&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "'I wanted to make something on goodness': Anupam Kher reveals the inspiration behind Tanvi: The Great at WION World Pulse")
Anupam Kher has been in the entertainment industry for around four decades, and he has worked in more than 500 films, but recently he took a turn in direction, and gifted the audience the film, Tanvi: The Great. During his appearance at the WION World Pulse on Wednesday (Mar 18), he shared why the film is close to his heart.
Inspiration behind the film
While his first directorial attempt was over two decades ago, Kher stepped away from filmmaking as it did not connect with him creatively.
"I wanted to make something that truly connects with me,” he said, revealing why he returned to direction after 23 years.
Kher shared that Tanvi: The Great was inspired by a real-life moment with his autistic niece during a family wedding in Gurugram. "About four years back, in Gurugram, we had a wedding of my brother's daughter. Over there, my niece Tanvi was also there," he said. The actor recalled how she stood quietly gazing at the sky. "And I said, Tanvi, what are you looking at? And she said, ‘Bitu Mama, I am looking at my world.’ So I could not understand what her world was," Kher said.
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That moment became the foundation of the story. "That gave me an idea that I want to make a film on an autistic young girl who is a superpower. Because Tanvi has a superpower. She can sing very well. She can give you answers fantastically. So that gave me a seed to work on a story," he explained.
What makes the film special
Kher further emphasised that the film explores neurodivergence with sensitivity and challenges societal perceptions. "Most people who are normal, so-called, are abnormal. And people who are autistic are absolutely fine. So when they must be looking at us, they must be thinking what manipulators we are. Because autistic people know nothing about manipulation," he said. "I wanted to make something on goodness. Because I believe in goodness… I feel that it’s goodness which keeps me alive and kicking."
About Tanvi: The Great
The story revolves around Tanvi Raina, played by Shubhangi Dutt, who is an autistic girl with a dream to join the Indian Army to fulfil her late father’s wish. The cast also features Pallavi Joshi, Karan Tacker, Boman Irani, Jackie Shroff, Arvind Swami, and Iain Glen alongside Anupam Kher.
