Veteran actor Anupam Kher is set to appear in Vikram Bhatt’s upcoming film Tumko Meri Kasam. Directed by Bhatt, the film stars Anupam Kher, Ishwak Singh, Adah Sharma, and Esha Deol in key roles. Loosely inspired by the life of Dr. Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira IVF, the film explores the journey of a pioneer in fertility treatments.
In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Anupam Kher shared insights about the film, his experience working with Vikram Bhatt, and his thoughts on the changing landscape of Indian cinema.
How was the experience with Vikram Bhatt?
This is the first film I’ve done with my friend Vikram Bhatt. He’s a good director. He has a good understanding of life, and this film is about life. It is about Ajay Murdia, who’s a pioneer in IVF, having children, and how men can also be a reason behind women not being able to conceive. I play the older version of Murdia while Ishwak Singh plays his younger version. The songs have already become popular. I like Vikram’s style of shooting and making it a modern-context film. That is also reinvention.
What is the modern context?
He has been trying to make this film for 35 years, but the film doesn’t look old. He has changed himself over time. He’s aware of technology and updated with what’s happening in world cinema. So, he has brought that knowledge to this film.
How did you approach playing a real-life character?
I didn’t go into the study of the real character. I stuck to the script and what Vikram told me. I didn’t have to copy how he walks and talks because nobody knows him that way. It was not a sportsperson or a leader who is in the public domain. I needed to get the emotional truth of the character right.
Writers often don’t get the recognition and pay they deserve. What are your thoughts?
Story is everything. If you’re spending millions on a film, the film better have a good story. Even a cartoon needs a good story. The writers are the most important. They should be paid well. I collaborated with two writers for my next film as a director. They’re very good.
Esha Deol returns to the big screen after a long gap. How was she on set?
She is so disciplined. She was so prepared every time we used to do a scene. I think people are thankful when they get a second chance. They don’t want to miss that. I think she acknowledges that she has been given a second chance. She is playing a character in the film. People will be surprised by her performance as a fiery lawyer.
How has cinema changed? Has it only become about money at the Box Office?
Let’s not get into success and failure because that’s a part and parcel of this industry. I think Hindi cinema is going through an identity crisis. They want to be cool, but being cool is about having original stories emerging from India. Pushpa is the coolest film in terms of style. Kantara was also an amazing film. The same goes for Laapataa Ladies. Hindi cinema… Naa woh abroad ke ho paa rahe hain, naa apne ho paa rahe hain. Neither here nor there. This is the phase of Amrit Manthan. Something good will come out of it. Some films have worked, and they have worked because of content. I think good things emerge from challenges. Without challenges, you’ll end up making what everyone else is making. Why should life be easy? If you reach a destination and look back and say that your path was smooth, then there’s no joy in reaching that destination.
Sholay turns 50 this year. Any memories of the film?
I was in drama school when Sholay was released. I think I went to watch it in Odean or Plaza, and I was mesmerized. Every dialogue and character has its place in people’s memories and pop culture. What Ramesh Sippy achieved with Salim-Javed and his cast and crew was phenomenal.
