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Anupam Kher Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth7 March 1955

Age70 Years

BirthplaceShimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

ProfessionActor, Producer, Director, Teacher, Entrepreneur

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseKirron Kher

FamilyStep-son - Sikandar Kher; Brother - Raju Kher

Anupam Kher Biography

Veteran Indian actor Anupam Kher has built a versatile career across film, theatre, television and education. Born in Shimla in 1955, he rose from early-dw

Early life and background

Anupam Kher was born on 7 March 1955 in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, into a Kashmiri Pandit family. He grew up in a middle-class household; his father worked as a clerk in the forest department and his mother was a homemaker. Schooling took place at DAV Higher Secondary School in Shimla and he went on to study at Government College, Shimla. His interest in theatre led him to Panjab University, Chandigarh, where a scholarship and stage work earned him recognition, and then to the National School of Drama in New Delhi, from which he graduated in 1978.

Kher’s early years included modest means and determined ambition. After a brief teaching stint in Lucknow, he moved to Mumbai in June 1981 with very little money and took on the struggles common to newcomers. He lived in chawls during his early days in the city while trying to establish himself as an actor.

Career

Kher’s film debut in Hindi came with Aagaman (1982), and his breakthrough arrived with Mahesh Bhatt’s Saaransh (1984), in which he played an elderly character at the age of 28. The performance brought him widespread recognition and opened the door to many offers. Over the following decades he worked across languages and industries, with credits that include Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, English and Chinese productions. Notable screen appearances include portrayals of Mahatma Gandhi in the 1986 television series Raj Se Swaraj Tak and the former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh in the 2019 film The Accidental Prime Minister, a role he described as particularly demanding.

Beyond acting, Kher has been active as a producer and director. He produced the Bengali film Bariwali (2000) and directed Om Jai Jagadish (2002). On television he has taken on hosting duties, for example Sawaal 10 Crore Ka (2001). He has also launched several entrepreneurial and training ventures for actors, founding institutions and companies such as Actor Prepares, Final Cut, Anupam Kher Company, Anupam Kher’s Talent Company, Curtain Call and Anupam Kher Production.

Kher’s career is decorated with multiple honours. He has won Filmfare awards across acting categories, including Best Actor for Saaransh and multiple wins in comic performance, making him the only actor to win the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role five times. He has received National Film Award Special Jury recognition and civilian honours from the Government of India, including the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016.

Public profile

Kher’s work extends beyond films and stage. He co-founded the animal welfare organisation People for Animals and in 2008 set up the Anupam Kher Foundation to support education for underprivileged children and medical care for people with serious illnesses. He has served in leadership roles at major Indian arts institutions, including chairmanships at the National School of Drama and the Central Board of Film Certification; he stepped down from the FTII chairmanship in 2018 because of international commitments to a television project.

On the personal front, Kher married twice. His first marriage ended in the early 1980s; he later married actor and politician Kirron Kher in 1985. He is stepfather to actor Sikandar Kher and has a younger brother, Raju Kher, who is also an actor. Kher maintains a public presence that includes speaking about his beliefs and interests; he has expressed an interest in astrology and enjoys listening to classic Hindi songs and reading.

Latest updates

In recent years Kher continued to take on diverse roles, including the portrayal of Manmohan Singh in 2019, a performance for which he undertook meditation practice to capture the character’s composure. He has remained active in theatre and film and continues to run his training institutes and foundation work. In 2016 he purchased a family home in Shimla, which he named Kherwadi and presented to his mother.

Kher’s body of work spans nearly 500 films across many languages, reflecting a long and varied career rooted in theatre training and sustained by a mix of creative and entrepreneurial ventures.
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Recent Work

The Accidental Prime Minister

Portrayed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; described the role as his toughest and prepared by practicing meditation.

2019
Kherwadi (family home purchase)

Bought and gifted his family house in Shimla, named Kherwadi, to his mother after years of living in rented accommodation.

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Breakthrough role in Saaransh (1984)
  2. Only actor to win Filmfare Best Performance in a Comic Role five times
  3. Padma Shri (2004) and Padma Bhushan (2016)
  4. Founder of Actor Prepares and several actor-training and production companies
  5. Chairman roles at the National School of Drama and the Censor Board; resigned FTII chairmanship in 2018 due to international commitments
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anupam Kher born?

7 March 1955

What is Anupam Kher known for?

Actor, Producer, Director, Teacher, Entrepreneur

What is Anupam Kher’s marital status?

Married

Who is Anupam Kher married to?

Kirron Kher