More than 40 years ago, Anupam Kher stepped into Hindi cinema with Saaransh, a film that would go on to define his career. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, the 1984 drama saw Anupam playing B.V. Pradhan, a 65-year-old grieving father, a role that earned widespread acclaim and established him as one of the industry’s finest performers. What made the achievement even more extraordinary was that Anupam was just 27 years old when he was first offered the role.But before Saaransh transformed his life, Anupam nearly lost the opportunity altogether. In a recent interview, veteran actor revisited a painful chapter from his early career, revealing that he was removed from the film only days before shooting was due to begin.He said in an interview with Jagran Film Festival last year, “I was 27 when Mahesh Bhatt sahab narrated the story to me for my first film. When I turned 28, I rehearsed for around 6 months for the film. I was going to play the role of a 65-year-old, aged man. But, I was removed from the film 10 days before the shoot, because they wanted to cast a big actor, Sanjeev Kumar ji. They thought it would be a more viable choice commercially.”The setback left him devastated. After dedicating six months to rehearsals and preparing intensely for the role, Anupam felt defeated enough to leave Mumbai altogether. He continued, “I packed all my things and decided to leave the city. I was being told by Mahesh Bhatt since six months that I am playing the main role, I had rehearsed so much. And I was kicked 10 days before the shoot! I packed all my stuff and headed towards VT station. But before leaving, I thought that I should tell Bhatt sahab what I think of him. There’s nothing left anyway, what can he do to me now?”Before boarding his train, Anupam decided to confront Mahesh Bhatt one last time. He reached the filmmaker’s building only to find the lift out of order. Fueled by disappointment and anger, he climbed all six floors to Bhatt’s apartment. Sharing details of that emotionally charged moment, he recalled, “I went to his house, but the lift wasn’t working. He used to live on the sixth floor. I was angry and had a lot of energy, so I climbed the stairs. Bhatt sahab said that I am doing another smaller role in the film. I told him that my taxi is waiting outside and I am going to leave Mumbai, but before that I want tell you that you are the biggest ‘fraud’ and ‘cheat’ in the whole world. I said, ‘You are making a film on honesty, and you yourself are not honest’.”The confrontation was emotional, with Anupam admitting that he broke down while speaking to Bhatt. He said, “I was crying inconsolably because I was very upset and stressed. I was then thinking what I should say at the end, because anger has to conclude with a great punchline. I couldn’t think of anything at that moment so I said, ‘Main aapko shraap deta hu’. He saw this scene and called Rajshri productions to cast me in that role.”That turning point changed everything. Saaransh eventually released in 1984 and became Anupam Kher’s breakthrough film. The critically acclaimed drama also went on to become India’s official entry to the Academy Awards in 1985, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey in Hindi cinema.
