Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; November 27, 2019)

Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai pays an ode to the unwavering courage and spirit of those who risked their lives to help others survive the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. The film is based on the spinechilling events that unfolded at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, in the city on November 26, 2008. Anupam Kher plays Taj’s former grand executive chef Hemant Oberoi in the film, who survived the attack. One of the biggest names in the culinary world from India, the soft-spoken chef, recalled the horrors of the events to us as he sat for a joint interview with his reel self — Kher. Talking to BT, both gave an insight into what went into the making of a film on an event that shook the nation. Excerpts...

Hemant, what was it like to see Anupam Kher portray you on the big screen?
Hemant: When I saw the first glimpse of Anupam playing my character, it reminded me of my Zodiac (a restaurant at the Taj) days. I used to check the shoes and nails of the staff those days (a scene you can see in the film as well) and they have shown that aptly in the film. Anthony spent some time with me in the beginning as he wanted to know my side of the story. I told him that it was not just me, there were other people, and my team members along with me, on that night. I wasn’t the hero, nor did I do any herogiri.

We believe that our ‘guest is God’ and it was our duty to protect them. We evacuated people and took them to the Chambers. That saved their lives.
Anupam: After the film’s first screening, Oberoi came backstage and hugged me. That meant a lot to me and it was my biggest applause. I was very nervous when he was watching the film. I wasn’t worried that he’d judge my performance, my fear was whether I will be able to convey the compassion that he exuded. To recreate that emotion and revisit a situation that you don’t want to, was difficult. Thus, the shoot was extremely tiring psychologically.

Anupam, did you spend time with Hemant before the shoot to ensure you got his mannerisms and body language right?
No, I didn’t. I have met him at the Taj before, but not for the role. My director had a point when he said that when actors meet the people who they portray on screen, they try to emulate every gesture. He didn’t want that. He wanted the essence of the character to come out. The film is about emotions rather than how a particular person walked or talked, so I didn’t go in that direction of mimicking someone. I wanted to capture the nobility in Oberoi on screen. He did his job in a horrific situation and yet, he was calm about it. Aisa nahi ke goli chal rahi ho aur aapko darr nahi lagta. To discover your courage at a time like this and to have the presence of mind, to make sandwiches and tea for people, that for me was difficult to capture. Before every shot, I would imagine that a close friend or family member is about to be killed by a terrorist and what would be my reaction to that.

Hemant, what crossed your mind when you were informed that Taj was under a terrorist attack?
When I was told about the shooting, I initially thought that a film shooting was going on at the Gateway of India, but then I heard gunshots on the phone. My first reaction was ‘close the doors and shut the lights’. There were 100-odd people in our restaurants at the time, just one hint of their presence and they would have all been dead. We were trying to locate people who were injured. One of the young boys (a staff member) was struggling for life for seven days in the hospital after this horrific incident. I am so proud of my team. When I told one of the elderly staffers who was undergoing dialysis every week to leave, he refused. They stayed in the hotel to rescue the guests. My own secretary who had worked with me for 18 years, did not leave my office.
Anupam: They (the hotel staff) did not look at it as a tragedy, but dealt with it like it was a warlike situation. The priority was to help the people who survived.

Hemant, we read about how you were making sandwiches and tea to feed people and comfort them while the massacre was underway. You need nerves of steel to do that. How did you stay composed through all of it?
Every time I went to Chambers (where the staff was hiding the guests), some 300 people sitting there would ask me about the NSG commandos. I had no answer. Every half an hour, I would tell the staff to give them whatever they wanted — food and drinks. We made them sandwiches, cookies and tea. When a few youngsters got to know that I am doing this on my own, they came upstairs to help me out and some of them lost their lives in the process.

Anupam, what was the prep like for a subject as difficult and real as this?
Anthony didn’t want actors to use their craft, he wanted us to go through the trauma. When we landed in Adelaide (Australia), he made us go through a workshop for five-six days, where he wanted us to understand what goes on in people’s minds when they are trapped and aware that they could get killed at any moment. He had recorded real bomb explosions and gunshots, which he’d play in the middle of the shot. That was traumatic and it evoked the reaction from us that he’d expected. When I saw the film at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), it got us a standing ovation. The film salutes ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage. It is a tribute to the people of Taj and the unsung heroes. They were not screen heroes like Bruce Willis or Arnold Schwarzenegger, who the world knows will survive against all odds. They were not trained to deal with a situation like this and they treated their guests like God.

Hemant, when you see death from such close quarters, does it change you as a person?
It does change you. I am a strong believer of destiny and karma after what happened. Somewhere, we must have done something right to have survived something like this.

Hemant, you were among the first celebrity chefs that we knew of. We have heard stories of how starry you were as a celebrity chef and were unapologetic about it.
Hemant: I have never shouted at anyone in my life. Once in a while, I would get angry. If you don’t understand my silence, you’ll never understand my words. My one look was enough for my team to understand their mistakes.
Anupam: I am also aware of how good I am at my job (smiles!). Also, when you are good at something, it only humbles you. Jo ped sabse zyaada phal deta hai, woh sabse zyaada jhuka hua hota hai. There are certain roles that you do with complete humility and submission and this, for me, was one of them. It’s one of the most important films of my career. Aur mujhe bhi pehle laga ke Hemant bohot khatarnak kism ke honge, but hai nahi (laughs!).

Anupam, many will question whether a film like this will reopen old wounds, especially for those who survived, those who lost their loved ones, and all those who were left deeply scarred by the tragedy. Your thoughts.
Once the film is made, it’s open to various interpretations. Other than the fact that it’s on 26/11, it’s also about the triumph and test of the human spirit. It has a universal appeal. The film recalls the event and talks about the courage of those trapped inside. Jo bahar chale gaye the, woh bhi wapas aaye help karne. It’s unreal what compassion can make you do. We are always told to be wary of strangers, but during 26/11, it’s the strangers who helped people save lives.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 26, 2019)

Considering Anthony Maras’ Hotel Mumbai is a tribute to those who laid their lives in order to save others during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, it is only fitting that the makers have planned a special screening for the bravehearts of that fateful night. To mark the 11th anniversary of the attacks today, the team has invited chef Hemant Oberoi, his team at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and several cops for a screening of the movie. Oberoi will also be felicitated for his bravado, at the event.

Confirming the news, Shariq Patel, CEO, Zee Studios, says, “We wanted to share the film with the people whose stories it is based on. Their validation matters the most to us. Often, we forget to celebrate the real heroes in this country. To honour chef Hemant Oberoi, who is one of the heroes of that night, is a privilege.”

Anupam Kher flashbacks to the 26/11 terror attacks which is also the subject of his upcoming film
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 14, 2019)

This year, November 26, marks the 11th anniversary of the terror attack on Mumbai. In 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan held the city hostage for about four days. For Anupam Kher, the date coincides with his film, Hotel Mumbai, inspired by the documentary Surviving Mumbai, which releases on Nov 29.

“I was shooting in Bandra when we first heard that a gang war had broken out in SoBo. Then we learnt about the siege on CSMT station, it was horrifying!” the actor shudders, as he rewinds to that Black Wednesday. “It was like when we watched the second plane crashing into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in the 9/11 attacks back in 2001. The same frustration and helplessness because we couldn’t reach those known to us.”

When he was offered the film, he waited to hear a narration because “a very bad version of the attack had been made earlier by Indian filmmakers” and he was disappointed it was handled so insensitively. “Anthony Maras (director) is a foreigner and this is his first film, and that made me unsure. But our half-hour meeting went on for three-and-half hours as the film is not just about the attack but is also a tribute to its unsung heroes. It’s about the extraordinary courage of ordinary people,” Anupam avers, adding that Anthony wanted the audience to feel like they were actually trapped in the hotel.

The actor, however, didn’t meet Chef Hemant Oberoi, whom he plays in the movie, till he finished shooting. “Sometimes performances are about just the physicality—the look, body language and mannerisms. But we wanted to capture the inner trauma and the strength of these survivors. Anthony didn’t want any external prep,” he points out.

Hotel Mumbai also features Dev Patel and Anupam is all praise for him, describing him as a wonderful actor and a fabulous person. “I feel proud to see Indian actors doing such amazing work. In the last shot, both Dev and I actually had tears in our eyes,” he reveals.

With the Golden Globes and Oscars coming up, how do our films make the cut? Asserting that any award is a triumph, like a gold medal at the Asian Games or the Olympics, Anupam says, “We need to make films about today’s India and come up with unusual stories rooted in our soil. I’m happy that Gully Boy is India’s official entry for the Academy Awards this year. It’s a wonderful story about the aspirations of modern Indian youth. With so many foreign language films, we have high standards to meet.”

Will he direct a film again? One hasn’t heard about him planning another movie after Om Jai Jagadish in 2002. “I’ve been working on a subject for the last few years. Now, I’ve given it to a script doctor in the US. Hopefully, it will make for an interesting film. Let’s see,” he signs off.

How does Anupam Kher play a convincing Hemant Oberoi, grand executive chef at The Taj at the time of the 26/11 terror attacks, without having met him?
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; November 10, 2019)

In the banquet hall of a suburban hotel, Hemant Oberoi paces up and down. Not many recognise one of the city's most famous chefs, now the owner of restaurants in Mumbai, Singapore and San Diego. Just then Anupam Kher walks in, spots Oberoi and makes a dash to give him a hug.

Kher plays Oberoi in the upcoming Anthony Maras thriller, Hotel Mumbai. It tells the story of what transpired at The Taj Mahal Palace & Towers at Apollo Bunder on the night of November 26, 2008, when militants from the Lashkar-e-Taiba stormed the five-star in a series of coordinated attacks. The hotel was the perfect target, a symbol of Mumbai's progress and pride and a catchment areas for foreign guests.

It's been over 10 years, but Oberoi's voice dips when he speaks of the night when his staff intervened to save the lives of scores of visitors by forming a human chain. "We just stuck to each other that night. No one wanted to leave. The courage of that team is rare to find. I lost seven chefs, including my deputy, who walked me home every night until then."

Incidentally, Kher and Oberoi have met only once before this chat, at the Toronto International Film Festival last year where the film premièred. "I did the film without meeting him [Oberoi]. That night at TIFF, Chef was the special guest. I remember the standing ovation we got. It was never-ending. It was the triumph for his courage. I am glad we are finally getting time to spend time today and I also had the privilege to serve him food cooked at my home," Kher says warmly, which Oberoi quickly calls "delicious and made with love". It was simple lunch, they tell us, of aloo methi, dal and roti, with dahi on the side. It's the rare time Kher and Oberoi are smiling.

A mention of 26/11 brings back the seriousness to the discussion, as Kher recounts that he was in Bandra that night. "Everyone remembers two incidents of terror in modern world history—9/11 and 26/11. When I was told that I would play Chef Oberoi, I was nervous. What would his reaction be? It wasn't just about how well I could act. There was a lot more at stake. [It was] a portrayal of someone's intensity and normalcy in a time of adversity."

Oberoi has not said anything about the film to Kher except, thank you. "He was absolutely and totally me. He got every nuance right. My demeanour, the way I command the kitchen. No one could have done it as beautifully. He was composed in every shot and knew exactly how I managed things that night. He brought back way too many memories." Kher turns to him to say, "This [the complement] is bigger than any award."

We wonder how he prepped without meeting the man he plays, and Kher shares that five minutes before the first shot was taken for his debut film, Saaransh, director Mahesh Bhatt told him that this was a character who was all about compassion. Compassion had to be the dominating emotion in the film. "It was the same with this film too, 500 movies after I did my first," Kher says.

On cue, Oberoi revealed that he named his child Saaransh after he watched the 1984 film about a retired school teacher and his wife coming to terms with the death of their only child who is killed in a mugging incident in New York. "Because I loved him in the film [I named my son after it]. Incidentally, Saaransh's wedding was the first event to be hosted at the Taj after it was restored and reopened post 26/11. I wanted to do it to put the message out there that you can't break our spirit."

Kher credits his performance to the script, which he calls unflinchingly honest in its depiction of the chef's character. Kher and Oberoi concede that their favourite scene is the one towards the middle of the film when Kher announces to his staff that they can leave the hotel if they want [to be safe]. "One of my staffers had to undergo dialysis every day. Even he didn't leave. 'Saath mein chalenge'," he had said. He passed on recently, but survived that night," Oberoi remembers. And so, while the story is of the horrors that unfolded leading to the death of 166 people across the city, the film reinstates faith in the human spirit. "It's about the heroism of ordinary people. We need to bring examples of extraordinary courage to the fore," Kher feels.

Oberoi carries on his face a calmness that Kher beautifully portrays. Chef says he draws serenity from the sea. "The high and low tide come and go. Marine Drive is my place to find peace. I believe in karma and destiny. When you see people closest to you dying, you want to celebrate life. Fishermen that night hailed three cabs to take me to various hospitals so that I could track down my staff scattered across wards and morgues."

Despite this, an international review snubbed the film, calling it out for depicting terrorism in a popcorn movie. Kher brushes aside the criticism. "It suits them when they want to make a film about World War and the Holocaust. When it comes to India, we can't make such films. Let's ignore the international media. There should be films made on such subjects. It is a fact that 10 people from a neighbouring country came here and killed the innocent. This film needs to be screened in India."

An unfazed Oberoi has the final word. "I want people to remember to do good deeds, be humane. You never know when you can find yourself in a similar situation. Help others. We also had the option [to escape] but it's necessary to not fall for the trap that takes us further away from human values."


An Indian soldier aims his weapon towards The Taj Mahal hotel on November 29, 2008. Three militants were killed in the final assault on the hotel that signalled the end of the two-day assault on Mumbai. Pic/ Getty Images

The braveheart who saved several lives during the 26/11 attack, and Anupam Kher, who plays him in a film, got together at TIFF recently
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 10, 2018) 

On Friday, Anupam Kher, who plays Chef Hemant Oberoi in Hotel Mumbai, met his real-life inspiration at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere. The film, which is fronted by Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi, depicts the 26/11 terrorist attacks of 2008 in Mumbai.

A source says, “Anupam has been in the US for a while for his TV series New Amsterdam. He flew to Canada for the TIFF premiere and returned to the sets on Sunday. He and Oberoi spent at least an hour together.”

Anupam reveals that he had not met Oberoi before the film kicked off. “My director’s instructions were not to meet the people involved before as actors tend to pick up and incorporate the exact mannerisms. So, we met after the world premiere. The director (Anthony Maras) introduced the Chef who had saved so many lives during the attack. He got an extended standing ovation, while I cried as I had lost some friends to the attack,” the actor said, adding, “He said only I could have played him and that’s the biggest compliment for me.”

Celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi on his debut TV show will reveal the favourite dish of the Bollywood couple, along with that of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Barack and Michelle Obama, George and Laura Bush and John Major to name a few.
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 6, 2017)

Star chef Hemant Oberoi surprised to learn Anupam Kher plays him in Hollywood film on 26/ 11 Mumbai attacks
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 20, 2016)

The darkest memory of celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi’s four-decade career at the Taj is the subject of an upcoming Hollywood production, Hotel Mumbai, but he wasn’t aware of it until hitlist got in touch with him. Anupam Kher will play Oberoi in the film set against the 26/ 11 Mumbai terror attacks. He has started shooting in Adelaide where the Taj Mahal hotel has been recreated in a studio.

“Is it so,” Oberoi, 62, asks, and adds, “I had no clue that a film is being made. It is difficult for someone to get a feel of what happened that night. Anyone can hear stories and sympathise, but only people who went through the ordeal know what it was actually like.”

Though he has rustled up meals for the high and mighty from all over the world, Oberoi cannot recall meeting Kher. He says, “I have never met Mr Kher nor have I ever served him at the hotel.”

Oberoi is intrigued by how he will be portrayed on the big screen by the 61-year-old actor. “It is a film and I do not want to give my opinion without knowing what it is exactly,” he says.

A name synonymous with the Taj group, Oberoi hung up his apron last year after over four decades of being associated with the hospitality chain. On the night of the 26/11 attacks when the Taj came under attack, Oberoi kept his kitchen running to serve traumatised guests and at one point, even came face-to-face with one of the terrorists who had stormed the hotel.

Helmed by Anthony Maras, the film is inspired by docu filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie’s Surviving Mumbai. Ogilvie is one of the coproducers of the project which also stars Dev Patel, Jason Isaacs, Armie Hammer and Tilda Boniadi.

Book extract

Chef Oberoi realised that his Kitchen Brigade could, unseen by anyone front of house, probably utilise the hotel’s labyrinth of service lifts, stairs and passages to move guests into one central and protected location. He called Karambir Kang, who was pacing outside the hotel, to sound him out. The hotel’s invitation — only Chambers club was ideal, he argued. Consisting of a suite of rooms, a bar and a library, it occupied a large area on the first floor, between the Crystal Room and the kitchens, overlooking the Gateway of India. It was not marked on hotel brochures and only the most frequent Taj visitors would have noticed it at all, perhaps glancing at the discreet plaque beside the Tower’s lift buttons as they headed up to Souk, although the stop could only be accessed by staff, or by using a club key. Karambir agreed. The Chambers was an invisible refuge. He suggested Chef Oberoi begin immediately, starting with the people who were nearest to the Chambers, the wedding reception guests in the Crystal Room. Shortly after 10.30 p.m., chefs and waiters had guided a column of guests down a service corridor, popping out into the club’s foyer.

Edging out of the doorway, Oberoi spotted Banja, his friend and foil since 1986, lying prone and bloodied just a few metres to his right. He couldn’t reach him and felt sick. Was this how it would end? He had overheard Banja pledging to Anjali Pollack and others that he would rather die than let them suffer and he prayed that Banja was just concussed. Everything had a fix. You learned that at the Taj, where the tectonic plates of service frequently ran slightly out of kilter, overheating and colliding, only to be eased back into position with the helpful jolt of someone’s elbow. Just then a gunman locked eyes with Oberoi and let off a furious volley. Blind panic washed over the Executive Chef and looking around for a way out he glimpsed two assistant managers heading down towards the cellars and a third figure madly waving at him. It was his Food and Beverage Manager: ‘RUN.’ He was pointing to the stairs. A group of staff and guests pulled the dazed Oberoi towards them, all of them descending into an unlit warren of cabins, lockers and storage rooms. He tried to drag himself away. ‘I need to get to Banja,’ he cried. Someone stopped him: ‘Sir, please don’t go back, it’s too late’.

Extracted with permission from Penguin India, The Siege, Three Days Of Terror inside the Taj by Cathy Scott- Clark and Adrian Levy, Penguin India

Anupam Kher (left) with co-star, Armie Hammer
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 19, 2016)

For almost a month, Anupam Kher has been quietly shooting in Australia for a Hollywood project, 'Hotel Mumbai', based on the 26/11 terror attacks. Anupam Kher essays the character of celebrity chef Hemant Oberoi, who, as the corporate chef of the under-attack Taj Mahal Hotel, kept the kitchen running to serve guests amidst the mayhem.

Speaking to hitlist from Adelaide, Anupam Kher says, "The hotel has been recreated at Adelaide Studios. We are shooting the indoor scenes here."

Due to contractual obligations, the actor does not reveal more about his character. He, however, says, "It is not an autobiographical work. It is about what unfolded in those 68 hours at the hotel. It is a story of courage of the people who were working there."

Anupam Kher's co-stars include Jason Isaacs, Armie Hammer, Dev Patel and Tilda Boniadi. Directed by Anthony Maras, the film is inspired by docu filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie's 'Surviving Mumbai'. Ogilvie is also one of the co-producers and has written the screenplay with John Collee ('Master and Commander', 'Happy Feet').

The project is a co-production with Hollywood producers Basil Iwanyk ('Gods of Egypt', 'Sicario'), Gary Hamilton and Mike Gabrawy ('Jungle', 'Nest' and 'Resident Evil'), Jomon Thomas ('The Man Who Knew Infinity', 'Damascus Cover'), Julie Ryan ('Red Dog', 'Ten Canoes') and documentary filmmaker Andrew Ogilvie ('Surviving Mumbai', 'The War That Changed US').

Adds Anupam Kher, "'Hotel Mumbai' is my 501st film. I am treating it as my first film post the interval of my career. I have no Bollywood projects in hand at the moment. I hope to be back with a bang after a break."

'Hotel Mumbai' came his way recently. He says, "They contacted my representatives in London and Los Angeles, and soon, I found myself flying to Adelaide for the shoot."

Why Australia? "It is an Australian co-production, so parts will be shot here and later, we move to Mumbai," he explains.

Anupam Kher's earlier Hollywood films include 'Bend It Like Beckham' (2002), 'Lust, Caution' (2007) and 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012).

Other films on 26/11
Ten Pakistani terrorists turned Mumbai into a war zone, holding major landmarks such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel under siege for three days, starting November 28, 2008. It inspired a few films:
>> Ram Gopal Varma's 2013 docu-drama, 'The Attacks of 26/11', was inspired by the terror attacks, which claimed 160-odd lives and left hundreds injured.
>> Frenchman Nicolas Saada's 'Taj Mahal' tells the story of the attack through a woman (Stacy Martin) stuck in one of the hotel rooms. The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in the US last year, and later travelled to the Venice International Film Festival.
>> Justin Kurzel has announced a film on the 26/11 attacks, which will be an adaptation of Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark's book, 'The Siege: 68 Hours Inside The Taj Hotel'. 


Taj star chef Hemant Oberoi

The 62-year-old, started his cooking career with Taj four decades ago and gradually rose to become the hospitality chain's chief chef. Among other dishes, Oberoi introduced naza (naan pizza) and gulab jamun creme brulee. He also witnessed the hotel’s worst tragedy — the 26/11 terror attacks. He retired in May 2015, but continued his association with the hotel for a year as a consultant.