Mumbai continues to be that promised land on which thousands of people descend every day in search of opportunity to make it big. And a considerable number of the swarming masses harbour starry-eyed dreams of getting into the movies. Films oil an incredible factory where glamour and fame are often taken to be glossy finished products — but the raw material of blood, sweat and tears claims hundreds in the process. Many fail to navigate the choppy waters of filmdom and meet with despair. This is the sobering reality that has stayed unchanged from the time Mumbai was Bombay — the fountainhead of the nation&’s entertainment industry.

Yet, as in every sphere of life, there are exceptions — individuals who buck the odds, rise through the ranks, taste success and become characters in the rags-to-riches stories that mirror the plot of typical Bollywood potboilers. One such story is that of actor Anupam Kher.

Far from the greasepaint of Mumbai, Kher grew up in the mountain climes of Shimla, part of a family of Kashmiri Pandits with modest means. He wasn’t great at studies and failed often, but one incident cased him to dispense completely with the fear of failure. After flunking a particular class or perhaps a subject, his father treated him at one of the finest restaurants in town — a place reserved for special occasions. The young boy was justifiably baffled and asked why, to which his father replied, “So that you never fear failure in your life.”

Besides being an actor of much repute, Kher likes giving motivational talks sprinkled with such instances from his life, with the stated philosophy of “anything is possible”. An extension of that mindset is The Anupam Kher Show — Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, a popular television event where he invites guests, primarily from the Hindi film fraternity, to share personal stories of overcoming obstacles to attain stardom. After a first season, which was a runaway success, the show is back for Act Two. What gave him the idea for it? Kher says, “It is a means for inspiring viewers as I wholeheartedly believe that in life anything is possible.” Another unique feature of the show is that guests reveal aspects from their lives and struggles, which they wouldn’t otherwise do on national television. A major reason for the same has got to be Kher&’s equation with those who sit across from him. He says, “I am not judging my guests but applauding them. They know I won’t ask them uncomfortable questions and because of that they open up. Moreover, it is a concentrated conversation without distractions.”

One has to admit that a lot of unknown facets from a celebrity&’s life emerge when the individual talks to someone he/she is comfortable with. Of course, stars are often guarded in the course of interviews, being distrustful of the machinations of a media fed, at most times, by gossip and baseless rumour-mongering. Yet, in turn, these stars and their public relations teams are adept at using the same media for promoting their latest films or endorsements. It is common to see actors in every other television show just before the release of their movies — a fact discouraged by Kher for his programme. “They are talking about work at the end of the day but actively promoting a film, as this defeats the whole purpose of the exercise,” he says. 

A quiet and unassuming man, Kher made it simply by dint of hard work — he&’s as self-made as it gets. He doesn’t believe actors are “born” but rather “made”. Surely he must have come across people who inspired him? “Definitely. My grandfather was a big influence growing up. Thereafter, teachers at the National School of Drama like Ebrahim Alkazi, among others, taught me a lot about the craft. And, of course, life. It is the biggest teacher one can have.” He had tweeted about former President APJ Abdul Kalam after his recent demise and says he would have loved to talk to him as part of the show. Also, he says, conversations with people like Marlon Brando, Satyajit Ray and Marilyn Monroe would have been quite interesting.

He recently performed in a play, Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha, in the city with Neena Gupta and says theatre is something that he enjoys doing immensely. “I strive to do things that challenge me, things that are difficult. In a way, I want to give back to theatre because whatever I am today is thanks to my initial training there.” Whether through his words or his work, Kher has always inspired and continues to do so.

Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai airs every Sunday at 8 pm on Colors