Anupam Kher is an Indian actor, director, and producer who mainly works in Hindi cinema. He was born on 7 March 1955 (71 years old) in Shimla (then Simla), now in Himachal Pradesh, India.
He made his acting debut with Saaransh in 1984, where he played the role of an older man and won major praise for his performance.
After that, he acted in many popular Hindi films such as Ram Lakhan, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
He has also appeared in international films like Bend It Like Beckham and Silver Linings Playbook.
In awards, he has won two National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards, and he received the Padma Shri (2004) and Padma Bhushan (2016) from the Government of India.
Quick Facts Of Anupam Kher
| Full Name | Anupam Kher |
| Profession | Actor, director, producer |
| Age | 71 years old |
| Date of Birth | 7 March 1955 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Pisces |
| Birthplace | Simla (now Shimla), India |
| Current Address | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Gender | Male |
Anupam Kher Early Life and Education
Anupam Kher was born in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, into a modest Kashmiri Pandit family. Growing up in a household managing on a tight budget, Kher was an average student but developed an early passion for theatre.
At the beginning of his career, his physical appearance—specifically his baldness—led to widespread rejection, with many suggesting he should work as an assistant director or writer instead. His growing love for acting led him to drop out and borrow ₹100 from his mother’s temple offerings to study Indian Theatre at Panjab University in Chandigarh.
Before achieving massive success in cinema, Kher struggled significantly upon arriving in Mumbai. He experienced homelessness, having to sleep on railway platforms in his early days.
Education
Kher attended DAV School in Shimla from 1966 to 1971. He has often described himself as a “backbencher” who discovered his passion for theatre during his school days, greatly encouraged by his PT teacher.
Kher first studied economics at Government College, Sanjauli (under Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla), but he later left it to study Indian theatre at Panjab University, Chandigarh.
He then trained at the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, and graduated in 1978.
| School | D. A. V. School, Shimla |
| Alma Mater | Government College, Sanjauli (Himachal Pradesh University); Panjab University, Chandigarh; National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi |
| Highest Qualification | Graduated from the National School of Drama (1978) |
Anupam Kher Personal Life
Anupam Kher’s first marriage was to Madhumalati Kapoor. The relationship was an arranged marriage, but it quickly fell apart, and the couple divorced within a year due to irreconcilable differences.
He married fellow theatre and Bollywood actor Kirron Kher in 1985. Their relationship originally began as a close, long-time friendship before it evolved into a marriage.
They have now been together for over four decades. Anupam Kher does not have biological children. He is the stepfather of actor Sikandar Kher (Kirron Kher’s son from her earlier marriage).
Family
Anupam Kher comes from a modest Kashmiri Pandit household in Shimla. His father, Pushkar Nath Kher, was a clerk in the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, while his mother, Dulari Kher, is a homemaker known for her frequent social media presence. His father passed away in Mumbai in February 2012, following a brief illness.
Father
His father’s name is Pushkarnath Kher.
Mother
His mother’s name is Dulari Kher.
Siblings
Anupam Kher has one sibling, a younger brother named Raju Kher. Raju Kher is also a well-known figure in the Indian entertainment industry, working as an actor and director.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Kirron Kher |
| Children | Sikandar Kher (Stepson) |
| Parents | Father: Pushkar Nath Kher Mother: Dulari Kher |
| Siblings | Brother: Raju Kher |
Anupam Kher Career
Anupam Kher began his acting career in the early 1980s and slowly built a strong place in Hindi cinema through a steady run of films across many genres. Over time, he worked in mainstream family dramas, thrillers, comedies, and serious roles, while also taking up international films, TV series, and later web and streaming projects, along with work as a director and producer.
Early screen work (1973 to 1984)
Anupam Kher’s earliest on-screen credit in your details is an uncredited appearance in Daag: A Poem of Love (1973).
He then began getting regular film credits with Aagman (1982) and Apmaan (1982).
In 1983, he was listed in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (scenes deleted), alongside Ravi Baswani, Bhakti Barve, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Kapur, Satish Kaushik, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, and Satish Shah.
In 1984, he appeared in films such as Saaransh (1984), Utsav (1984) (with Rekha), Jawaani (1984), and Sheeshay Ka Ghar (1984) (with Raj Babbar and Padmini Kolhapure).
He also had TV credits like Angulimal (1984–1985) and a TV movie credit in Kim (1984) (uncredited), where the cast listing includes Peter O’Toole and Ravi Sheth.
Building a strong base in Hindi cinema (1985 to 1989)
From 1985, he appeared in many films each year. Some key 1985 titles in your list include Hum Naujawan (1985) (with Tabu and Richa Sharma), Wafadaar (1985) (with Padmini Kolhapure, Vijayata Pandit, and Rajinikanth), Misaal (1985) (with Vijayata Pandit and Naseeruddin Shah), and Arjun (1985) (with Sunny Deol).
In 1986, he worked in major films like Karma (1986) with Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, and Naseeruddin Shah, and also appeared in Samundar (1986) with Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon. He also played Gandhi in the TV series Raj Se Swaraj (1986–1987).
In 1988, he acted in films such as Tezaab (1988) with Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, and Chunky Pandey, and Pestonjee (1988) with Shabana Azmi, Kirron Kher, and Naseeruddin Shah.
In 1989, his credits include films like Ram Lakhan (1989) with Jackie Shroff, Rakhee Gulzar, and Anil Kapoor, and Tridev (1989) with Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Sangeeta Bijlani, Sunny Deol, Amrish Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sonam.
Mainstream peak years and a wide range of roles (1990 to 1999)
The 1990s show him working across many genres with many releases each year. In 1990, he appeared in films like Dil (1990) with Madhuri Dixit and Aamir Khan, and Indrajaalam (1990) with Mohanlal.
In 1991, he was listed in films like Saudagar (1991) with Manisha Koirala, Dilip Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Vivek Mushran, and Amrish Puri, and Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991).
In 1994, he appeared in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) with Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan, and 1942: A Love Story (1994) with Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala.
In 1995, he worked in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) with Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan, and also appeared in films like Taqdeerwala (1995) (cast listing includes Raveena Tandon and Venkatesh Daggubati).
In the late 1990s, he continued appearing in major films, including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), and titles like China Gate (1998) (cast listing includes Urmila Matondkar).
Big films, TV appearances, and steady output (2000 to 2009)
The year 2000 is especially busy in your list. It includes Mohabbatein (2000) with Amitabh Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Jugal Hansraj, Preeti Jhangiani, Shah Rukh Khan, Kim Sharma, Jimmy Shergill, and Shamita Shetty. It also includes Dhadkan (2000) with Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty, and Suniel Shetty, plus Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000) with Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel.
In 2001, he appeared in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) with Saif Ali Khan, Madhavan, and Dia Mirza.
In 2004, he acted in Veer-Zaara (2004) with Preity G Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan, and is also listed in international TV credits like MI-5 (2004) and ER (2004).
In 2006, he appeared in a well-known comedy-drama, Khosla Ka Ghosla! (2006) with Parvin Dabas, Kiran Juneja, Tara Sharma, Boman Irani, and Ranvir Shorey.
In 2007, he acted in international projects like Lust, Caution (2007) with Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Tang Wei.
In 2008, he appeared in A Wednesday (2008) with Naseeruddin Shah, and also worked in films like C Kkompany (2008) with Tusshar Kapoor and Rajpal Yadav.
In 2009, he played a key role in Wake Up Sid (2009) (cast listing includes Ranbir Kapoor).
Hindi films plus international titles (2010 to 2017)
In 2010, his credits include Dabangg (2010) (cast listing includes Salman Khan) and the Hollywood film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010).
In 2013, he acted in Special 26 (2013) with Manoj Bajpayee, Akshay Kumar, and Jimmy Shergill, and also did voice work in Mahabharat (2013) (cast listing includes Amitabh Bachchan, Sunny Deol, Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, and Vidya Balan).
In 2015, he appeared in Baby (2015) with Akshay Kumar and Kay Kay Menon, and he also worked on the series Sense8 (2015–2017) with a large main cast that includes Bae Doona, Max Riemelt, Brian J. Smith, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Tuppence Middleton, Tina Desai, Jamie Clayton, and Toby Onwumere.
In 2016, he was in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) with Sushant Singh Rajput, Kiara Advani, and Disha Patani, and he also appeared in A Family Man (2016) (cast listing includes Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina).
In 2017, he appeared in The Big Sick (2017) with Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, and Ray Romano.
He also worked in The Indian Detective (2017) with Russell Peters, and appeared in films like Toilet: A Love Story (2017) with Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar.
International TV visibility (2018 to 2021)
From 2018 to 2021, he played Dr Vijay Kapoor in the TV series New Amsterdam (2018–2021). The cast listing in your details includes Ryan Eggold.
In 2018, he also appeared in Hotel Mumbai (2018) with Jason Isaacs, Nazanin Boniadi, Armie Hammer, and Dev Patel, and acted in Love Sonia (2018) (cast listing includes Mrunal Thakur).
Recent films and streaming work (2022 to 2025)
In 2022, he acted in The Kashmir Files (2022) with Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumaar.
He also appeared in Uunchai (2022) with Amitabh Bachchan and Boman Irani, and in Karthikeya 2 (2022) with Nikhil Siddharth and Anupama Parameswaran.
In 2023, he worked in the TV series The Freelancer (2023) with Kashmira Pardeshi, Navneet Malik, Manjari Fadnnis, Mohit Raina, and John Kokken. He also appeared in IB 71 (2023) and the mini series Trial by Fire (2023).
In 2024, his credits include Vijay 69 (2024) with Chunky Pandey and Mihir Ahuja, plus films like Kaagaz 2 (2024) with Neena Gupta, Satish Kaushik, and Smriti Kalra.
In 2025, he has several films listed in your details. These include Emergency (2025) with Milind Soman, Shreyas Talpade, Kangana Ranaut, and Vishak Nair.
He is also listed in Metro in Dino (2025) with Neena Gupta, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Konkona Sen Sharma, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Ali Fazal, and Sara Ali Khan.
Other 2025 titles in your list include Tanvi: The Great (2025), The Bengal Files (2025), Zamaanat: And Justice for All (2025), and Hari Hara Veera Mallu (2025) (cast listing includes Bobby Deol and Pawan Kalyan).
Upcoming Work
- Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 (2026): Listed as completed, with Anupam Kher returning as Kamal Kishore Khosla.
- Fauzi (2026): Listed as filming.
- Yeh Prem Mol Liya (2026): Listed as post-production.
- The India House: Listed as filming.
- Shri Ram Bhoomi: Listed as pre-production.
- Room: Listed as completed, with his role shown as Rudra Rathore.
- Retirement: Listed as pre-production, with his role shown as Anand.
- Prem Ki Shaadi: Listed as pre-production, with his role shown as Raghu Malhotra.
- Prem Ratan Dhan Payo 2: Listed as pre-production.
- Chand Tara: Listed as post-production, with Anupam Kher credited as Narrator (voice).
- Alert 24X7: Listed as post-production.
- Kaanu (TV series): Listed as pre-production, with his role shown as Bishwajit Sarkar.
Anupam Kher Awards and Achievement
Anupam Kher has received major awards for his acting in Hindi cinema. His honours list includes two National Film Awards (Special Mention) and eight Filmfare Awards, along with Indian civilian honours like the Padma Shri (2004) and Padma Bhushan (2016).
His major wins
- Filmfare Awards (1985): Won Best Actor for Saaransh (1984).
- National Film Awards (1990): Won Special Mention (Actor) for Daddy (1989).
- National Film Awards (2005): Won Special Mention for Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005).
- Filmfare Awards (1989): Won Best Supporting Actor for Vijay (1988).
- Filmfare Awards (Comic Role): Holds the record for winning Best Comedian five times for Ram Lakhan (1989), Lamhe (1991), Khel (1992), Darr (1993), and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995).
His key nominations
- Filmfare Awards (1994): Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994).
- Filmfare Awards (2013): Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Special 26 (2013).
- Filmfare Awards (2023): Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Uunchai (2022).
- Filmfare Awards (2023): Nominated for Best Actor for The Kashmir Files (2022).
Anupam Kher Controversies
Anupam Kher has faced a few public controversies, mostly linked to his public statements and some professional appointments, as reported in the media.
- 2017 (FTII chairman appointment debate): Reports said his appointment as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in October 2017 led to public debate, with some people questioning the choice and linking it to his political views. Kher responded in interviews that his selection was based on his work credentials.
- 2020 (Public disagreement with Naseeruddin Shah): Reports said a public feud began in 2020 after political comments and social media reactions, leading to sharp public exchanges. Later reports said the tension reduced over time, and Kher said Shah apologised when they met again.
- 2023 (Comments during The Kerala Story controversy): In May 2023, reports said Kher commented on the debate around The Kerala Story, saying the people opposing it were the same people who criticised The Kashmir Files. His remarks became part of the wider public argument around the film.
- 2025 (Podcast editing dispute with Raj Shamani): In 2025, reports said Kher criticised podcaster Raj Shamani for editing out parts of his comments from a podcast, and the exchange led to an online debate about what was cut and why.
Anupam Kher Net Worth, Salary
Anupam Kher’s net worth is approximately ₹400 to ₹450 crore (approximately $70 million), and he charges approximately ₹3 crore to ₹5 crore per movie.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $70 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | 3 crore to ₹5 crore per movie |
Anupam Kher Height, Weight & Physical Stats
The following are the physical appearances of Anupam Kher.
| Height | In centimetres: 173 cm In meters: 1.73 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 8 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 75 kg In lbs: 165 lbs |
| Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
| Hair Color | Bald |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Interesting Facts About Anupam Kher
- Anupam Kher has appeared in over 540 films across several languages, as listed in public filmography summaries.
- He founded Actor Prepares, an acting institute based in Mumbai.
- He was appointed Chairman of FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune, on 11 October 2017, according to the Government of India release.
- He hosted a Hindi talk show on Colours TV called The Anupam Kher Show – Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. It first aired on 6 July 2014, and the first guest listed was Shah Rukh Khan.
- He has written books, including Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly (published in 2019).
Anupam Kher Instagram, Threads, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Website
 @anupampkher | |
| X |  @AnupamPKher |
 @anupamkherofficial | |
 @anupam kher | |
| YouTube |  @anupampkher |
FAQs
Who is Anupam Kher?
Anupam Kher is an Indian actor, director, and producer who works mainly in Hindi cinema.
How old is Anupam Kher?
Anupam Kher is 71 years old. He was born on 7 March 1955 in Shimla (then Simla), Himachal Pradesh, India.
Where is Anupam Kher from?
Anupam Kher was born in Shimla (then Simla), Himachal Pradesh, India.
What is Anupam Kher famous for?
He is famous for his long acting career in Hindi films and for roles in movies like Saaransh, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, and The Kashmir Files, plus international work like Silver Linings Playbook and the TV series New Amsterdam.
What is the nationality of Anupam Kher?
Anupam Kher’s nationality is Indian.
Who is Anupam Kher’s wife?
Anupam Kher’s wife is Kirron Kher.
What are the major awards Anupam Kher has received?
He has won two National Film Awards (Special Mention) and eight Filmfare Awards. He also received the Padma Shri (2004) and Padma Bhushan (2016).
What does Anupam Kher do for a living?
He works as an actor and is also credited as a director and producer.
