The seasoned actor Anupam Kher talks about his encounter with ‘Rang De Basanti’ actor and lifelong friend Mohan Agashe.
Anupam Kher, a seasoned actor known for numerous films including “Tezaab,” “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” “Rang De Basanti,” and many more, recently reconnected with Mohan Agashe, his buddy and co-star in “Rang De Basanti,” when the two met at the latter’s workplace.
On his Twitter, Anupam posted a video of their conversation and chance encounter. “My friend Dr. #MohanAgashe is a thespian in the true sense of the word,” he said in the caption. It will be an honour for me to attend the ceremony in Pune when he will get one of the greatest honours in the field of arts and entertainment, the Punya Bhushan! His wisdom and humility are contagious and incredibly motivating. Looking forward to tomorrow’s ceremony! Jai Ho.”
“So I’m with one of my inspirations and one of my very good friends,” Anupam begins the video. We don’t often get together. Mohan, let’s meet frequently. I’m going to honour him because I came to meet him. This is the first time I’m going to honour someone who is far more knowledgeable (than me) about life, books, and theatre. Usually, the person who honours the others is supposed to be more knowledgeable. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mohan, and I am humbled to recognise your contributions.
The video continues with Mohan saying, “You know we have something in common. You were young when you began your profession, yet in the movie “Saaransh,” you played an elderly guy. That made you popular. My experience was the same.
He was making a reference to his performance in the drama “Ghashiram Kotwal.”
“At the time, I was 25 years old and I played the part of a 65-year-old man. People assume that because I have been portraying elderly characters since I was young, I must be 100 years old.
In response, Anupam states “No, in fact, it’s opposite. Since you have been playing old characters since a young age people can’t recognise when you get old. Surprisingly, I have been getting roles for the last 10 years. I did a film called ‘Astu – So Be It’ which is about Alzheimer’s disease. If you haven’t seen the film please do, you got to see it.”
“I did a film on Alzheimer’s disease called Mai Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara,” Anupam continues.
Mohan keeps talking throughout the video. “Then I recommend you watch my just published series, ‘Do Gubbare’. It is a series that spans generations.
I witnessed his play, “Ghashiram Kotwal,” in the Kamani Auditorium in the late 1970s, according to Anupam. When I was in my final year of theatre school, Jabbar Sahab’s direction fascinated me, and your vigour gave me chills. Thus, even though this is a pretty informal chat we are having, it is such a wonderful sensation to be with him. He is such a modest man. I appreciate what you’ve given to the world.
In the 2006 movie “Rang De Basanti,” where Mohan portrayed the role of the Defence Minister responsible for the murder of R. Madhavan’s portrayal of a fighter pilot, the two actors acted complicit in state-enabled corruption.
Anupam Kher, who portrayed Siddharth’s father in the movie, collaborated with Mohan to commit the murder.
The movie “Rang De Basanti,” in which Aamir Khan played the lead part, has amassed a cult following over the years and was also significant in awakening the public’s conscience to the Jessica Lal murder case.
