Kolkata screening of Anupam Kher's film sparks dialogue on neurodiversity and inclusion
Anupam Kher
's film
Tanvi The Great
in Kolkata, organised by the Tata Power Community Development Trust, aimed to build awareness around neurodiversity and encourage more inclusive conversations around developmental differences and
autism
.
The featured film, directed by Anupam Kher and based on his neurodivergent niece, follows the journey of a young girl on the autism spectrum navigating everyday challenges and social expectations. Over 260 people attended the event, including neurodivergent individuals, caregivers, educators, therapists, and representatives from disability-focused NGOs and special schools.
A sensory experience zone was also set up at the venue. It allowed visitors to engage with stimuli designed to reflect how neurodivergent people experience their environment, helping bridge the gap between awareness and understanding. 'As storytellers, we must focus on narratives that reflect the full range of human experience,' said Kher. 'This project is rooted in a personal story, but it reflects the reality of many families.
'
The event underlined the need for more accessible public spaces, representation in media, and continued efforts toward inclusion.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Anupam Kher once couldn't pay a dhaba bill and had to leave his brother with them
Long before he was a globally recognised actor, Anupam Kher experienced the kind of struggles that shaped not just his career but his outlook on life. Kher opened up about a moment from his early days in Mumbai that left a lasting impression on him—a moment that combined ambition, naivety, and a sharp reality check at a local dhaba. In a candid interview with News18 Showsha, Kher was accompanied by his brother and a friend to a dhaba in Hirad Nagar after a televised play of his had aired on Doordarshan. Riding high on the appreciation from the dhaba owner, who recognised him and predicted a successful future for the young actor, Kher let the praise influence his decisions. Initially planning to order modestly, he instead called for chicken and beer. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MBA Degree PGDM Finance Project Management Cybersecurity MCA Leadership Product Management Operations Management Management Design Thinking Healthcare Public Policy Technology healthcare Data Science CXO Digital Marketing Data Analytics Others Data Science others Artificial Intelligence Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details However, when the bill arrived—totalling Rs 97—Kher was faced with a harsh truth. He had only Rs 1 in his pocket. Despite his attempts to assure the dhaba owner that he would one day be a successful man, the owner remained firm, stating that appreciation and business are two separate matters and the bill had to be paid. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo Turning Embarrassment Into a Life Lesson To resolve the situation, Kher left his brother and friend behind at the dhaba as assurance and rushed to a nearby friend's home to borrow Rs 100. Reflecting on the incident, he said he has always chosen to see the humour in hardship. Instead of viewing the moment with shame, he embraced it as a defining experience, noting that self-worth shouldn't be dictated by temporary financial struggles. Kher admitted that even without external judgment, there is often an internal sense of inadequacy during such tough times, especially in an industry that often equates success with wealth and glamour. But finding comedy in the struggle helped him survive emotionally and mentally. Embracing Imperfection Through Art and Life Kher's ability to accept imperfections—both his own and those around him—has also informed his recent creative work. Promoting his book Different, but No Less and his directorial film Tanvi The Great, he spoke about portraying autism not as a disability but as a unique strength. According to him, the constant pressure to appear perfect on social media platforms often creates a false standard of happiness, leading many to feel inadequate. His character Tanvi, he explained, represents purity and honesty, traits untainted by ambition or manipulation. Kher acknowledged that since the character originated from his own mind, it gave him hope that such qualities might reside within him as well.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
When Anupam Kher had only Rs 1, ordered chicken and beer anyway: Actor recalls his funniest life lesson
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Before the fame and global acclaim, Anupam Kher was just another struggling artist in Mumbai—armed with hope, friends, and exactly one rupee. In a candid interview with News18 Showsha, the veteran actor recalled a hilarious incident from his early days. He had gone to a dhaba with his brother and a friend after a play of his aired on Doordarshan. 'The owner praised my work and said I'd become a big actor. I got carried away and started ordering chicken and beer,' Anupam Kher shared in the interview. The bill came to Rs 97. But Anupam Kher, with just Rs 1 in his pocket, had a rude awakening. 'I told the owner, 'Main kabhi bada aadmi banunga,' and he calmly said, 'Tareef apni jagah hai, business apni jagah hai. Paise toh bharne padenge.'' 'That's how I survived' Realizing he couldn't pay, Anupam Kher left his brother and friend at the dhaba as 'collateral' and rushed to a friend's house nearby to borrow Rs 100. 'I remember that day so vividly. But I wrote about it in a humorous way. That's how I survived—I saw the comedy in hardship,' he said. Mahesh Bhatt: 'Saiyaara' Lacks Originality, Anupam Kher's 'Tanvi The Great' Shows True Voice Instead of letting the moment break him, Anupam Kher used it as a life lesson. 'You don't need to feel small just because your bank balance is. It's your attitude that counts.' Why 'Not Okay' can be powerful Promoting his new book 'Different, but No Less' and his film 'Tanvi The Great', Anupam Kher opened up about portraying autism as a superpower. 'We are constantly made to feel inadequate—through social media, comparison, and perfection. But it's okay to be 'not okay',' he said. Describing Tanvi, his character, Anupam Kher noted, 'She's pure. No ambition. No manipulation. But because she comes from me, maybe those qualities are somewhere inside me too.' Anupam Kher's directorial features the actors Shubhangi Dutt, Iain Glen, Boman Irani, and Karan Tacker in important roles.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Anupam Kher Ordered Chicken And Beer With Rs 1 In Hand, Reveals What Happened When He Couldn't Pay Bill
Last Updated: Anupam Kher shares his journey from having just Rs 1 to becoming a respected actor, recalling a humbling moment at a dhaba. Before the accolades, before the international films, and long before he became one of India's most respected actors, Anupam Kher had just Rs 1 in his pocket and a dream bigger than any bill. In a candid chat with News18 Showsha about his new book Different, but No Less, and his recent film, Tanvi The Great, the legendary actor recalled a hilarious (and humbling) moment from his struggling days in Mumbai. 'I remember I went to a dhaba once," he began, launching into a story as vivid as a scene from a film. 'There was a play of mine which came on television, a bit before I got into movies. I had done that play and I was waiting for it to be telecast. I wanted people to see it and say, 'Oh, this is a fantastic actor.' I had, I think, one or one and a half rupees. My brother, a friend, and I went to this dhaba in Hirad Nagar. We ordered one chapati and one dal. That's when the owner came to me and praised me, saying how he had watched my play on Doordarshan and that I would become a big actor. So I got confident and started ordering chicken and beer and all. The bill came to about Rs 97… and I only had Rs 1." What followed was a lesson in reality. 'I told him, 'Main kabhi bada aadmi banunga,' and he replied, 'Beta, tareef apni jagah hai, business apni jagah hai. Paise toh bharne padenge.' So I left my brother and my friend at the restaurant, went to another friend who lived next to Hare Rama Hare Krishna, borrowed Rs 100 from him, and came back. I remember that whole thing so clearly because I used to write about such things funnily." That sense of humour, he says, is what kept him going. 'You laughed at this only because I see life from a comical point of view. It didn't make me feel self-pity. Unfortunately, we don't look at life from a sense of humour. All of those days were difficult. Even if nobody is making you feel small, you do feel small. There are people who are showy, who are different. There are bigger bungalows of so-and-so actors to make you feel small." Kher sees this same spirit reflected in his latest character, Tanvi. 'I think Tanvi is a much purer soul than I am. Tanvi does not know manipulation. Tanvi does not know ambition. Tanvi just does things which she thinks is right. But because Tanvi stems out of me, I'm very happy that there's a possibility that all those qualities I see in her have come from me, that I have possessed them." That idea of embracing one's differences is central to his book as well. 'It's difficult to live in this world. That's why I've tried to portray autism as a superpower. We all have that capability of looking at life in a particular way. But we are constantly made to feel that someone else is doing better than us. That makes us feel small, and inadequate. And it's constantly proven through followers, clothes, social media. On Instagram, nobody's unhappy." He adds, 'Unhappiness is very important for creativity. 'Not okay' is also very important for growth. But we see people constantly happy, and that's such a big thing. I try my level best to be as real as I can." First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
