He refers to it as a “motivational show” in which his celebrity guests will share “heart-warming” stories about their lives and struggles. Anupam Kher on his chat show The Anupam Kher Show — Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, that airs on Colors.

THE BIG IDEA

I am doing the show at a stage in my life where I am comfortable with myself and my own story... which I do as a stage show, also called Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. A lot of people come backstage and tell me that my story inspires them. So I felt that if I chat with certain celebrities whose various aspects of life could inspire people, it would be wonderful. The best part is that the guests trust me completely and it doesn’t seem like they are doing a show for the cameras.

ANUPAM THE HOST

I just want to be honest and I want my guests to trust me. As a host, even I am interested in knowing them as people and how they deal with life. I want to know their stories.

NO BITCHINESS OR NEGATIVITY ON MY SHOW

I don’t see it as a show that can be analysed. In this show, two people are talking about life. This show is about honesty and doesn’t have negativity... it doesn’t have bitchiness. You can do a good, clean show based on people’s lives. I don’t want to make my guests feel uncomfortable and that’s why they can talk to me in a manner which touches my heart and because it’s touched my heart, it will touch the hearts of every member in the audience.

YUVRAJ SINGH’s LIFE IS AMAZING

I think everybody has a great story to tell. I am not waiting to get surprised because I am not talking about the dark secrets of people. Yuvraj Singh’s life is amazing... I only know him as a cricketer, but after the show I thought a man who fought cancer and got back to the Indian cricket team is a very courageous story. I guess Shah Rukh’s (Khan), Akshay’s (Kumar) and Vidya’s (Balan) stories are very courageous. Even young actors like Aditya Roy Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra’s stories and their courage are laudable.

We have laughed in every episode and we have got moved in every episode because in life, there are all elements... tears, happiness, sorrow, surprise and anger.

GUEST WISH LIST

Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Narayana Murthy... and there are so many other people. I would like to invite Oprah Winfrey. It would be great if I could get her on my show!

Anupam Kher with Mahesh and Alia Bhatt

Tonight, Anupam Kher will chat with director Mahesh Bhatt — the man who gave him his big Bolly break three decades ago with Saaransh — on The Anupam Kher Show (Colors at 8pm). But it’s Kher’s chat with Bhatt’s younger daughter Alia that’s the highlight of the hour-long episode.

A t2 sneak peek...

Anupam Kher: A lot of young girls ask me about you and tell me: ‘You’ve known Alia since her childhood days’… and this always upsets me.

Alia Bhatt: Why do you get upset about it ?

Anupam: Well, because it reminds me of my age aur mujhe yeh achha nahi lagta hai!

Anupam: Do you remember me asking you if you wanted to be an actress when you were six years old?

Alia: Mujhe actually bahut saari conversations yaad hai… I remember you regularly coming home to meet dad and always giving him money.

Anupam: When I used to hand over money to your father, what did you think was I giving him the money for?

Alia: Initially I used to be very confused. Then when dad told me, I realised that he gave you your break, and that you felt love and gratitude to him and that’s why you would make it a point to give him a token of appreciation in the form of money. Then, I started to think that I would also have to give him money if he gave me a break… luckily that didn’t happen!

Anupam: Who was your idol while growing up?

Alia: From childhood, I always wanted to be like all of the actresses… Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor. At one point I even wanted to be like Shah Rukh Khan! I wanted to be the most loved actor.

Anupam: You have two people in your house who have a habit of giving advice. So what advice does your mother (Soni Razdan) give you?

Alia: Mummy still considers me a kid. I’m 21 years now, but she doesn’t yet believe that I’ve grown up and I’m working and doing my own thing. Her advice always is to eat food on time, sleep on time, don’t go here, cancel the shoot, and my only response to her is that I can’t! I’m very excited that I’m constantly working and don’t have time to sleep or relax even for a moment.

Anupam: So you’re enjoying the fact that you’re heading towards stardom… you’re enjoying the journey?

Alia: I’m enjoying the adrenaline rush and the fact that my father understands. He’s completely opposite to mummy and when I sound tired over the phone he says: ‘Oh you’re sounding good!’ He is really happy about my work… he understands.

Anupam: Has your father ever scolded you?

Alia: Yes, he has. Once, I lied to everyone at home and went to a party and on my return home, I was scolded by Papa. But I was very young then, maybe 16-17 years of age, and hadn’t started my career in movies yet.

Anupam: Aapka rishta Pooja ke saath kaisa hai?

Alia: Actually, recently it’s become much better… hum log as a family bahut close ho gaye hai. Log hamesha kehte the: ‘Oh you have a stepsister, stepmother….’ Par mujhe kabhi aisa affect nahi hua, kyunki hamari family itni real aur honest hai ek doosre ke saath, koi facade… koi fakeness nahi hai. Jab hum time spend karte hai, hum genuinely time spend karte hai.

Anupam: If you had to work in one of your dad’s films, out of the ones that he has made, which one would it be?

Alia: Waise toh meri favourite picture hai Saaransh and Zakhm (1998), but obviously main uska hissa nahi bann sakti. But Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke do meri bahut favourite films hai.