The making of an actor

For connoisseurs of theatre, ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Saktha Hai,’ a two-hour long play staged at the JT Pac on Sunday evening, was a new experience.By sharing with the viewers even small events from his childhood and decades-long acting life, Anupam Kher brought to life many an emotion on stage. While narrating the reunion with one of his classmates who had transformed herself into an ideal housewife, Anupam talked of the fragile nature of the romance he had with the girl during his school days. Laughter filled the hall while Anupam recalled the memories of his school days where he made seven mistakes in a single line dialogue of an English drama.“Ye Akashavani Shimla, Shivkumar Sharma Ki Santoor in rag Sankarabharan — that was my first announcement in Shimla AIR after joining as a programme announcer,” he said, going back in time. Anupam narrated incidents from his youth when he fled from his house after taking Rs 1000 from his mother’s piggy bank. “She had kept Rs 1008 for offering at the temple. I put back Rs 8 into the hundi and went with Rs 1000!”At the National Institute of Drama, Anupam met his second love, Radha. The narration of the audition test he had with celebrity director Richard Attenborough for his classic creation ‘Gandhi’ brought in a note of serious air. “With much hope, I appeared for the test after practising the long dialogues to be uttered by the character Jawaharlal Nehru. But finally, it was Roshan Seth who was selected for the role. Later, I became a dubbing artist for the Hindi version of the film.”Post this narration, he unveiled the story of his third romance with a girl called Meera. “Her parents opposed the marriage of their daughter with a novice experimenting with acting.” The script writers of the play, Ashok Patale and Firoz Khan, crafted the play beautifully  by dividing it into two halves — one with the uncertainty Anupam faced in his life and the other focusing on his determination and optimism. Anupam calls director Mahesh Bhatt his godfather. Reading the minds of the viewers who keenly listened to the narration, the director of the play gave a video clipping in the backdrop which showed Anupam’s first ever shot. “There starts the life of a popular actor,” he said.From this point, the play ridicules the conventions in Hindi films which gave little regard for the talent of an actor.  In the screen in the backdrop, the stereotype mothers, fathers and super heroes of Hindi films flashed by. “In Hindi films, it was not the director but the fight director who directed the rape scenes,” he said amid roaring laughter. He shared memories of the shots he had with Dileep Kumar in Subhash Ghai’s ‘Karma.’ Anupam satirically compared himself with Amitabh Bachchan. The actor narrated his story in a humorous yet poignant manner and one couldn’t help identify with him as he took the audience through many an episode of his life. He dared the viewers to believe in themselves to change their destiny for the better. JT Pac chairman Mohanlal presented an aranmula kannadi as a memento to Anupam. Director Blessy, with whom Anupam has been working for the upcoming film ‘Pranayam,’ and Jayaprada also honoured him.