Anupam Kher recalls sleeping on railway platforms during struggling days in Mumbai

Anupam Kher, who has been in the industry for four decades, looked back at his struggling days and revealed that he used to spend nights on railway platforms. In a recent interview, he recalled his grandfather's words that changed his life forever.

Anupam Kher reflects on struggling days in Mumbai

In an interview with Humans of Bombay, the veteran actor revealed that when he came to Mumbai, he used to spend nights on railway platforms. The actor continued that he never discussed his plight with his parents as he didn't want to give them "grief", but he used to share things with his grandfather and told him that he used to feel “humiliated” and didn't want to pursue his acting dream. However, his grandfather's words changed his life forever.

Recalling his conversation with his grandfather, The Kashmir Files actor said, "I said, ‘I am feeling unbelievably humiliated, I don’t want to stay in the city and want to go back to Shimla or Lucknow or Delhi. But here I am humiliated as a person, as an actor. I am spending my nights on railway platforms. I have to sleep at 1:40 AM when the last train leaves and I have to get up at 4:40 AM when the first train starts. I asked (my grandfather), ‘Why am I here?'”

To this, his grandfather replied which changed his life forever. He recalled, "He wrote, ‘You have worked very hard. Your parents have worked very hard to get you here and you’ve already been in Bombay now for the last one and a half years. Remember one thing, ‘Bheega hua aadmi baarish se nahi darta.’ I thought that line was unbelievable." Towards the end, the 68-year-old said that his grandfather's words stayed with him forever and whenever he used to have bad days he used to recall his words for motivation.

What's next for Anupam Kher?

This year, Anupam Kher had six releases this year - Ghost, Voice Of Sathyanathan, Tiger Nageswara Rao, The Vaccine War, Shiv Shastri Balboa and IB71. Next, he will be seen in The India House, Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan, Kaagaz 2  and The Signature. All the films are slated to release next year.