'I curse you': Anupam Kher reveals how he confronted director who replaced him with a bigger star in a film

Anupam Kher was only 28 when he made his debut with the Mahesh Bhatt directorial ‘ Saaransh’. However, he took the industry by storm with a tour-de-force performance as a 65-year-old man, grappling with the loss of his only son. In an interview with the Indian Express, the veteran actor revealed that he had a spat with Bhatt after a friend of his told him that he had been replaced by Sanjeev Kumar, who, at that time, was a big star. He also reminisced how he prepared for the role.

“For six months I prepared intensively on how to behave like an old man. I learned how to wear a dhoti, I went to the Shivaji Park where many ageing men came for morning walks and observed their body language. I even slept with a walking stick to get into the character…”

Then came the shocker. When they were about to start the film, a friend told him that he was thrown out of the movie, replaced him with Sanjeev Kumar. When he confronted Bhatt, the director admitted the producers decided to bank on an established actor and offered him to play another character.

Anupam then went to his house and confronted him for one last time. “I told Mahesh Bhatt, ‘Can you see that cab? It has my luggage. I’m leaving the city, but before I leave it, I want to tell you, you are the biggest fraud on this earth. You are the biggest cheat on this earth. You are making a film about truth, and you don’t have the truth in you. For six months, you made me rehearse, and now you have thrown me out of the film. You pretend to be this artistic director… I curse you,” the actor recalled.

Instead of being offended, his outburst prompted Bhatt to call the producers and tell them, “ Joh scene isne kia hai abhi (The scene he has created now), only he will do this film, and the rest, as they say, is history,” he said.

About Saaransh

Saaransh (1984) is a Hindi-language drama crafted by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. The film features a strong ensemble cast including Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Madan Jain, Nilu Phule, Suhas Bhalekar, and Soni Razdan. At its heart, the story revolves around an aging Maharashtrian couple in Mumbai who struggle to cope with the heartbreaking death of their only son and eventually learn to confront their grief.

The soundtrack was composed by Ajit Verman, with poetic lyrics penned by Vasant Dev, adding emotional depth to the narrative. The film was backed and distributed by the well-known banner Rajshri Productions, recognized for its family-oriented storytelling.

Saaransh also earned critical recognition beyond India, as it was selected to represent the country at the 1985 Academy Awards in the category of Best Foreign Language Film. Though it did not secure a nomination, the film remains a milestone in Indian cinema for its poignant subject and powerful performances.