The circle is far from complete, I am somewhere in the middle”, says Anupam Kher as he celebrates four decorated decades in the film industry. The veteran’s journey in Bollywood began as an experiment; a 28-year-old who decided to play a 65-year-old bereaved father in Mahesh Bhatt’s Saraansh. Now, at 69, Kher has decided to tackle the subtext of age being just a number in his latest film Vijay 69.Directed by Akash Roy, the film sees the actor in the role of Vijay, a widower who takes on the daunting task of competing in a triathlon. The biggest obstacle is his entourage of so-called supporters, who chide him with the obvious: he is too old for it.“It’s very fascinating that I get to do a film where the hero is 69. The whole definition of what makes a hero is changing, and it needs to change. A hero is not always someone who can fight, and break into a song. Rather, a hero is somebody who breaks his image and pushes the boundaries. I have approached all my characters as if they were the heroes of the stories because that’s how I look at my own life and journey… as a hero.”Kher is as enthusiastic as Vijay. The actor reveals that he took swimming lessons for the film and worked on his physical training. “It is wonderful to keep rediscovering and reinventing yourself. I have always strived to be different, and that comes to the fore in the way I approach the parts given to me,” he says.The classic rags-to-riches story of a small-town boy from Kashmir who arrived in Bombay with just Rs 37 in his pocket, now boasts of a filmography with over 525 movie credits.Kher’s indelible performances, be it the alcoholic father in Daddy, the evil Dr Dang of Karma, the supportive goofy father in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge or the middle-class man who takes on money grubbers in Khosla Ka Ghosla, went on to cement his position in Bollywood.It also translated with him being one of the successful crossover actors scouring plump international assignments such as Bend It Like Beckham, Silver Linings Playbook, and New Amsterdam.“I am not bogged down by adhering to a particular image and perception. Many actors become prisoners of their own image, but I am constantly trying to make my job difficult, and looking for the roles that stimulate me as an actor. It’s great to be competent, but it could serve as the biggest speed breaker for being brilliant.”This could well serve as the cue for filmmakers, because the film industry is languishing under the burden of formulaic narratives, with little to no recall value. Kher believes that it is the result of business taking precedence over creativity. “Business is important, but when storytelling is neglected and commerce becomes paramount, the shortcuts to success don’t serve the purpose.”He, however, adds that the success of films such as Lapaata Ladies is the silver lining in the dark clouds of poor box-office returns hovering over the film industry. “The innocence of cinema has gone, and the audience is no longer forgiving.It is great that with technological growth, your films can be accessed and viewed in countries across the world; it is commendable. But, the wholesomeness of it is all gone,” the actor says, adding, “Today we are talking to people, but there are no conversations. No longer do co-actors bond over a scene; they finish their jobs and get into their vanity vans, or stare at their phones. It is all very clinical and orchestrated now, which also reflects in the work.”Kher will be seen next in Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino. His bucket list? “I don’t believe in bucket lists. I intend to work, and do what I am for as long as I live,” he answers with characteristic candour.
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