‘Uunchai’ actor Anupam Kher reveals his relations with Barjatya & Rajshri Productions

: Sanya Pandey

New Delhi:One of Bollywood’s most versatile veteran, Anupam Kher, who features in the recently released Sooraj Barjatya’s adventure drama ‘Uunchai’, says he will do "hungama" after this movie.

Produced by Rajshri Productions, ‘Uunchai’ is the story of three friends, who take a trek to the Everest Base Camp.A simple trek turns out to be a personal, emotional and spiritual journey as they battle their physical limitations and discover the true meaning of freedom.

The movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani and Danny Denzongpa as four friends.The three fulfill the wish of their fourth friend.

In an exclusive interaction with UNI, Anupam talked about his relation with Rajshri Productions, box-office numbers, competition and Bollywood.

Anupam’s last movie ‘The Kashmir Files’, became the highest grossing Hindi film of 2022, with an earning of over Rs 340 crore. When asked if he gets affected by box-office, the ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ actor said, “it never used to. Numbers are not important to me.

"But, it did become a certain issue, because people think those who produce numbers, they are better. I was always a superstar. I was never dependent on numbers, but this time numbers are also there (The Kashmir Files); and, so, after ‘Uunchai’, I will do hungama (hullabaloo).”

On what made him say yes to Uunchai, the ‘Saransh’ fame actor shared his partiality when it comes to Rajshri Films. "I am that ‘kaala teeka’ to prevent evil eye. Whatever I am today, it’s because of Rajshri films, because my first film was produced by them only. My parents have taught me to be thankful, and I will keep paying for that for my entire life.

“Apart from that, the joy of working with Sooraj ji, and Rajshri productions is immense, from satisfaction point of view, relationship, learning and financially also. So, in all it’s a pleasant and beautiful experience. Sometimes, it takes 80-100 days to make a film, because Mr Barjatya makes a movie calmly, and with love. So, that’s a happy feeling for an actor,” he said.

If there were any clashes or baggage while shooting, he said, “If you consider us the real ‘stalwarts’, then there is no clash between them, as they are very confident of themselves.

"We have confidence in each other. We keep the baggage out of his (production house) door only. We keep our mould with them, and whatever kind of mould they give us, we become that.”
On how he keeps himself relevant with time, the ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ star said it’s the youngsters.

“I have competition with them. It doesn’t mean I am competing with them, but I am learning how can I be faster than Varun Dhawan. My contemporaries are with me, how can I be as childlike, as young in terms of my thought process, in my approach.

"The best benefit of my acting school goes to me. Because when I take class, I learn about new ways of performing. I have become a better actor, because I have opened a school, as I get to learn so much from these youngsters. The way they interpret the scene is new; we go cliche.

"Our Hindi films had cliches for so many years. So, when I ask the students to perform a scene, they don’t do it good or bad, but they interpret it in a very amazing and new way,” Kher said.

On what’s going ‘wrong’ with Bollywood, Anupam said,”Its time for ‘Amritmanthan’— it will give ‘poison’ and ‘Amrit’ both. There is no situation which is wrong, Any situation which is perceived wrong, then it means something better is going to happen. Change happens from dangerous things only.”

“Like ‘Uunchai’s story. When we use to see mountain from below, both as an actor or character, we felt like how we will reach there, but when you try to brainstorm the situation, everything is possible. So there is no bad time, people should go and enjoy the movies. I always say being cool is being honest, punctual, good person,” he said.

The movie also stars Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, Sarika and Nafisa Ali in supporting roles. It has been released on this friday and garnering lot of love and appreciation from critics and audiences.(UNI)