New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): Come Sunday, it will be three decades since Anupam Kher-starrer "Saaransh" hit the screens and catapulted his career in the Hindi film industry to new heights. The veteran actor admits the movie changed not just his life, but also thinking.
"'Saaransh' was released on May 25, 1984. Tomorrow I'll complete 30 years in this fabulous film industry. 30 years of 'Saaransh'. What a journey," Anupam posted on his Twitter page Saturday.
"'Saaransh' changed my life, my thinking for ever. It made me a better person. It's not a film, but a philosophy for me," he added.
The actor, a National School of Drama alumnus, was only 28 when he took on the role of a retired middle class Maharashtrian man, who had lost his son, in the drama directed by Mahesh Bhatt.
Anupam's stellar performance not just won him his first Filmfare best actor award, but the film was also chosen as India's official entry for the 1985 Academy Award for best foreign language film.
A theatre enthusiast and two-time National Award-winning actor, the 58-year-old's career has been eventful - with films, plays, TV and as an acting teacher.
Having featured in films like "Karma", "Lamhe", "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge", "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara", "Khosla Ka Ghosla", "A Wednesday" and "Special 26", the actor cemented his space as a versatile talent, who slipped into comic as well as serious roles with equal ease.
Anupam was honoured with a special jury National award in 1989 for "Daddy" and his second National Film Award honour came thanks to "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara". He is also a proud recipient of the Padma Shri.
He has also featured in international movies and projects and has worked with directors such as Gurinder Chaddha, David O Russell, Ang Lee and Woody Allen. His big moment came when he shared screen space with legendary actor Robert De Niro in the Oscar nominated movie "Silver Linings Playbook".
He has done his bit of TV with shows like "Say Na Something To Anupam Uncle", "Sawaal Dus Crore Ka" and more recently, with a cameo in the Indian "24".
The actor is now making his TV production debut with “The Anupam Kher Show...Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai”, a chat show with celebrities.
Apart from this glorious career, he also runs an acting school called Actor Prepares and has written a book titled "The Best Thing About You Is You", which tells people how to live life in today's time.