Showing posts with label Kirron Kher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kirron Kher. Show all posts
I felt that the entire industry prayed that Kuch Kuch Hota Hai work for my father’s sake-Karan Johar
8:18 AM
With India’s Got Talent celebrating KJo’s 25-year run in industry, filmmaker attributes his success to late producer-father Yash’s blessings
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 3, 2023)
We’ve come to expect witty one-liners and wisecracks from Karan Johar. But in the latest season of Koffee With Karan, the filmmaker has shown a more emotional and vulnerable side to him. He continued in the same vein as he shot for the grand finale of India’s Got Talent 8 earlier this week. As part of the episode, the six finalists celebrated Johar’s 25 years in cinema, through their acts—a gesture that left him moved.
The filmmaker, who recently enjoyed a smash hit in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, reflected on his successful run in the industry, attributing it to his late producer-father Yash Johar’s goodwill.
“When my father entered the industry, he received love and respect, and made many films, but he didn’t get the success he should have received. When my first film [Kuch Kuch Hota Hai] was released, I felt that the entire industry prayed that it work for my father’s sake. It has been 19 years since he left us. Whatever I have achieved, it’s all because of his goodwill and blessings. Whenever I am going through tough times, I feel that he gives me strength.”
Calling mother Hiroo Johar “a strong presence” in his life, the filmmaker revealed that she watches India’s Got Talent for judge Kirron Kher. “Whenever I sit with my mother to watch the show, she always notices the sarees Kirron-ji wears. It drives me crazy when she demands the exact jewellery that Kirron-ji is wearing in the episode.”
I would come two hours early on Om Shanti Om's sets to get the makeup right-Kirron Kher
8:25 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 9, 2022)
Kirron Kher played Bela Makhija, actor Shah Rukh Khan’s character, Om’s mother in Om Shanti Om (2007). The actor says everyone on the set knew the film was going to be a hit.
She explains, “Though shooting for the movie was fun, a lot of hard work went into it. From Om’s character, a supporting actor with big dreams in his eyes and his wrong pronunciations to my character of an extra (background actor) in the film industry, who imagined herself as Anarkali — it was all so well scripted and shot that even today, it is so much fun to watch the film.”
The 70-year-old goes on to address Khan as “the most generous actor I have ever met”.
Sharing memories from the set, she adds, “I remember, I would come to the set two hours early and leave an hour late only to get the makeup right. But Shah Rukh, who was also the producer of the film, was always considerate of the fact that we do not reach the set early for no reason. He would tell us, ‘Kal main 11 baje tak aa raha hoon, toh aap sab bhi jaldi nahin aaiyega’.”
My father Anupam Kher is an institution in himself-Sikandar Kher
8:26 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 19, 2022)
Actor Sikandar Kher considers his father, veteran actor Anupam Kher, more of a friend than a parental figure. “My parents (actors Anupam and Kirron Kher) have always been there for me. My rapport with my father is more like that of friends. He is very positive and motivating,” the Aarya actor tells us.
The wisdom he receives from his father is invaluable to him. Calling Anupam an “institution in himself” as the actor completes 40 years in the industry, Sikandar adds, “He was an actor before he became my father. And for me, he will always be an actor first.”
Ask what inspires him the most about his father, and Sikandar says it is his courage and unconventional choices: “He was ahead of his time in many ways. At times, some of the roles he picked were characters that actors his age would have refrained from playing on screen... He has been witness to how the acting landscape has changed over the years.”
While the 40-year-old knows that his parents are always there for him, he avoids discussing work with them unless everything is finalised. “My father is not detached from my career, but my work is my work. I don’t discuss it with my parents until I have signed a project and started shooting for it, because things don’t always materialize. I always feel that they won’t take it well. They will feel low if that happens. So jab tak set pe nahin jata, I don’t tell anyone. That’s how the industry functions,” he says.
Sikandar, who made his debut in Woodstock Villa (2008), has been through many highs and lows professionally. After nearly 14 years in showbiz, he abides by a simple philosophy — which was also taught to him by his father. “The biggest and only advice I have got from him is, kaam karte raho, kaam se kaam milta hai. I truly believe in that,” he says, adding that the tough times taught him how “nothing is permanent”: “So, keep your head down, don’t lose hope and just keep at it. You have to keep reinventing yourself. That’s the truth and reality of life.”
I am very blessed that I don’t have to worry about food on my plate or rent-Sikandar Kher
8:23 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 4, 2022)
Sikandar Kher might be enjoying the current phase of his career, especially after Aarya, but there have been times when the actor didn’t have any work. And he admits that he is privileged enough, economically, to not get frustrated by the lack of work.
“I am very blessed, that where I was born, I don’t have to worry about food on my plate or rent… I am lucky these things are looked after for me,” says the 40-year-old, who is the son of actor Kirron Kher and her first husband, businessman Gautam Berry, and the stepson of actor Anupam Kher.
Sikandar, who began his career with Woodstock Villa (2008), adds, “Of course, there have been phases where I didn’t have work for two-three years. But then, it was a very different time. There was not much work earlier.”
Thankful for the web boom, which led to more work opportunities for everyone, he expresses, “My father (Anupam) always used to say ‘kaam karo; kaam se kaam milta hai’.”
Would he call this the one mantra he relies on? “I can’t say that. There are amazing pieces of advice everywhere. Career is a small portion of life. You should find peace within yourself. Baki everything will be fine, bhagwaan ne bahut diya hai life mein,” he ends.
I still correct people when they say I work with my mother, Nadira Zaheer Babbar. I work ‘for’ my mother-Juhi Babbar
8:33 AM
As their theatre group Ekjute enters its 41st year, Juhi Babbar hopes to see mom and legend, Nadira, on stage more often
Heena Khandelwal (MID-DAY; May 15, 2022)
It was in 1981, soon after shifting to Mumbai from Delhi, that Nadira Zaheer Babbar, an alumna of the National School of Drama (NSD), started her theatre company, Ekjute. The idea, she says, was to do theatre just as she was doing in Delhi.
“When things worked out well for Raj [Babbar], actors who were working with us back in Delhi too came to Mumbai looking for work. They wanted to work, do theatre… so we created Ekjute. The name symbolises the coming together of everyone,” says Babbar.
Her daughter, Juhi Babbar Soni, says Ekjute has always been family. “I was barely five years old when Ekjute was put together. Our house was home to so many theatre actors who had come down from Delhi [NSD], so everybody was either a chacha or didi… If my mother was stuck with something when we needed help with our homework, one of the actors would look into it.”
The initial members of Ekjute included Anupam and Kirron Kher, Satish Kaushik, Kavita Chaudhary, Raja Bundela, and Alok Nath, among many others. “Kirron worked in Chandanpur Ki Champabai, Satish directed Us Paar Ka Nazara,” she shares, adding that they eventually started getting parts in multiple television shows at a time, and couldn’t make time for theatre.
When asked whether she was hurt by this, she admits that she was. “It was painful, but I didn’t expect them to continue when they had things working out for them [in television and cinema]. How else would they make a living?”
Ekjute is now in its 41st year. Reflecting on her journey so far, she says, “Even I can’t believe it has completed 40 years. I never even dreamed of it; I only wanted to do theatre. However, today Ekjute is my life. It is difficult to say whether it is surviving because of me or I am surviving because of it.”
Although she describes theatre as soul sustenance, this wasn’t always the case. “I wasn’t good at studies,” she says, “While both my elder sisters were on the merit list in school, I was always scoring third division. They humoured me until I completed my BA. We had also moved to Delhi from Lucknow by then, and my sisters landed jobs. After I graduated, the entire family sat down together to discuss my career options. Nobody had an answer. Master of Arts was out, considering my marks until then. They even considered library science so that I could work as a librarian. I suggested I do nothing and eventually just get married! Coincidentally, my father met Ebrahim Alkazi [renowned theatre director, then the director of NSD] at a wedding reception and he suggested that I apply to NSD. I went but the classes didn’t interest me; I found acting and improvisation boring. However, a student cast me in his play for the final year exam, which did so well that my name was mentioned in a newspaper! A friend showed me a clipping of the article and I thought, ‘I can be good at something! I too have a skill’ and that’s how it started.”
Since then, there has been no looking back for Babbar. She was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2001, and Ekjute has produced close to 100 plays to date. They are as diverse as Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan, which offers a glimpse into the lives of five people who move to Mumbai to pursue their dreams and live together in a small one-room apartment and Ji, Jaisi Aapki Marzi, a play about four women, at various stages of their lives, talking about their traumas; as well as Sakubai, the mono-act starring Sarita Joshi that looks at the lives of women we all call “bai”.
Almost all her plays have an underlying social message or delve into social issues, and no subject is beyond limits. One of her plays, titled Suman and Sana, is based in Gujarat and Kashmir, and addresses fanaticism. She says she inherited the political and social sensitivity from her father, Syed Sajjad Zaheer. He was a Marxist and founder of the Progressive Writers’ Movement. “It’s all because of what I heard around me,” says Babbar. Intellectuals such as poet and playwright Sheila Bhatia and playwright Mohan Rakesh (one of the pioneers of the Nai Kahani literary movement of Hindi literature in the 1950s) were frequent visitors to their residence.
Her daughter began her acting career with Ekjute. “Like any other person, I too had to attend a theatre workshop to enter Ekjute,” says Soni, “I worked backstage for close to two years; my experience in fashion designing helped with the costumes. In between, I got my first role in Yahudi Ki Ladki [written by Agha Hashr Kashmiri, it was also the first play that Babbar directed back in 1981. It explored the persecution of Jews by the Romans] and I played Shehzadi Desiya. In terms of importance, it was a supporting role. So it has been a step-by-step process for me.”
Soni marked Ekjute’s 40th year in theatre by writing, directing and acting in With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara.
“We opened it in October 2021, in that brief period when life was returning to normal. It’s coming back again,” adds Soni, who has been touring with the play, which comes back to Mumbai at the Prithvi Theatre next week on May 22 and at the NCPA on May 28.
Currently, Soni has her finger in every pie baked by Ekjute. The most important one is the summer workshop for children aged between six and 12, where she works with 250 to 300 students. When asked when she took the reins of Ekjute, she replies, “I still correct people when they say I work with my mother. I work ‘for’ my mother.”
Ekjute’s new offering is a series of plays, including Kudugusu aur Shivji—a children’s play based on Sudha Murthy’s short stories—by Babbar. “I have been writing quite a few plays,” Babbar says, “one among them is a love story.”
And what are the plans for the decade? Soni says she wants her mother to be on stage more. “She is also a poet,” says the doting daughter. “One of her poems, which she wrote for her mother, became a one-and-a-half-hour-long mono-act titled Meri Maa Ke Haath. I hope to tweak it to make it more comfortable for her to perform now. It is lengthy and she is in her 70s.”
Babbar, who has also been busy writing new plays, agrees. “I want to do good roles so if I get a script, I would like to do it. Even in theatre, if someone has a lead role for me, I am happy to take it on, and if I write such play, I think it would be nicer to act and direct it as well.”
Sikandar Kher discusses shooting with mother Kirron for a reality television show
8:23 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 19, 2022)
The last time Kirron Kher was on the same set with son Sikandar Kher was when the latter assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Devdas (2002). Two decades since then, the Khers reunite on screen for an episode of India's Got Talent.
“The experience of being with my mother for the first time on camera is something that didn’t hit me instantly. She is loved on the reality show for her warm and lovely persona. It was a breathtaking day for me personally,” said Sikandar, and added that he got to learn a lot from judges Malaika Arora and rapper Badshah. “When they are reviewing a talent, they speak so well.”
Sikandar took to the stage of India’s Got Talent to express his love for his mother, who courageously fought the battle against cancer. In November, Kirron rejoined the show, on which she has been a judge since its first season. “Maa is all I ever had. She gave up her entire career for me. [I want] to tell the world what an amazing and strong woman she is. She has lived life on her own terms and fought to be the woman she is,” added a proud Sikandar.
Devdas was facing problems; actresses were falling ill. I realised entry to the set was in the wrong direction-Neeta Sinha
8:27 AM
The warm reds in the frames from Gangubai Kathiawadi are as much a result of Neeta Sinha’s intuition as Bhansali’s vision. Meet the woman who’s shaking spirituality with architecture to serve a cocktail of peace and prosperity
Heena Khandelwal, Anju Maskeri (MID-DAY; March 6, 2022)
A little over two decades ago, Hindi film writer-director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was working on his ambitious project, Devdas. Mounted on a budget of Rs. 50 crore, the film found itself mired in one controversy after another. Its producer, diamond merchant Bharat Shah, was jailed for 16 months; crew members died in two separate accidents on the set and some reports said that even a part of the set caught fire on more than one occasion.
Some believed there was more to this tragedy chain than coincidence. Kirron Kher, who was playing Paro’s (Aishwarya Rai) mother, suggested that Bhansali meet Neeta Sinha, who believes that just like people, living spaces also have a horoscope, and the individuals who inhabit the place have a relationship with its energy. They prosper when they are in harmony with their environment.
Perhaps short of choices, Bhansali took up Kher on the suggestion and consulted Sinha. She says, thereafter, the movie wrapped up without any incident. Since then, Sinha has been consulted by Bhansali for every film, including Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela, Padmaavat and the recently released Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt.
“The film [Devdas] was facing problems, and the actresses were falling ill. I realised that the entry to the set was in the wrong direction. I suggested they block that entry, add some money plants at specific spots—that drooped downwards—and change the name of the protagonist’s home from Paro ka mahal to Paro’s haveli,” recalls Sinha, 62.
Since then, Sinha has been called not just to rectify the wrong, but ensure no wrong happens to begin with. “I’m usually on board when they are conceiving the drawing [of the set]. The set designers are respectful of my suggestions,” says Sinha, adding that her ideas can be easily incorporated into their larger vision.
Sinha calls herself an astro architect, who specialises in Vastu Shastra or the ancient India science of architecture that some believe dates back to 6,000 BC.
For Gangubai Kathiawadi, Sinha added the colours red and yellow, and a mirror behind the scene to increase the warmth and passion that the cast and crew brings to the film and assigned specific entrances to be used by specific stars. The last, she says, was to enhance and encourage their talent. Bhansali is known for his attention to detail and while it’s not easy or recommended to make radical changes in his frames, Sinha says her ideas are more to balance out the energies on set.
“Bhansali’s sets always have a mandir. It’s critical that this is located in the right spot. I usually choose the North-East direction for the mandir. Colours also play an important role. But it may not always be possible to incorporate a shade I recommend in the frame. So, I use spaces that are out of camera range, like the pathway used for the movement of the crew.”
Sinha, whose clients include Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, Ambika Hinduja and Kumar Mangalam Birla, says, “it all started with Kirron Kher”. Kher was hosting a television show back in the ’90s called Jagte Raho, which explored alternative practices and science. Sinha says she was keen to get on the show because vastu didn’t enjoy mainstream awareness at the time.
“Most people believed that we’d break down their home. I was keen to be on the show to argue that structural changes aren’t mandatory [to align the vastu of a home]. I reached out to her and that’s how it all began.”
While the direction of rooms and structures, placement of plants are important, so are the names of people and places. “When Bombay was renamed Mumbai, I had argued [in an article in Debonair magazine] that the grace of South Bombay and Nariman Point would fade with the change, and the prestige would move to the east of Bandra. At the time, Bandra Kurla Complex didn’t exist, but it is Bandra East, isn’t it?” she shares.
Sinha claims Bachchan named his bungalow Jalsa at her behest, as did Shah Rukh Khan, when she suggested that he choose a name with the letter M for his Arabian Sea-facing mansion at Bandra Bandstand. “When he said ‘Mannat’, it sounded good to me.”
Sinha, who is a graduate, says it was the time she spent under the mentorship of her neighbour and homeopath late Dr L N Kusuma, who held a deep interest in vastu and astrology, that led her to develop her skills. While working for celebrities is Sinha’s high, it’s when her suggestions are able to solve a regular man’s challenges that she says she feels truly valued.
“Someone was unable to conceive, another person’s child wasn’t landing a job despite all efforts. Someone else’s family member was repeatedly falling ill. I call them up later to see if they’ve managed to incorporate what I suggested and if they are seeing any difference. People facing health challenges get my appointment on priority,” says Sinha, who claims she also advises hospitals since “they also want their patients to go back healthy”.
Neeta Sinha at her Juhu residence. She says it’s a myth that vastu demands structural changes. Pic/Shadab Khan
Sinha credits Kirron Kher for introducing her to Sanjay Leela Bhansali during the filming of Devdas. Pic/Instagram
At first, it took time to find Daulat again-Sikandar Kher
8:18 AM
Sikandar Kher on returning to the second instalment of the Sushmita Sen-starrer Aarya
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; December 2, 2021)
Taking inspiration from his mother, Kirron Kher — who returned to the judges’ panel of India’s Got Talent after battling cancer — Sikandar Kher focuses on staying busy with work. “My mother [believes] that an actor should wish to stay busy because the rest is not in your control.” Sikandar is gearing up for the second season of the Sushmita Sen-lead Aarya, where he plays the silent hitman, Daulat protecting his boss’s family.
The first instalment of the Disney+ Hotstar series ended with Sikandar’s character going behind bars. The show picks up from where they left off in season two. But for the actor, returning to the character’s psyche was a challenge. “At first, it took time to find Daulat again. In movies, once you shoot for the role, you [usually] don’t have to return to it. It took me three takes to feel the character [within me]. It takes time to figure out the character,” says the actor, who is grateful to digital entertainment for keeping artistes employed. “OTT gives space for many stories, thus giving people employment options.”
Dealing with his mother’s illness has changed Sikandar’s thought process and unpredictability of life. “Mom has always been a fighter, full of life and energy. She doesn’t take anything for granted, and still has a positive outlook on life. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. [So], you have to live for today and stay busy,” adds Sikandar.
It’s not the ideal situation to be in. Par yeh zindagi hai-Kirron Kher
8:13 AM
Actor and MP Kirron Kher talks about life, work and recovery after cancer diagnosis
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 12, 2021)
Early this year, actor Anupam Kher took to social media to share that his wife, actor and MP Kirron Kher, has been detected with multiple myeloma and is undergoing treatment.
In the last few months, her son Sikandar Kher has been updating fans with news about her health. And just a few days back, Kirron herself took to Instagram to share that she is working from home. She tells us that she never stopped working. “I was working even when I was in the hospital, going through treatments,” shares Kher, who adds that she has been in touch with people on phone all along. The actor continues, “I inaugurated an oxygen plant recently in Chandigarh, virtually. My doctor isn’t letting me travel anywhere, especially by air, since my immunity is compromised due to the treatment.”
When one is battling a life-threatening illness, it is difficult to maintain a positive outlook and the Khoobsurat (2014) actor admits all this has made her less positive: “It’s not the ideal situation to be in. Par yeh zindagi hai. One learns to deal with it and carry on. There’s no way out except to treat it. Nobody likes going through treatments or its side effects.” Kher, 69, will have to visit the hospital once a month for maintenance therapy. She says, “Some people get cured and some don’t... But it’s something I have to accept.”
Lastly, Kher shares that she is overwhelmed with all the love that has come her way. “I’m not active on social media but Anupam ji has been telling me about it. I’m grateful to them and God,” she ends.
My brother is also a cancer survivor so there is hope-Anupam Kher
8:05 AM
The actor reiterates his philosophy of staying positive through adversities
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 30, 2021)
The announcement of actor-politician Kirron Kher fighting cancer earlier this year got her fans and well-wishers worried. Now, her husband and actor Anupam Kher has come forward bearing good news. “She is much better,” Anupam replies when one asks about her health, and goes on to give a peek into how the family is dealing with the health crisis.
“It is a very natural phenomena to support people near you and that is what I have been doing. Aur baaki toh kuch nahi kar sakte hum. Doctors are doing their best job. We have got the best doctors around and I can only be positive and optimistic and believe in the brilliance of doctors and pray,” he says. The actor continues, “My brother is also a cancer survivor so there is hope. Being optimistic and choosing to be happy always helps in every way”.
In April, Anupam released a statement revealing that Kirron has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and is undergoing treatment. Lately, she has been making special appearances on the Instagram videos of her son, Sikandar.
The whole family is leaning on optimism to find some strength in this fight, reveals Anupam.
“Optimism does help in the fight. My grandfather used to say ‘don’t go through the problem twice. Once when you are thinking about it, and next when you are going through it’. So, mein uske baare mein itna kyun sochun,” says the 66-year-old.
He feels that it is the only way to live, and recalls another of his grandfather’s lessons of wisdom: “you can be happy by thinking how many people are worse than you; or you can be sad thinking how many people are better than you”.
“It is the upbringing of our parents. The time we spent living in a joint family. We were not always playing with mobile phones. We took out time for each other and that helps,” says the actor, who recently narrated a documentary, Bhuj: The Day India Shook.
Robert De Niro had messaged me when he learned about Kirron’s health-Anupam Kher
7:46 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; May 22, 2021)
In this second wave, we’ve seen quite a few celebrities lending support to various initiatives. You have joined forces too...
When I looked around during the second wave, I thought either one could get angry and frustrated and feel helpless, or do something to help. In the bid to do something constructive, my friends and I collaborated and created a bridge between those in need and their requirements — equipment, medicines, and so on. Everyone has faced this pandemic in some way - I lost a close friend of many years, Sujata, to it. She had battled kidney failure years ago. She had recently had a transplant and had begun to live freely again, but things were not meant to be. My family was infected last year. This lockdown has also led to many mental health issues, which we will realise when we get to the other side. We have a project in place for that, too. We have a panel of professionals and a team of volunteers who can help. Once people are through with the physical damages, we will have to assess the mental damages of this pandemic.
How is your wife, Kirron Kher, holding up in her battle with cancer?
Kirron’s health is improving. It’s a tough treatment. She often says that the lockdown and COVID situation have made things difficult. Patients going through this treatment need something to distract themselves. She can’t go out or meet people, but the good part is that Kirron is on her way to better health. She is holding up fine. There are days when she is positive and then there are days when the chemotherapy impacts her state in many ways. We are all trying our best and she is doing it, too. The doctors do their job, but you have to keep your mental state strong to get past such a difficult treatment. She’s making every effort towards that, and so are we.
Last year once the lockdown eased, you were in the US shooting for your American series New Amsterdam. But you opted out of it to be able to look after your family here. That must have been a difficult decision to take.
Acting is a part of my life, it’s not my life. And at all times, we have to be ready to lose something to gain something. Quitting the American show was a difficult decision — career-wise, financially and otherwise. But my family and my wife Kirron needed me more. It’s not like I won’t get work here. If you stay away for two or more years, duniya aage nikal jaati hai. Mushkil ho sakta hai, namumkin to nahi hoga na? I have already got films like The Kashmir Files, Rohit Dhawan’s next, Sooraj Barjatya’s next and Nautanki in my kitty, and I have already shot for two. If needed, I will ring up my friends and ask for work… ki bhai ghar chalta rahe. Life is all about making decisions and difficult decisions on most occasions. That is how you discover yourself as a person.
Have you been in touch with your American colleagues and your friend, Robert De Niro?
Yes, I have been in touch. Robert had messaged me when he learned about Kirron’s health. He had also sent me a video to wish me on my birthday, and he keeps checking on Kirron’s health every few days. I had texted him after seeing his ad with Roger Federer, and in response, all he wanted to know was my family’s well-being and how Kirron was doing.
The last year has been tough on you — you lost a very close friend from the industry —Rishi Kapoor — your family members, including your mother, tested positive for COVID-19, and now, Kirron’s health issues are your primary concern. How do you stay positive and take others along with you in such challenging times?
I had read a beautiful line, ‘Everything is okay at the end, if it is not okay, it’s not the end’. As optimistic and positive as you may be, things do affect you, but hope is the heart of life. You may go through difficult situations, but if you stop being hopeful, you can’t live. It’s meaningless. It’s hope that takes you through everything. People have lost friends, loved ones, young ones... You have to find the zest for life and find hope to go on, no matter what. Giving up is not an option, ever. I am not an escapist. Yes, there are days when I am low. You can either be devastated or believe that there will be another tomorrow. Draw strength from nature... it does not change its course come what may. Motivation stems from there, which can help you surpass tragedies.
You have penned books on your life experiences, any plans to write something about this experience — once we get to the other side of the pandemic?
There is a germ of a thought... nothing concrete. It will be about motivation, encouragement and life.
Kirron is suffering from blood cancer, reveals Anupam Kher
8:13 AM
Sharing that Kirron Kher is being treated for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, Anupam says she will be back stronger
BOMBAY TIMES (April 2, 2021)
Anupam Kher took to social media to confirm that his wife, actor-politician Kirron Kher, has been battling multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. The actor, who posted a statement on son Sikandar and his behalf, wrote that Kirron is currently undergoing treatment and ‘will come out of this stronger’.
He wrote, “Just so that rumours don’t get the better of a situation, Sikandar and I would like to inform everyone that Kirron has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment and we are sure she will come out of this stronger than before. We are very blessed that she is being looked after by a phenomenal set of doctors. She’s always been a fighter and takes things head on (sic).”
Asking people to pray for her speedy recovery, he added, “She’s all heart and that’s why she has so many people that love her. So, keep sending your love to her in your prayers and in your heart. She is well on her way to recovery and we thank everyone for their support and love (sic).”
As per reports, politician Arun Sood has revealed that Kirron was away from the city as she was diagnosed with the illness. He also said that in November, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in her left shoulder and right arm, and has been undergoing treatment for it at a hospital in Mumbai.
I learnt not to expect anything as expectations lead to disappointments-Sikandar Kher
8:39 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 10, 2020)
“I am overwhelmed and it’s been wonderful,” says actor Sikandar Kher, about the response to his latest web show Aarya. “The show has received so much love. I am happy that people enjoyed it.”
Kher’s acting career started with Woodstock Villa (2008) and since then, he has been part of a few films including Players (2012) and Aurangzeb (2013). He was also seen in the TV show, 24, but calls the reaction to his latest show, “a new and different feeling”.
He acknowledges that he’s been through his share of personal and professional lows, and shares, “There was a time when I didn’t work at all for two to three years, but my parents (actors Anupam Kher and Kirron Kher) would always tell me to keep working. I feel lucky to be in a place where I don’t have to worry about paying rent or making ends meet.”
But other than that, Kher admits that one does feel low when things don’t work out. “When you feel low, know that nothing is permanent in this world. Acting is my passion and I will keep at it. No one told me to do this.”
With the nepotism debate going on in Bollywood, ask him about being a star kid, and he says, “My parents have never spoken to anyone for a role for me. And I wouldn’t want them to as it’d be embarrassing. Sure, knowing people in the industry got me a meeting, at times, but never a role. I had to go through the same grind as others. Failure teaches you a lot more than anything else. I learnt not to expect anything as expectations lead to disappointments. I’ve seen my father go through highs and lows and his desire to keep working doesn’t stop. I learnt overtime that I should just keep trying.”
Sikandar and Anupam Kher to work together for the first time?
8:25 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 12, 2020)
During the two months of Coronavirus lockdown, Sikandar Kher has used social media to give a glimpse of the friendly banter he often shares with his dad, Anupam Kher. Now, if everything goes as planned, the two actors might soon share screen space. A project was offered to them two weeks ago, when the country was still in lockdown. The basic draft, which was given to them, is now being fleshed out. Sikandar says, “At the moment, we don’t know if it will be a film or an episodic series. It depends on the material that the makers eventually curate.” Talking about why they haven’t worked together so far, he says, “Dad and I didn’t want to work together just for the heck of it. Even when this offer came our way, we thought over it independently, and gave our nod as we liked our parts.”
He adds, “Our equation has always been buddy-like. Dad has always given me my space. I, too, have never asked him or my mom (Kirron Kher) to help me get work or tell me how to work on a character. If we decide to work on this project, we will execute our work without interfering in each other’s spaces. I know that he’ll always have my back and I will learn more by observing him on the set.”
I’d love to see Siddhant Chaturvedi in my biopic-Yuvraj Singh
8:29 AM
Cricketer Yuvraj Singh plans to ‘go out all guns blazing’ while talking about his life on the big screen
Monika Rawal Kukreja (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 15, 2020)
A glorious over two-decade-long cricketing career, countless records and milestones, romantic link-ups, battle with cancer, philanthropy work and more — Yuvraj Singh’s life has all the ingredients needed for a commercial potboiler. And not disappointing his fans, the cricketer confirms to us in an exclusive interview that a biopic on his life is “already in the process”. He adds that the work on it has picked up since his retirement (from international cricket) in June last year. While fans definitely are waiting to see his journey on the big screen, Singh says it’ll take some more time because “after all, it’s not easy to talk about your life”. Here’s the 38-year-old, spilling the beans about the aspects his biopic will cover, and who he wants to see portray him on the celluloid.There’s been a lot of talk about your biopic. What’s the status?
I’m much honoured that a lot of big production houses have approached me (to make a film), but I’ve not thought about when it’s going to come out, or who we’re going to do it with. We’re in talks with a few people, but nothing concrete has come out yet. The thing is that it’s a very emotional journey what I’ve gone through — my relationship with my dad (Yograj Singh), my cancer and all. So, I’m trying to put pen to paper, and finding it really hard to do it.
What is the most difficult part?
You know, sometimes, I look at my life and I’m like, ‘Hmmm, it’s a pretty interesting story’. So, I want to be 100% content with myself that, ‘Okay, now I’m ready to talk about my life’. After all, it’s not easy to talk about your life, especially when there are certain grey areas where you’re like, ‘Ah, I’m not very sure’. Hopefully, I’ll get the right direction.
Any actor you’re keen on seeing play your role in the biopic?
Probably, I’d play myself — that would be a bit desperate… (chuckles) hai na? See, that’s the director’s job to decide. If it’s going to be a Bollywood film, then Siddhant Chaturvedi — the guy who played M C Sher in Gully Boy (2019) — is a good option; I’d love to see him in the film. Then, I think Ayushmann (Khurrana) would also be a good fit. He’d just need to bulk up a little bit; thoda bahut khaana khake aana padega (laughs). There’s Ranveer (Singh) and Ranbir (Kapoor), too. And if it goes international, you have Jon Snow (Kit Harington) from Game Of Thrones (smiles). So, let’s see what direction the film goes.
Your mother, Shabnam Singh, has played a very crucial role in your journey. Any name suggestions for her part?
(Long pause) Kirron Kher ji would do a great job, I feel. As she has joined politics, I’m not sure if she’d do a film now. It all depends...
Are there any specific aspects of your life that you definitely want to show in your biopic?
I don’t know what the director and producer are going to portray, but I’m going to pretty much say everything about my life. The book that I’ve written (The Test of My Life: From Cricket to Cancer and Back) was more about cancer and the ICC World Cup (2011) win — that’s just 25% of my journey. My real journey is how I started playing, my bond with my father, how he was not a successful player and left playing very early. So, it’s full of ups and downs. I always wanted my journey to be stable, but it never was.
And anything that you don’t want to be told on the big screen?
Trust me, if I go out, I always go out all guns blazing. I don’t shy away from owning up. In my life, I’ve always believed that everyone’s not going to like, or dislike you. You’re going to live your life how you feel, how your heart tells you to. That’s how I’ve always lived my life. I must have made few mistakes in cricket, definitely, but when it comes to living my life, I have no regrets at all.
When Archana Puran Singh was nervous to kiss Anupam Kher
7:51 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (June 13, 2019)
Anupam Kher and Archana Puran Singh, who entertained the audience with their chemistry as Mr Malhotra and Ms Braganza respectively in Karan Johar’s directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, shared an anecdote about a kissing scene they were supposed to do in their 1989 film, Ladaai, which featured Mithun Chakraborty, Rekha and Dimple Kapadia as leads.During Anupam’s recent turn on Kapil Sharma’s eponymous comedy show The Kapil Sharma Show, Archana recounted, “When we were shooting for Ladaai, Deepak (Shivdasani, director) planned a kissing sequence between me and Anupam. When I got to know this, I was nervous as I’d never done an on-screen kissing scene before. I called Deepak and informed him that I won’t be able to do it, but then I don’t know what made Deepak remove the sequence completely.”
The actress then went on to ask Anupam if he feared kissing her considering he was married to Kirron Kher? To this, Anupam responded: “I wasn’t fearing Kirron... but considering you weren’t comfortable doing so, I requested Deepak ji to remove it from the film.”
My husband is more driven about my political career than I am-Kirron Kher
7:55 AM
Soumya Vajpayee (BOMBAY TIMES; May 23, 2019)
Kirron Kher joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2009. In the 2014 General Elections, she won from Chandigarh. Subsequently, she shifted base to her hometown to do justice to her job as a MP. Kirron spoke to us about the challenges celebrities face when they join politics, how her personal life has suffered, why films have taken a backseat and more. Excerpts:
While the common perception is that Bollywood celebrities have it easy when it comes to politics, do you think it’s harder for you, given the constant scrutiny and social media attention?
I feel it works both ways. As celebrities from the world of films or sports, we are recognisable for the electorate. But celebs are often judged. While there are some who might not be good at their job or may not be interested in getting into politics, most of us are committed people, who are well educated and capable of doing good work. Being a politician is difficult for film personalities, because we constantly need to prove ourselves. Our work is always scrutinised.
How has your journey been as a politician so far?
Since I was the spokesperson for my party, I was always aware about the issues in Chandigarh. Plus, it’s my hometown. So I know the city well. Since it’s a small place, working there isn’t that hard. As far as being a politician goes, I love being in the Parliament, because I get to talk and debate there. To be able to bring about a change in India is a feeling of immense pride. So, when something I initiate becomes a law, it feels gratifying. The only time I feel sad is when the opposition violates the decorum of the Parliament.
Has your political career affected your personal life in any way?
Yes, my personal life has suffered because of my political career. I don’t get to meet my husband (Anupam Kher) and son (Sikandar Kher). Even if I’m in Mumbai to shoot for India’s Got Talent, it’s only over the weekend. I’m always away from my family. My son really misses me and the time we used to spend together earlier. He only meets me whenever he travels for work to Chandigarh, which happens rarely.
You’ve not been doing films either.
My film career has taken a backseat because of my political journey. The last movie I did was Punjab 1984, which was five years ago. But it’s not that I’m not open to film offers. If a promising project comes my way, I’ll definitely take it. Meanwhile, I’ve done two advertisements recently.
How does your husband feel about your political career?
My husband is more driven about my political career than I am. He has always been supportive and feels proud when I’m able to make a difference.
You don’t live in Mumbai anymore.
I live in Chandigarh now and travel to Mumbai mostly for six days in Diwali, unless some urgent work comes up. I love Chandigarh. The city has a much better quality of life. Though I miss meeting my close friends back in Mumbai, I’m glad that politics keeps me so busy that I don’t get the time to think about anything else.
The election results will be out today. Are you nervous?
I’m sure we will win in a big way. I’ve been so tied up with the election campaigning that there’s been no time to feel the jitters. The elections were on May 19. So there was no time to feel nervous. I’m feeling very confident.
I always felt Kalpana Lajmi was a misfit in the film business-Arif Zakaria
8:16 AM
KALPANA LAJMI (1954-2018)
Actor Arif Zakaria remembers Kalpana Lajmi, the director of his debut film Darmiyaan, who passed away on Sunday following a prolonged illness
Arif Zakaria (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 25, 2018)
The most tangible takeaway of meeting Kalpana Lajmi was not her razor-sharp intellect, her erudite manner or her candour, but the pink cheeks on her baby face. Her cheeks and guffaws stood out all through our association. I’d seen them change colour — from flaming to pale — depending on whether she was angry, amused or indifferent.
I met her two decades ago in the office of Pravesh Sippy, who was producing an English TV show. After a brief introduction, she handed me a copy of Leo Tolstoy’s novel, Resurrection, which she was adapting, and said she wanted me for one of the major roles. When Kalpana spoke, you listened. She was a true raconteur and an astute observer of people. In that first meeting, she wanted to know which books I read, the movies I watched and my taste in world cuisine. Her inexhaustible appetite for literature and her command over spoken English were impressive.
I was finalised for the TV project and so began a series of interactions with her as we started rehearsals. Over time I met her partner and mentor, the late singer-musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika. She always addressed him as Bhupsu. It was, and remained till the end, a fascinating alliance that manifested itself in myriad ways. Father–daughter, guru-student and musician-muse.
Shooting in Assam and travelling to various parts of the state was an indescribable experience as Kalpana, the director, was in her element in this Brahmaputra fiefdom of Bhupen Hazarika. At some point, she sounded me out for a one-scene role in an unusual story she was developing for a film, Darmiyaan. She had assurances from a few major stars for the lead role. I was thrilled and memorised the entire script to show off. Over time, the lead actors changed and Kalpana was furious over the merry-go-round (flaming pink cheeks). A few months passed by.
One clear September morning, I got a call from Kalpana asking me to come over to Kirron Kher’s apartment in Juhu urgently. No reason or context was given. I recall reaching an hour early and pacing Juhu beach nervously. I walked into the apartment where both Kalpana and Kirron were seated on the floor with a copy of the script.
That’s when Kalpana broke the news that I was to play the lead in the film and I had to surrender the next few months to the project.
Thus, started my journey on my first film. It was abject surrender to Kalpana and her entourage of actions and words. Each page of the script had to be mastered and memorised. She put me through extensive rehearsals with the late Simple Kapadia, who was her associate. We began filming soon after and more facets of her personality emerged. She was relentless in her dislike for complacency. There were days when I shuddered to get to the location for fear of inviting her wrath with my inexperience or inability to follow instructions. I recall Kalpana hollering over the megaphone as I shot for the climax scene in a stupor, holding an infant while addressing the character played by Tabu.
Her acting commands that seemed insulting then are today testament to her knowledge of character nuances.
I always felt she was disdainful towards the physical aspect of filmmaking (dull, pink cheeks), but a true craftsman of intricate screenplay. Through various interactions later, even when illness had started to take a toll, she remained a bouncing board for ideas. I always felt she was a misfit in the film business and its flattery. Maybe she’s found her true calling now and is at work in a room full of books, with pen and paper, and a Bhupen Hazarika melody playing in the background.
Soni Razdan, Shyam Benegal and Shabana Azmi (seen here comforting Kalpana’s mother, Lalita Lajmi) attended the funeral
Arif Zakaria with Kirron Kher in the film
Karan Johar, Kirron Kher and Malaika Arora signed up for eighth season of India’s Got Talent
7:55 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 3, 2018)
Based on an international reality show format, India’s Got Talent started airing in 2009 with Kirron, Sonali Bendre and Shekhar Kapur as its original judges. Nikhil Chinapa and Ayushmann Khurrana were the initial hosts. Kirron has been part of every season with Karan and Malaika has joining her from season four. The show has contestants from across the country displaying their unique talents.
How did Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat get its name? Meet the lady who made the suggestion
8:59 AM
Why did SRK name his bungalow Mannat? And why does Akshay Kumar remain Rajiv Bhatia on paper? ‘Astro-architect’ Neeta Sinha would be the right person to ask
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 26, 2017)
Neeta Sinha does not approve of actor Ranbir Kapoor’s new Bandra pad. “It is not suited for him,” the 56-year-old says, clucking her tongue at her sprawling Juhu home that is located opposite Adi Godrej’s seafacing bungalow.
Sinha can afford to be disapproving of a top Bollywood star’s home, because she has ‘astro-proofed’ the expansive apartments and mansions of everyone from Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Hrithik Roshan to Anil Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Shatrughan Sinha. Astroproofing is what astro-architects claim to do, and Sinha is the country’s only astroarchitect of any consequence. It all starts with a belief that “every home has a horoscope”, and one of the first people to be convinced about it was Ritu Nanda, matriarch of the eponymous Delhi-based business family.
Back in 1999, Nanda, who was then overseeing the construction of the family’s new farmhouse near Delhi, was introduced to a flamboyant young woman, who offered her inputs that were more practical than those offered by vaastu and feng shui experts. She hired Sinha for the job, and the latter combined her academic background in architecture and knowledge of astrology to create, she claims, “a harmonious balance of energy for the farm house”.
But, come again, what exactly is astro-architecture?
Astro-architecture, says Sinha, is a science based on the relationship between man and the cosmos. And like us, she, too, was sceptical about it when she first heard about it 30 years ago. But a chance meeting with the late Dr L N Kusuma, a cosmic scientist and a student of the renowned astrologer KS Krishnamurthy helped her to see things in a different light.
“The accuracy with which Dr Kusuma predicted how my life would turn out brought a deep desire in me to study Vedic astrology, and how it worked in day-to-day life. That is how I started practicing.”
Sinha went on to study over 30,000 homes and other spaces in high-rises to better understand the effects of the laws of Vaastu. “I pondered over a crucial question: why is it that in a high rise, in which the vaastu of all the houses are the same, different individuals get different results? That led me to the discovery that every place has three negative sectors and nine positive sectors. I first study the architectural maps and plans of a house, and then work to enhance the positive sectors, and diminish the negative ones.”
Sinha’s first client in Bollywood was Karan Johar, and she suggested he use yellow and orange in his bedroom to bring “calmness and positivity” in his life. Johar, who found “the lady delightful”, introduced her to his buds, and the heavens, so to speak, smiled on Sinha.
When SRK first purchased his now iconic sea-facing bungalow, he faced much opposition from heritage committees over alterations to the structure. Sinha suggested that the home be renamed to a word that began with ‘M’ to eliminate the trouble brewing around the house. And that’s how ‘Mannat’ got its name.
Neeta has also changed the entrance to
Akshay Kumar’s duplex in Juhu, separating the garden from the entrance.
She studied the “energies” of Akshay’s Juhu home and asked him to
maintain all paperwork in his birth name, Rajiv Bhatia. “I encouraged
Akshay Kumar to even buy his house in the name of Rajiv Bhatia. This
change of name proved very beneficial to him.”Small changes made by Sinha to Preity Zinta have helped the actor “bring positivity into her life”. “The naming of the house is crucial and whose name the property deed is made on is equally important,” says Neeta, who goes on to detail the changes she usually suggests to her clientele.
“Balancing the North East corner of the house is crucial, since it is one of the most auspicious areas in a home. Mirrors should not face each other, and bedrooms should feature yellow and orange hues.”
What about her home? How did she channel positivity into it? “The artefacts placed in my living room are made of brass. Brass is a good metal for me. Additionally, yellow, the colour of brass, is also a good colour to surround oneself with. The paintings in the living room are all in shades of red, which keeps the mind active. Red should be used in a room that involves a lot of activity such as the hall room, or the study. I also have an idol of Goddess Laxmi facing a statue of Lord Ganesh, which is very beneficial to my star sign.”
Kirron Kher, one of Sinha’s earliest clients in the city, describes her as not just a vaastu expert, but more of a “family physician”. “There definitely is an improvement in the quality of our lives, since Neeta came. She regularly calls to enquire whether a particular remedy is effective or not.” Sinha has also worked on Kher’s actor-husband Anupam’s ‘Actor Prepares’ office in Andheri West.
In 2015, Sinha began work on the Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge Centre in Navi Mumbai, making several changes to the already designed property. “There was a temple in the premises facing a certain direction that was not in sync with the energies of the landscape. I recommended that the entrance be moved to another direction, and added brighter colours to the building. New mirrors and plants were also placed at strategic locations.
While many have benefitted from Neeta’s expertise, there were many powerful people who chose to not pay her any heed. “Not everybody cared to listen to what I had to say. But I guess it has been their loss,” she quips, recalling her meeting with the late Bal Thackeray. When the Shiv Sena pushed for the city’s name to be changed from ‘Bombay’ to ‘Mumbai’, Sinha requested a meeting with the charismatic founder and powerful politician. “Balasaheb Thackeray argued that Bombay was destined to become Mumbai. I told him that ‘Bombay’ was the title that gave him the gift of power that he held over the city. I repeatedly tried to explain that ‘Bombay’ suited his rule and legacy and changing it to ‘Mumbai’ would lead to his own downfall. But it was too late. Balasaheb had already made up his mind and there was no changing it.”
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