Anupam Kher spoke to TOI minutes after his tryst with Hollywood A-listers at the Oscars Your first thoughts about your first Oscar tryst. I have learnt that this is a celebration of cinema. It is all about the warmth of meeting people and appreciating cinema. It is not about one winner or nominees, but a winner amongst many winners. I will always cherish this experience. Your colleague Jennifer Lawrence bagged the Best Actress Award. We heard you had already predicted her win quite sometime back. t 22 years of age, she is a very natural actress and a very humble person. This makes her an exemplary actress and it wasn’t difficult to predict that she will get the Oscar. I am very proud of her and of the fact that I was with her to share the moment. Life of Pi, which starred another Indian (Suraj Sharma) got the Best Director Award.
Did you meet him? What do you feel about his potential as an actor?
I would like congratulate everyone who was a part of Life of Pi. Suraj has had a brilliant beginning with this movie, considering he carries the film on his shoulders. He is young with a very bright future.
How was your interaction with Ang Lee, who won the Best Director Award?
I have been fortunate to have worked with Ang Lee in the past (Conquest, Lust). He is an amazing person, very Buddha-like. I asked him, ‘How are you feeling?’ and he said ‘Nothing’. I asked him again, ‘What will you do post Monday?’ and he said ‘I don’t know yet’. The Ang Lee that I know is one of the most calm persons with humongous amount of talent.
Heard you have already met your favourite actress Hilary Swank and she is very keen to act in an Indian film?
I met Hilary at Mont Blanc (The pre-Oscar Luncheon) lunch which is in association with Unicef. Hilary who is a global ambassador for Unicef and has done a lot of good work in Somalia. She appreciated my work for underprivileged kids and their education. And yes, there was obvious cinema conversation.
You had a memorable interaction with Bruce Willis too?
He is a very kind and soft spoken person, and it was a pleasure to meet the Die Hard hero.
Also heard that you are being felicitated in LA shortly after the Oscars ceremony. Could you tell us a little more on that?
I am in the entertainment capital of the world, and I realised after coming here that this proclamation is a huge honour. It is not just for my work in Cinema but also for all the social work that I have done so far.
