Anupam Kher’s ecstatic about the big win for his Hollywood film at the Critic’s Choice Awards. He couldn’t attend this ceremony, but says he’ll surely make it to the Oscars He’s in the middle of taking a class – and doesn’t want to be interrupted. “Thodi der mein,” he says, as we congratulate him for his Hollywood movie, Silver Linings Playbook sort of sweeping all the comedy awards – Best Comedy Film, Best Comedy Actor for Bradley Cooper and Best Comedy Actress, which went to Jennifer Lawrence – at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. And now, the movie’s got eight Oscar nominations as well. When he calls back, the first thing we ask him is why he wasn’t there at the awards function. “Actually, I’m not going for the Golden Globes either. I have my Bollywood film Special Chabbis coming up, and it is by the guy who gave me one of the best films of my life, A Wednesday. I can’t leave the promotions of that film and go – I didn’t want to, and for the Critics’ Awards, aisa bhi nahi tha ki bas jaake wapas aa sakoon. But I have been in touch with all the stars – they told me what happened.” Of course, they did. Bradley also took Anupam’s name during the winning speech. “Yes, that was great of him. Those guys are always bucking each other up, there’s absolutely no sulking and bad feeling when others win awards. But all of day before night, I couldn’t sleep; I was very excited about these awards. Main subah char baje uth gaya tha, and the first thing I saw when I turned Twitter on is a message that said ‘Bradley took your name’. I was thrilled,” says Anupam, who is all set to attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards (in which he has a nomination), and later, the Oscars. “And all the categories that we have been nominated for in the Oscars are powerful ones. But I am actually looking forward to the SAG Awards, because all the actors will be present there, and whether or not I win, just sharing the same table with stars like Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper is going to be the most brilliant moment of my life.” So, has he got his wardrobe and speeches ready? “Oscars mein toh I think De Niro will give a speech, he is the senior most. Main toh, unke saamne kuch bhi nahi hoon. But SAG – actually, don’t do this to me please. Don’t stress me. I am not going to prepare any speech – I want to be spontaneous, and prepared speeches always make you fumble on the stage,” says Anupam, who’s speaking to designer Falguni for his SAG wardrobe.
Bradley took my name: Anupam Kher
