MUMBAI: In 1989 south Indian cinema superstar Kamal Hassan had enacted the role of a three feet and 33 inches tall dwarf in a Telugu movie Apoorva Sahodarargal, which went to be biggest hit in south film industry. After the success story in South, the film was dubbed in Hindi and titled Appu Raja, which also became a hit. Now after 16 years, Anupam Kher will be enacting the same character in Sajid Nadiadwala’s Jaan-E-Mann, which stars Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar.
“I am extremely thankful of the way my director Shirish Kunder had conceived my character ‘Chachu’ in Jaan-E-Mann. My character is a happy-go-lucky suit clad dwarf who is a successful lawyer, friend, philosopher and guide to Salman Khan in the movie. But in reality the task of playing a dwarf was quite challenging and painstaking role for an actor of my age,” reveals Kher.
“I had to walk, dance and even pee on my knees for 40 days with the only consolation of kneecaps, but the most excruciating part was when I had to take retakes. I also had to reach out to my first aid box every time when my lower back would hurt after every scene,” he adds.
For Kher, to essay the character of ‘Chachu’ was extremely challenging physically and mentally. “However, in spite of the physical pain, I always wanted to evolve as an actor by taking challenging tasks. I also enjoyed a dance sequence with other dwarfs in the film. It was a unique role and Shirish vision spurred me on.”
