Anupam Kher welcomed with drum beats and trumpets

MUMBAI - It was a moment he won’t forget easily. When Anupam Kher reached Bhor on the outskirts of Mumbai to resume the shooting of Walt Disney production “Zokkomon”, 100 children along with the cast and crew of the film greeted him with drum beats and trumpets to celebrate his 25 years in cinema.

“Before I had left Bhor, I told the unit of ‘Zokkomon’ I was going to Mumbai to attend the premiere of ‘Saaransh’ to celebrate 25 years in cinema. I also taunted the unit, ‘You should receive me with a full musical band, no less, when I return’. Little did I expect them to take my words seriously,” Anupam told IANS.

“When I got back on Tuesday they had actually arranged a huge band from Pune to greet me. The minute I reached the location, the band started playing,” added the actor who was moved beyond words.

What followed made him burst into tears.

“All the kids in the film made me put on a party cap, cut a cake and sang congratulatory songs. You’ve no idea how much I wept. When I see such love showered on me I wonder if I’ve really done anything to deserve this.”

Anupam decided to relive his debut performance by holding a premiere of “Saaransh” Sunday 25 years after the film was released. He held the belated premiere at the Metro theatre, where the critically acclaimed film was first released.

And next day he signed a Woody Allen film in which he will play “Slumdog Millionaire” star Freida Pinto’s father.