Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 25: Veteran actor Anupam Kher, fondly referred to as the “Marathon Man” of Indian cinema, has completed an impressive 41 years in the film industry. Kher made his film debut on May 25, 1984, with Mahesh Bhatt’s Saaransh, where he portrayed the role of a 65-year-old grieving father at the age of just 28.
Marking this significant milestone, Kher took to Instagram on Sunday evening to share a heartfelt video reflecting on his journey in Indian cinema. In the video, he spoke candidly about his early days, his struggles, and the profound impact of his debut role.
“Today is the 25th of May, 2025. Forty-one years ago, my first film, Saaransh, debuted. I wanted to speak to you about my journey of 41 years,” he began.
He shared how he arrived in Mumbai on June 3, 1981, after graduating from the National School of Drama and teaching briefly in Lucknow. After years of perseverance, it was filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt who gave him his breakthrough.
“It’s been 41 years—palak jhapakte guzar gaye (they passed in the blink of an eye). What a beautiful, thankful journey. There have been ups and downs, but it’s been very good. I’ve done at least 544 or 545 films,” Kher said.
Released in 1984, Saaransh remains one of Indian cinema’s most poignant dramas, telling the story of an elderly couple grappling with the loss of their son in Mumbai. Anupam Kher’s performance as BV Pradhan was widely acclaimed, with Rohini Hattangadi playing his wife. The film also starred Soni Razdan, Madan Jain, Nilu Phule, and Suhas Bhalekar.
Looking ahead, Kher is set to return to directing after more than two decades with his upcoming film Tanvi The Great. The film was recently screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, receiving a warm response from the global audience.