Ask Anupam
Anupam Kher on Acting

Believe me or not, I pray for the growing crowd of strugglers. I try my best to help them, encourage them, discourage them, inspire them I try to be very blunt with most of them and tell them the truth about them and ask them to go back and find a better way of life but I know not one of them listens to me, treats me as a fool and takes my advice and throws it into the nearest dirty dustbin. When nothing works I send up all kinds of prayers. Some are amazing, some aren’t but I do my duty.

Now I have just come across a whole lot of strugglers of a very different kind. They are Indians but not Indians. They are Indians who have settled in different parts of the world and are intensely involved in films, not only involved but also interested in making it as actors. From the number of letters I get from almost every country where Hindi films are known most of them are from youngsters who crave to satisfy their urge to make it as actors/actresses even stars and superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, if possible. They don’t stop with their urge, their craving and their ambitions. They find ways of reaching Mumbai, the Mecca of all strugglers. They then try to make the rounds of studios and offices of filmmakers with the excuse of knowing more about films and acting, as students. They try to establish contacts with every one, from the spot boy and the assistants to the production boys and even with the producer. After all, it is a do or die game for them.

And as we Indians are known for our hospitality to our species from abroad they are treated well even encouraged - most of it not really coming from the heart. Till one day these strugglers from other lands pop up the question. They start talking to the spot boy or the peons. They stumble and stammer and tell them about their decision to make it as artiste. The spotboys and peons see them as grahaks (clients). They say they will have to spend some money to go through the various phases before fulfilling their dreams. The “Phoren Indian” struggler is ever-willing. He has the money, he says and the vicious smiles on the faces of the spotboys and peons become dangerous. They start demanding money at every step because they have to make so many other assistants, writers, directors, “umbrella holders” (this is the only industry where boys are specially hired to hold umbrellas over the ‘delicate heads’ of our stars and directors). These Phoren-Indian strugglers keep shelling out money with hope in their hearts. The spotboys and peons then take them to some other friends who are introduced as writers and directors and even producers. They say it is very easy to make it. They flatter them, pamper them, play upto them all at their own cost. These ‘Phoren-Indian’ strugglers are mostly from Mauritius, Fiji Islands and different parts of East and South Africa.

They are the descendants of Indians who had settled there many many years ago. They waste their time, they finish all their money and a time comes when they have to tell those people who had defrauded them the truth about their pitiable condition. They are then forced to take up petty jobs in studios, directors’ and filmmakers’ offices in the hope that they will still find that light they are looking for, that dream they are waiting to fulfil. These ‘Phoren-Indian’ strugglers are at times even threatened by the same peons when they are asked for their money. They face insecure times but they refuse to go back.

A very strange breed of young human beings gradually going to waste. I continue to inspire them to find some way and go back home. Some have listened and are doing quite well wherever they are. The others I don’t know in which Limbo they live in.

RK Talwar, Ludhiana:
I have been to twelve astrologers, different kinds of astrologers. Believe me, all of them have told me, yes all of them, that I would make it as an actor in Hindi films. It is years now. I am in Mumbai waiting for atleast one of their predictions to come true. Their predictions have landed me as a studio hand at RK Studios. Should I still wait or pack my bags and go back to Ludhiana?
No astrologer can make you an actor or a star. You have to have the talent, only talent can help you make it. There are so many astrologers who thrive on boys and girls like you who are easy to bully. Stay back and try finding some better job. Forget about the astrologers whatever will have to happen will happen.

Dana D, Mumbai:
I have been a very good actor. Dilip Kumar who was once present at one of my stage performances in college said I should pursue a career in acting. Many others have said the same thing about my talent. I’ve taken them seriously but nothing has happened. I am still waiting.
You must be good if the “God of Acting” said you are good. You must keep trying till a certain time because there is something called luck, something called destiny that plays a very big hand when it comes to making it as an actor. It is something which cannot be defined. Some without any talent make it as major stars while others with all the talent have to struggle endlessly, even desperately. There are hundreds of stories like your struggle and it is becoming a major problem for which it is becoming very difficult to find solutions.

Geeta Sharma, Pune:
I am a Maharashtrian but I want to make it as a Hindi actress. What should I do?
Come to Mumbai and get yourself trained in the Hindi language perfectly. Language is the life of a good artist. It doesn’t matter if you want to make it as a comedian or a mimicry artist. Try, there is nothing like trying. Hema Malini, Rekha and Sridevi never knew a word of Hindi when they came to Hindi films. So don’t lose heart.

Shaan Kumar, Nashik:
What is the difference between acting in theatre and in films.
You get a second chance or a tenth chance in films but in theatre you get only one chance. You fall if you make just one mistake.

Parvez P, Hyderabad:
Is it necessary to have a secretary if you have to make it in films?
Keeping a secretary is a part of the system but there are all kinds of secretaries. Most of them are fakes. If you are trapped by them, by one of those fakes you are doomed for ever. The only way out is to find the right secretary and that is the most difficult thing.

M Kumar, Satara:
I want to be an actor, nothing else. I have given myself a year’s time. If I don’t I’ll commit suicide.
For God’s sake don’t let such ideas come anywhere near you. You can do so many other things in life. Suicide is only the coward’s way out.

Ravindra Sinha, Sion, Mumbai:
My parents are against my being an actor. I am going to defy them and try to make it, come what may.

Are you crazy? Aren’t your parents more precious than your trying to make it as an actor? Please don’t break their hearts. There is a way out. You can talk to them about their ambition and then see.

SK, Mumbai:
Frankly I have been exploited by many men who have promised to make me an actress. It is two years now and it’s just exploitation all the way. What should I do?
Quit. Go back to wherever you have come from. Once exploited you will always be exploited. That is how the game is played here.

Kumar Chand, Kolhapur:
I have lots of money. I want to be an actor but I am sure that I don’t have the talent. What should I do? The urge to be an actor is not leaving me in peace.

I must say you are going crazy. Money can be used in so many ways. If you don’t know how to, please contact me. I will refer you to the several houses of charity, schools for spastics, homes for the aged and sick and several other causes.