Anupam Kher to CM Adhikari

“Start from the very beginning”— this was the key suggestion made by Bollywood actor Anupam Kher to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during a meeting in Kolkata on Friday, as discussions centered on reviving large-scale film production in Bengal.

The meeting took place at the PWD tent around 12 noon, coinciding with the 189th birth anniversary celebrations of literary icon Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, which were marked with great enthusiasm across the state. Kher, who had arrived in the city on Thursday evening, joined the Chief Minister shortly before the meeting began.

Speaking to media afterward, Kher announced his plans to make a film in Bengal after a gap of 26 years. “We have had official discussions regarding this. Twenty-six years ago, I worked in renowned director Rituparno Ghosh’s film Bariwali. The Chief Minister has extended his best wishes for this new project,” he said.

The veteran actor revealed that the upcoming project has been titled Shuru Theke Shuru (Starting from the Beginning), reflecting both a creative and emotional return to Bengal. He also expressed his intention to establish an acting school in Kolkata, signalling a broader commitment to the state’s cultural ecosystem.

Praising the government’s vision, Kher remarked, “The kind of change the Chief Minister aims to bring is truly commendable. Bengal has immense potential, and there is a clear effort to take it forward. I have suggested the Chief Minister to start from the very beginning.” Sharing his first impressions upon arriving in the city, he added, “As soon as I stepped off the plane, I noticed that the surroundings appeared much cleaner.” Political observers have described this comment as significant in the current context.

The meeting also comes against the backdrop of a previous lighthearted political exchange involving Kher. Responding to a question about a potential Trinamool Congress comeback, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya had quipped that such a return was as unlikely as hair growing on Kher’s bald head. The actor had responded humorously, asking, “Do you really want to see hair growing on my head?”

As Bengal celebrates the legacy of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the interaction between the Chief Minister and the veteran actor has added a cinematic dimension to the occasion, hinting at renewed momentum in the state’s film industry.