Mumbai, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Monday looked back on his journey from drama school to Hollywood while wishing legendary American actor Robert De Niro on his birthday.
Kher recalled that during his final year at drama school, he had written a research paper on two of De Niro’s acclaimed films, Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. At the time, he said, his biggest aspiration was simply to meet the Hollywood star and shake his hand.
Sharing photographs with De Niro on social media, Kher wrote that life eventually took the journey far beyond that early dream.
“Happy Birthday, my dearest Mr. De Niro! I was in the final year of drama school when I wrote a research paper on two of your films – #Mean #Streets and #TaxiDriver. At that time, my biggest dream was that someday, somewhere, I might get the opportunity to simply shake your hand. Life, and God, had much bigger plans for me,” Kher wrote.
He recalled that years later he not only got the opportunity to meet De Niro but also shared the screen with him in the 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook.
“Years later, I found myself not only shaking your hand, but sharing the screen with you in #SilverLiningsPlaybook. And somewhere along the way, I received an even greater gift — the privilege of calling you my friend,” he added.
Kher, who most recently starred in Tanvi The Great, also reflected on De Niro’s standing as an actor, saying performers around the world would consider it a blessing to achieve even a fraction of what the Hollywood veteran has accomplished.
He wished De Niro a long, healthy, happy and peaceful life and said he hoped the actor would continue to surprise and inspire audiences.
Kher’s association with De Niro has included memorable personal moments as well. At Cannes in 2025, the two actors were photographed sharing a warm embrace, with De Niro also kissing Kher on the cheek. Kher described the interaction as deeply touching and referred to De Niro as the “greatest actor of all time.”
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