Anupam Kher may be known for his power-packed and versatile performances, but the veteran actor considers Hollywood star Robert De Niro as the 'God of acting'. Kher recently met the "Raging Bull" actor in New York. He had previously worked with him in the Hollywood film "Silver Linings Playbook".
“I can proudly call him (De Niro) my friend. Over the period of time he has a certain amount of respect for me, he likes me. I was to go to Toronto because my film 'Head Hunters Calling' was there (Toronto Film Festival), but I wanted to go to New York and say Hi to him. De Niro was kind enough to meet me when I went to New York. It was like meeting 'The God of Acting',” told Kher.
Though the 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' star has worked with De Niro in the past, he never meets the actor with the intention of collaborating with him for a Hindi film.
“I don't want to be that person. When I spend half an hour, one hour with him, that is sufficient. If it (Bollywood film) has to happen, it'll happen. But I don't have an agenda behind meeting him and he recognises that,” he said.
The 2012 Academy-Award nominated romantic comedy 'Silver Linings Playbook' was one among the several international projects Kher featured in, like 'Bend it like Beckham' and 'The Other End'.
The 61-year-old actor says international cinema has given him 'friends for life' and he cherishes that a lot.
“It's beautiful to be friends with these people. Even being with Gerard Buttler, Armie Hammer, it was wonderful. You make friends for life. This is what international cinema has given me,” Kher said.
“I don't just be part of the film. I go beyond that. I make friends for the rest of my life. They like me, they admire me, and I admire them. They make me feel like a rich a person,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kher is all geared up for his upcoming Bollywood film 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story', where he plays the father of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who stars in the titular role.
The Neeraj Pandey directed biopic is set to release on September 30.