Some of the strongest partnerships don’t start with instant attraction or a grand romantic gesture. They grow slowly out of years of friendship, trust, shared experiences and emotional support through the most difficult moments of life.In a recent interview with a media outlet, veteran actor Anupam Kher reminisced his decades-long relationship with actress and politician Kirron Kher, saying that romance was never on the cards. Their story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the most enduring love is born quietly, long before either person realises it.
Their first meeting: When Kirron was a star and Anupam never expected anything
Anupam and Kirron met during their student days in Chandigarh, at the Department of Indian Theatre. Kirron was one year senior to him, and she was already a star in their circle.“Kirron was one year senior to me in the Department of Indian Theatre in Chandigarh. She was a star. She played badminton (doubles) for India with her sister, and did English plays. I never even thought something would ever happen with her. But she had the largest heart,” Anupam recalled.At that time, Anupam never imagined that something would develop between them. He was a student, she was a standout performer, and they were just part of the same creative community. Romance wasn’t on the horizon.
Close friends in Mumbai
Even after Anupam moved to Mumbai to pursue his acting career, the two remained close friends, navigating different life paths. Kirron was married to businessman Gautam Berry, while Anupam was working hard to establish himself as an actor.Looking back on those years, Anupam shared a light-hearted memory that captures the warmth and humour of their friendship: “When I came to Bombay, she was married to Gautam. Satish Kaushik and I used to go to her house, and we would tell her that we would only visit you if you would give us the return taxi fare. So we used to take the taxi fare from her and then take a bus so that we could survive the week.”Their friendship remained unchanged for a long time—until life brought them both to a turning point.
When life changed: Breakups, hard times, and a new beginning
According to Anupam, their bond stayed firmly in the realm of friendship until both faced personal challenges.“So Kirron was a friend for a long time, till a possibility happened where I was going through a breakup and she was going through a tough time with her husband. And that’s how, at a certain stage, life changed,” he shared.He added that the idea of marrying Kirron would have seemed unimaginable to him during those early years.“But before that, all my letters, even from my girlfriend, used to come to her house. That’s why I say ‘kuch bhi ho sakta hai (anything can happen)’. I had no idea that one day we would fall in love and get married. And yeah, it’s been 41 years now,” Kher revealed.Today, Anupam and Kirron have been married for 41 years and it’s a testament to a love that grew from friendship, trust, and shared history.
