Actor Anupam Kher on Sunday delivered a deeply motivating masterclass at Kala Mandir, Panaji, urging aspiring artists never to succumb to setbacks as he unpacked the theme “Giving Up Is NOT a Choice.”
He illustrated his message through powerful personal anecdotes, beginning with the story of losing—and then reclaiming—his lead role in Saaransh just days before the shoot, reinforcing his mantra that “failure is an event, never a person.”
Kher recounted how, after investing six months of his life into preparing for the role, the sudden rejection devastated him. In his despair, as he resolved to bid farewell to Mumbai forever, he went to meet director Mahesh Bhatt one last time.
Moved by Kher’s emotional turmoil, Bhatt reconsidered and reinstated him in the film—an opportunity that went on to become a defining moment in Kher’s career. Reflecting on the experience, Kher said Saaransh taught him the invaluable lesson of resilience and showed him that setbacks often mark the beginning of one’s rise.
Throughout the session, Kher shared several examples from his own life. He spoke about growing up in a cramped lower-middle-class home with 14 family members and how, despite the circumstances, his grandfather’s carefree spirit shaped his belief in finding joy in the smallest things.
He also recalled a formative memory from his school days, when his father—a clerk in the forest department—discovered from his report card that Kher had ranked 58th in a class of 60.
Instead of scolding him, his father paused and said, “A person who comes first in the class or in sports will always have the pressure of sustaining that track record, as anything less seems like a failure. But a person who comes 58th has all the opportunities to improve. So do me a favour—next time, come 48th.”
Encouraging the audience to improve their perspective, Kher emphasized that personality simply means being comfortable with who you are. He repeatedly urged listeners to believe in themselves and to become the central character in their own biopic.
“Why should life be easy or simple? Why should life not have problems?” he asked. “It’s your problems that will make your biopic a superstar biopic.”
In his concluding remarks, he stressed, “‘Giving up is not a choice’ is not just a phrase. It demands unbelievable hard work. If you want something, you must sacrifice and convince yourself to persevere. You will have to endure disappointments. But if you give up, the story ends there, my friend.”