Anupam Kher Reveals How He Transforms into Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, and Tagore
Actor reveals the intense preparation and challenges behind portraying three of India’s most iconic figures.
Mumbai, Oct 10 : From comedy to complex biographical portrayals, veteran actor Anupam Kher has mastered them all. But when asked about his most challenging roles, Kher cites three iconic figures: Mahatma Gandhi, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Rabindranath Tagore.
In a recent conversation with ANI, Kher revealed the difficulties of embodying these living legacies.
“Portraying Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Mahatma Gandhi was extremely difficult. Among them, playing Dr. Manmohan Singh was the toughest,” he shared.
Kher explained that Dr. Singh’s portrayal required extreme precision and subtlety.
“With Gandhi ji and Tagore, we have plenty of reference material: photographs, old videos, films, and writings. Their era feels distant. But Dr. Manmohan Singh is someone we’ve all seen live on TV. His mannerisms were subtle, his tone calm, and personality controlled. Portraying that balance was like walking on the edge of a blade.”
For ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ (2019), Kher dedicated nearly six months to studying Dr. Singh’s every gesture, walk, and movement. He recalled rehearsing during shoots in England, noting that one video of him climbing stairs went viral online, with viewers unaware it was him.
Kher emphasized the importance of capturing Dr. Singh’s distinct voice:
“His voice had a very unique softness. Once I called a friend speaking exactly like him. My friend thought Dr. Singh himself was on the line. That was the real test—if someone could believe it, I knew I had succeeded.”
Recently, Kher shared a heartfelt Instagram post featuring a collage of his transformations into Tagore, Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh, captioned:
“Three Characters One Actor! Sometimes you need to remind yourself and others of your worth! All hail!”
Kher’s portrayal of Gandhi was also showcased in Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Bengal Files’, demonstrating once again his ability to completely transform for biographical roles.
Through dedication, meticulous study, and passion, Anupam Kher continues to bring India’s historic figures to life on screen, cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most versatile actors.
