Actor-director Raju Kher has opened up about one of the most difficult phases of his career and how it changed his relationship with his elder brother, veteran actor Anupam Kher. Recalling the events of around 2000, Raju said he had once expected financial support from Anupam, only to later realise that his brother was also dealing with his own struggles at the time.Raju recalled how he had sold his house and invested the money in a programme for a new television channel. He eventually moved into a rented flat after the channel unexpectedly shut down.“There was a time when I was going through a bad phase. I had sold my house because a new channel was coming, so I had bought a flat elsewhere. A new channel was going to launch and many people were making pilots, agreements were already signed. I also made a programme ‘Life Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega’,” he shared in an interview with Siddharth Kannan.The actor-director said he had invested the money from the sale of his house into the project, only to discover that the channel had vanished.“Suddenly, I got to know that the channel has disappeared. I had invested the money that I got from selling the flat in that programme. I thought that I had a first-class life, a 4-BHK house, everything set for the family. And then, the channel disappeared and no one knew what happened.. there was just a lock on their door.”With no work coming in and the pressure of paying rent mounting, Raju turned to Anupam, believing his elder brother would help him financially. However, Anupam was himself going through a difficult phase professionally.“I also felt the pressure to pay the rent. I had no one else, I could only talk to my brother, and I thought he will help me. But at that time, he had also stopped working. The reason was that he didn’t want to do any of those weird films, he wanted substantial roles. So, I felt that my brother did not help me out. ‘He could have done so,’ that was my thought at that time.”Raju said his understanding of Anupam’s situation changed after he happened to read an interview in a magazine. A particular statement about his personal life made him realise that he had been assuming that his brother had no problems simply because he was financially successful.“Then, I was reading a magazine on the toilet. In the interview, Anupam Kher had said, ‘I wish I had my own child’. Although, he considers Sikander his own child. But then I never thought about my brother in that light. We took him for granted, thinking he doesn’t have any problems because he was doing well financially. We never thought that what was going on in his life.”The realisation changed the way Raju looked at expectations and relationships. He said the year 2000 became a turning point in his life and taught him to understand what others could be going through before expecting anything from them.“That was the thing that changed the whole concept of my life. Have expectations but don’t do it like that. Try to find out what is going in the other person’s life as well. I am talking about the year 2000, the year that changed my whole life, my thinking. On that day, I stopped expecting anything from anyone, no matter who it is.”Raju also recalled how he eventually found his way back to work after months of financial and professional uncertainty. He said he had even tried suggestions involving rings, rituals and prayers before deciding to leave everything to fate.“When your time is bad, your expenses tend to increase. Some suggested wearing certain rings, doing rituals, prayers, I got those done too. Work had also stopped coming. After a few months, I told my wife that we should trust in God, let’s see what happens, and I removed all the rings. The next day, I got a call for work. I got an offer for a TV serial. I instantly agreed and told them to pay whatever they want. Life started again,” he concluded.Interestingly, earlier this year, Anupam Kher had spoken about his bond with Raju during an interaction with Zindagi with Richa YouTube channel. He revealed that he has been financially supporting his younger brother for years and said that he has never kept track of how much money he has given him.“If every brother remembers what they were like when they were young, there would be no fight. I look at my life like it’s a film. How can I forget that we grew up together? I must also compliment Kirron (Kher, wife), because she never, ever asked me, ‘Why do you do so much for your brother?’ That’s how problems begin. I would sign cheques for Raju, the household, and other things… I told my manager long ago, ‘Remember one thing in life, never ask me how much money I’m giving to my brother’.”
