From 400 rupees to crore-level earnings—Anupam Kher shares his story of struggle

Staff Report: PNN

Despite acting in over 500 films in Bollywood, veteran actor Anupam Kher faced severe financial crisis at one point. In a recent interview, he revealed that there was a time when he had only 400 rupees in his bank account, and both his house and office were mortgaged.

Kher began his acting career at age 28 in 1984 with Mahesh Bhatt’s “Saaransh”, portraying a retired elderly character. Though he received critical acclaim in his first film, his career trajectory was not always smooth. After two decades of successive hits, Kher faced substantial losses in his production company and TV ventures in the early 2000s.

In a YouTube program, he recounted that by 2004 he was effectively bankrupt. He had to manage household expenses by borrowing and was forced to mortgage his home and office due to outstanding loans.

Despite these financial challenges, he continued to work on several high-budget films. Outwardly, he appeared successful, but in reality, he was struggling to survive daily.

Kher did not give up. Gradually, he rebuilt his position, focusing on international projects, web series, and different genres. He also maintained physical fitness regardless of age, preparing for new opportunities.

Currently, Kher confidently states that he earns 2–3 crore rupees per film and is satisfied with his work. He has previously shared stories of failure and resurgence, emphasizing that the courage to start anew repeatedly has brought him to his present standing.