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice and Silver Linings Playbook.

So, what has been the kucch bhi hosakta hai moment of his life? “I’ve plenty of them. If a small town boy from Shimla, whose father used to earn INR90 per month, can host a show like this, then anything can happen,” he said. “I couldn’t speak English till I reached Mumbai and, today, I’ve given lectures at Kellogg School of Management, Oxford University and IIM. I’m happy with my career as many in the world don’t get a chance to do what they want to.”

The second season of The Anupam Kher Show —  Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, which will be aired on Colors starting August 2, will feature celebrities, such as Kajol, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Rishi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Asha Parekh, Sonu Nigam, Tabu, Manoj Bajpai, Paresh Rawal, Boman Irani, Sania Mirza and Suresh Raina.  

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th,  2015.

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