After Tanvi The Great, Anupam Kher flips the script with Varanasi-set 'spiritual successor' to his iconic Saaransh debut

Anupam Kher's Tanvi the Great had its worldwide streaming debut on Prime Video on Tuesday, marking a double milestone in his career as an actor and director. At the same time, the actor who won a national award for his performance in 1984's Saaransh disclosed that he is currently working on a project based in Varanasi, which will serve as a spiritual successor to the Mahesh Bhatt directorial.

How does Anupam Kher's new film explore themes of identity and ageing in Varanasi?

With a noticeable change of tone, Kher returns to the themes of identity and ageing that characterised his early career in the new film, which is presently in production. The film follows the inner life of an elderly man who challenges societal norms about ageing in the historic city of Varanasi.

Kher explained that he is currently involved in a film that revolves around Banaras [Varanasi] and a character based there. He told Variety, "I was discussing with Mahesh Bhatt… it's a Saaransh 2, basically. This time, the man is not passive in the sense that he was aggressive in his thoughts. This time I just feel that I need to reinvent myself."

ALSO READ: Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 update: Anupam Kher confirms cast and shooting schedule | Details Inside

What is the narrative inversion between Kher’s role in Saaransh and his current outlook?

Kher famously played a mourning father at 65 in Bhatt's Saaransh when he was just 28 years old, and this project is a narrative inversion of that role. The actor reflected on the paradox of his present outlook as he approaches his 71st birthday this week.

Regarding the film's tone, Kher added, "When I was 28, I played a 65-year-old man's role. Now at that time, I portrayed 65 as what I thought 65 would be like, but I’m going to be 71 on March 7, and I feel like a 28-year-old man. The new project will unfold in the genre of a funny thriller, but it's a human story. I don’t know how to tell other stories. I can only tell stories which are human, which have a human angle, which have a human feeling, but positive. I like happy endings."

What is the premise and cast of Tanvi the Great?

This news arrives as Tanvi the Great makes its way from the festival and theatre circuit to OTT on Prime Video. Featuring Jackie Shroff, Iain Glen, Boman Irani, and debutante Shubhangi Dutt, the film follows autistic woman Tanvi Raina as she tries to pay tribute to her father by saluting the Indian flag in the Siachen Glacier.

On its initial theatrical debut on July 18, 2025, the film encountered a challenging landscape, despite a technical crew that included Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani and Japanese cinematographer Keiko Nakahara. Mohit Suri's blockbuster Saiyaara dominated the domestic box office when it released alongside it.

How did Tanvi The Great sustain its presence despite commercial competition?

"Saiyaara was like a tsunami, so it got lost in that," Kher admitted. Supported by special screenings for 20,000 students and acclaim from the Autism Society of India, the film managed to maintain a limited theatre presence for 23 weeks, despite the early commercial pressure.

According to Kher, the film was considered priceless when evaluating its success based on the reactions of many groups, including the Autism Society of India, the army, children, schoolchildren, and those who witnessed it.

Which international cities hosted Tanvi The Great, and who provided a notable recommendation?

Among the cities the film visited on its worldwide tour were New York, Houston, and London. Robert De Niro, who co-starred with Kher in Silver Linings Playbook, gave a strong recommendation at the premiere in New York.

Kher reminisced about De Niro's brief appearance but said, "He had come for 10 minutes, but he stayed till the interval," noting that De Niro later watched the full film. 

What ultimate compliment did Robert De Niro give to debutante Shubhangi Dutt?

The actor went on to say, "He said, ‘It’s very moving.' And he told the girl [Dutt] that you are terrific, which I thought was the ultimate compliment for any actor in the world, that the God of acting is telling a person who has done her first film that you are terrific."

Anupam Kher FAQs:

Q: Is Anupam Kher making a sequel to Saaransh?

A: Anupam Kher has announced a new Varanasi-set project that he describes as a "spiritual successor" to his 1984 debut, Saaransh. While he sometimes refers to it as Saaransh 2, the film is not a literal sequel but a "narrative reversal." In the original, a 28-year-old Kher played a 65-year-old; in the new project, the 71-year-old actor plays a man who feels 28.

Q: Where can I watch Tanvi the Great?

A: As of March 3, 2026, Tanvi the Great is available for global streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film transitioned to digital after a long theatrical run and successful screenings at international film festivals like Cannes.

Q: How old was Anupam Kher in the movie Saaransh?

A: Anupam Kher was only 28 years old when he delivered his National Award-winning performance as BV Pradhan, a 65-year-old grieving father in Saaransh. This role is considered one of the most iconic debuts in Indian cinema history due to the convincing portrayal of age by such a young actor.