Anupam Kher on losing Mr India’s Mogambo role: ‘My best friend Anil Kapoor threw me out’

Veteran actor Anupam Kher and his stepson Sikandar Kher’s warm relationship recently lit up social media through a light-hearted video that blended humour, nostalgia and honesty. What began as playful teasing soon unfolded into candid reflections from the veteran actor.

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A Cheeky Moment Turns Dramatic

In the clip shared by Sikandar, Anupam’s cheek was numb following a dental procedure- setting the stage for mock theatrics. As Sikandar teased him, Anupam shot back, “Kya karne wala hai?” When Sikandar pretended to strike, the senior actor jokingly warned him about consequences, fully embracing the moment with dramatic flair.

The banter peaked when Anupam slipped into a famous dialogue from Karma, recalling his time sharing the screen with Dilip Kumar. Eventually, he stopped Sikandar with affectionate firmness, insisting the exchange remain personal and not social-media fodder.

From Laughter to Lost Roles

The conversation soon drifted from fun to films. Anupam revealed how he once shot a cameo for Zoya Akhtar, which was later edited out. More striking, however, was his candid confession about being replaced in one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic films.

The Mr India Truth Bomb

Anupam Kher disclosed that he was initially cast as Mogambo in Mr India but was replaced midway without being informed. Reflecting on that phase, he said, “Javed saab threw me out of Mr India. Not Javed saab—it was Anil Kapoor, who is my best friend, and Boney Kapoor too. They didn’t tell me until the end.”

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Despite the setback, Anupam acknowledged cinematic reality, admitting he couldn’t have portrayed the role “as brilliantly as Amrish Puri.”

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Sharing the video, Sikandar tagged industry stalwarts and legends, writing, “For Javed Akhtar (uncle), Boney Kapoor, Amrish Puri (legend), Anil Kapoor, Shekhar Kapur (uncle)… enjoy #KherSaab after his tooth removal.” (sic)