Anupam Kher Unveils 14 Years of Heartbreak: How a Blockbuster Song Crushed His Dream Film, 'Tanvi The Great'

Veteran actor Anupam Kher has candidly opened up about a deeply personal and heartbreaking chapter in his career: the unforeseen circumstances that led to his directorial venture, 'Tanvi The Great,' being overshadowed and ultimately stalled for 14 long years. His recent revelation sheds light on the profound disappointment and 'depression' he experienced, caused by a seemingly unrelated cinematic phenomenon – the overwhelming success of the song 'Saiyaara' from the blockbuster film 'Dabangg'.

Kher’s ambition for 'Tanvi The Great' was immense.

Describing it as a fictionalized account of his mother's childhood, he poured his heart and soul into the project. The film was shot in a remote village, featuring a unique cast of 300 real villagers whom Kher personally trained. This was not just another movie; it was a passion project, a labor of love that he believed was ahead of its time, a sentiment he still holds today.

However, fate had a cruel twist in store.

Around the same time 'Tanvi The Great' was set for release, Abhinav Kashyap's directorial 'Dabangg' hit the screens, and with it, the song 'Saiyaara' became an instant, colossal hit. The song, a soulful romantic track, dominated airwaves, television channels, and public consciousness, achieving a level of ubiquity that few songs ever do.

Kher recounts the devastating impact: "My film got wiped out.

When ‘Saiyaara’ became a huge hit, my film got wiped out. It depressed me. It made me feel very sad. I felt terrible. I felt a sense of injustice that something you make with so much passion, which is ahead of its time, and then one song comes, ‘Saiyaara,’ and it just wipes it out." The emotional toll was immense.

He admits to falling into a deep state of sadness and depression, a significant setback for a man known for his optimism and resilience.

The sheer scale of 'Saiyaara's' success consumed public attention, leaving little room for a smaller, more nuanced film like 'Tanvi The Great.' This led to the painful decision to shelve his directorial dream.

For 14 years, the film remained unseen by the wider audience, a testament to the unpredictable and sometimes brutal nature of the entertainment industry.

But time, as they say, heals and offers new perspectives. After more than a decade, Anupam Kher is now ready to re-introduce 'Tanvi The Great' to the world.

He views the experience not just as a heartbreak but also as a profound learning curve. He understands that while external factors can influence a film's immediate reception, the artistic merit and message of a story can endure. His determination to release the film now, after all these years, is a powerful statement about perseverance and belief in one's vision.

'Tanvi The Great,' a film born out of personal narrative and creative ambition, is finally getting its second chance to shine, a testament to Anupam Kher's unwavering spirit.