Lively Anupam Kher said – came to Mumbai with Rs 37, has done 523 films so far

You must have heard that age is just a number! But seeing Anupam Kher, it seems that this is the reality. What is the secret of your fitness after all?

I am working hard on my fitness. I love to challenge myself. It comes down to a self-confidence. Actually, it is very important for you to make your goals big. Often we compromise with our life. But one has to compromise with the circumstances of life. The challenges you get from life should not be compromised. I think I started off as an old man in my debut film Saaransh, so people didn’t see me growing old. He just saw me old. (Laughs) That way I’ll always look young to them.

Some people say that artists should stay away from politics. Some people give their opinion on current issues. You are also one of them. Does it cause any damage?

What to think about the loss. If I don’t say what my consciousness tells me, especially if someone asks, then I think what will happen to my feelings about the country. Like the Prime Minister thinks for the good of the country and I say something about him, then people think that I think about a particular party. Whoever thinks good about the country, I am with them and those who think bad, I speak about them.

Nowadays people get frustrated with life very quickly. What is that one thing that keeps you alive and inspires others?

See, whatever we have and whatever I have got, I always thank God for that. But looking at my journey, I am the son of a clerk in a forest department, who came to Mumbai with Rs.37. Today I am talking about my 523rd film and till now I have signed 537 films. Ever since this film started, I have signed and shot for 14 more films. So we are not thankful to the above. We are always disappointed that I could have got something better. My grandfather used to say very well that happiness and sorrow are in your hands. You can be very sad considering how much better off many people are than you, and you can be happy about how many people are worse off than you. There is no such person in the world that he cannot have this reason for happiness. Be happy with what God has given, don’t grieve for what you haven’t got. Every morning you wake up, your eyes open and you breathe, then you are very lucky. This is my principle. My father used to say that the easiest thing in the world is to make someone happy. I try to do the same.

Interview: Ronit Roy will be seen doing a special role in ‘Bloody Daddy’ with Shahid, spoke big on Bollywood films

IB71 Success Party: Vidyut Jammwal’s IB71 success party was full of color, see who all reached

Life has become very certain these days. Recently your friend Satish Kaushik is no more. How about saving relationships?

I think friendship should be celebrated. Satish’s passing was sudden, but it was important for me to celebrate his life. We have spent 48 years together. I was thinking last night that if I had shown this film to Satish, how would he have felt. Well I don’t want to remember all this now. The wound is still deep and visible. I have decided to myself that I will spend time with all those friends with whom I enjoy spending time. Recently I went to Rakesh Roshan ji’s farm house, spent a lot of time there. I want to meet more friends like this in the future also, because I cannot say anything about life, I don’t know when what will happen. If they are remembered later, then it has no meaning.