Anupam Kher Reflects on His Friendship with Robert De Niro from Silver Linings Playbook

Anupam Kher's Journey with Robert De Niro

Following the production of the 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook, Anupam Kher and Robert De Niro forged a friendship, albeit not without initial tension. During a recent episode of a podcast hosted by Navika Kumar, Kher recounted how their first encounter was marked by a disagreement. He expressed that he wanted to stay in a particular scene, leading to a memorable first meeting that blossomed into a lasting friendship. De Niro even attended the screening of Kher's directorial project, Tanvi the Great, praising it as "terrific."

Anupam Kher's Experience on Set

Kher shared with Kumar that he took on the English-language film to challenge himself, having been educated in Hindi. He received the call for Silver Linings Playbook while working on another Hindi film. His agent informed him about the project directed by David O. Russell, featuring stars like Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence, and mentioned a role for an Indian psychiatrist, which he secured after overcoming several technical hurdles during his audition. Kher recalled, "My first meeting with him was a fight. I had gone for the shooting of Silver Linings Playbook. In my drama school, in the first year, I have done a research paper on his two first films, Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. I had taken a ruby Ganpati for him [as a gift]."

Before filming their scene, Kher requested to meet De Niro, but was informed that he preferred not to meet anyone in his trailer. Determined, Kher approached De Niro's van, feeling emotional about meeting the legendary actor. When they finally met, De Niro noticed Kher's distress and asked if everything was alright. In his nervousness, Kher stumbled over his words, saying, "I'm so moved by my journey." They took a photo together before heading to the set.

Conflict on the Set of Silver Linings Playbook

Kher recounted a pivotal scene consisting of 13 pages, where he had only three lines but was thrilled to share the screen with prominent Hollywood actors, including Chris Tucker. However, De Niro, fully immersed in his character, questioned why he should accept an Indian doctor in his home, suggesting that Kher's character could jeopardize his son’s well-being. Kher acknowledged that De Niro's character had a valid perspective. When the scene commenced, Kher's character was dismissed from the house. Fortunately, Russell advocated for Kher, insisting on another rehearsal to ensure the scene's integrity.

Kher reflected on his grandfather's wisdom: "If you want to be equal with anybody in the world, don't expect anything from the other person." Despite feeling like an equal on set, Kher faced challenges with the English language. He argued his case, stating, "You have only heard one side; I have also a side. We are eight characters in this scene. Why are we only listening to one person? My character also has an interpretation." He expressed his respect for De Niro while advocating for his role. Ultimately, De Niro agreed to another rehearsal, allowing Kher's character, Cliff Patel, to remain in the scene. After their on-set disagreement, Kher was invited to De Niro's trailer at 2:30 AM, where they shared a drink, marking the beginning of a profound friendship. Kher remarked, "That started one of the best friendships of my life. I feel that sometimes when you speak up, the other person realizes." Silver Linings Playbook received eight nominations at the 85th Academy Awards, and Kher and De Niro continue to meet annually.