Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai: Anupam Kher’s life struggle

Anupam Kher in Melbourne during the staging of ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’. PHOTO: Neeraj Nanda

By Neeraj Nanda

Melbourne: Anupam Kher is a well-known Bollywood actor and recently gave a towering performance in ‘Khosla Ka Ghonsla’ and Feroz Khan’s ‘Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara’. He has also acted in another 200 movies (including his first much acclaimed ‘Saaransh’) spread out over the years. Here Aunpam was before us giving a stage performance (he was the sole actor in the play) at the Camberwell Town Hall on 2 February, ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’, which traced his life history from Simla to Bollywood. Kher who is an National School of Drama (NSD) product, has been performing this play for a few years and has in a way come back to theatre – from where his journey begun as an actor.

Anupam’s rapport with the audience (in Melbourne) was evident with him going across the audience before the start of the play. The versatile actor then moves to the stage where he starts describing his life history starting from his birth. His simple and often dramatic narration of his life episodes makes one remember one’s own events in life. The fact that to become an actor is not easy and is a path full of thorns is clearly reflected by an array of events which Anupam describes in detail. In addition, the audience is captivated by the sense of humor, which forms part of Anupam’s narration.

Anupam is at the best in this play. The episode of his first crush and his breakup in the second are well described. However, absent in the play is any mention of his wife Kiron Kher, who herself is a leading actress in Mumbai. There is one character (Vijay Seghal), his friend, whom Anupam keeps mentioning. The importance of a best friend in one’s life is clearly reflected by Vijay Seghal’s presence in Anupam’s life. Life at NSD and mention of his famous teacher including Elkazi made interesting hearing. Anupam’s gestures on the stage reflected his potent theatrical style.

The second part of the play is more on Anupam, s film career. How one struggles in Bollywood (gradually) is well described by Anupam. Mahesh Bhatt gave Anupam his first break in ‘Saransh’. The long ‘filmi’ journey, Amupam, describes (at times changing his dress) along with film clips in the background in a simple way. In fact, how one comes across actors and actresses, during the ‘filmi’ struggle makes captivating theatre. Anupam’s description of how rape scenes are shot (including the one he shot with Jaya Parada) was full of humor.

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While describing his successes, Anupam does not fail to mention his failures (This including his only directed film ‘Om Jai Jagdish’, his production company and the sole film in which he was a hero). His praise for Mahesh Bhatt, Amitabh Bacchan and many lesser-known names was his tribute to all who came across in his life journey.

The two and a half hours play solely done by one person is an exceptionally bold effort. The frequent clapping, laughter and silence by the audience showed that Aunpam interacted very well with them. This simple but potent theatre style, one hopes will be further developed by Anupam Kher. One needs to commend the director Feroz Khan those (Events people) who brought Anupum Kher and his play to us. Keep it up!