David Dhawan turns 75: Anupam Kher recalls 40-year bond from Saaransh to stardom
Synopsis
Anupam Kher's birthday note for David Dhawan is more than a social media post — it is a rare window into four decades of Bollywood friendship, from a shared Lambretta scooter and Carter Road flat to 10-plus films together. That the editor of Kher's debut film became a lifelong collaborator and friend is, as one fan put it, 'the real success story.'
Key Takeaways
Anupam Kher posted a birthday tribute to David Dhawan on 17 August , marking the filmmaker's 75th birthday .
Their friendship began when Dhawan served as editor on Kher's debut film, Saaransh , nearly 40 years ago .
The two have collaborated on 10 to 12 films across their careers.
Kher shared two photographs alongside a lengthy personal note on X (formerly Twitter) .
The post drew widespread praise from fans, who highlighted the rare longevity of their creative bond.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher paid a warm tribute to filmmaker David Dhawan on the occasion of the director's 75th birthday on Sunday, 17 August, sharing cherished memories that span four decades and over a dozen films. Kher posted the tribute on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by two photographs of the two together.
A Friendship Rooted in Cinema's Early Days
In a lengthy note, Kher traced the origins of their bond to Saaransh — his very first film — where Dhawan served as editor. 'Happy Birthday, my dearest, dearest David. I have known you for almost as long as I have known my career in cinema. You were the editor of my very first film, #Saaransh, and from there began a friendship and a cinematic journey that has lasted through 10 to 12 films. And so many wonderful years,' Kher wrote.
The actor also recalled the textures of those formative years with striking specificity — Dhawan's Lambretta scooter, his small flat on Carter Road, and home-cooked meals featuring 'Lali's egg bhurji and those special parathas.' Kher noted that the warmth of those early days has endured: 'That feeling has stayed the same even today!! Touch wood.'
Kher on Dhawan's Craft and Spirit
Beyond nostalgia, Kher offered a considered tribute to Dhawan's professional gifts. 'Working with you has always been a roller-coaster ride, but the joyful kind! You have this extraordinary ability to make shooting for your films look effortless,' he wrote. He also highlighted Dhawan's personal charisma: 'Wherever you are, there is laughter, warmth, madness and joy.'
Kher closed the note with a birthday wish and tagged Varun Dhawan, David's son, in the post — a detail that underscored the multi-generational nature of the relationship.
How the Internet Responded
The post drew an outpouring of responses from fans and followers. One user wrote, 'When friendship is as deep as Saaransh and has lasted 40 years, the words reach straight to the heart.' Another called it 'a beautiful tribute to a friendship that has grown alongside a remarkable cinematic journey.' A third user observed, 'the editor of your debut staying with you through film 10, 11, 12... that's the real success story' — a line that captured the unusual longevity of the creative partnership.
David Dhawan at 75
David Dhawan is one of Hindi cinema's most commercially successful directors, known for a string of blockbuster comedies across the 1990s and 2000s. His collaboration with Kher spans multiple genres and eras, making their bond one of Bollywood's more enduring behind-the-scenes friendships. As Dhawan enters his 76th year, tributes from the film fraternity reflect the affection he commands both on and off set.
Point of View
But the specificity here — a Lambretta scooter, a Carter Road flat, a named dish — signals something less performative than most. What is worth noting is the professional thread running through the personal: Dhawan edited Kher's first film, and the two went on to make over a decade's worth of cinema together. In an industry where collaborations are often transactional and short-lived, that continuity is genuinely unusual. The fan comment that called it 'the real success story' may be the most accurate editorial line of the day.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Anupam Kher post a tribute to David Dhawan?
Anupam Kher posted the tribute to mark David Dhawan's 75th birthday on 17 August. The note recalled their four-decade friendship, beginning with Dhawan's role as editor on Kher's debut film Saaransh.
How did Anupam Kher and David Dhawan first meet?
The two met in the early days of their careers when David Dhawan served as the editor of Saaransh, Anupam Kher's first film. That professional association evolved into a friendship and a collaboration spanning 10 to 12 films.
What did Anupam Kher write in his birthday message for David Dhawan?
Kher wrote a lengthy personal note recalling Dhawan's Lambretta scooter, his flat on Carter Road, home-cooked meals, and the warmth of their early years together. He also praised Dhawan's ability to make film shoots feel effortless and described him as a source of 'laughter, warmth, madness and joy.'
Who is David Dhawan?
David Dhawan is one of Hindi cinema's most commercially successful directors, best known for a long run of blockbuster comedies from the 1990s and 2000s. He is also the father of actor Varun Dhawan.
How did fans react to Anupam Kher's post?
Fans responded warmly in the comments, praising the depth and longevity of the friendship. Several noted that a collaboration stretching from a debut film through more than ten subsequent projects was itself a remarkable achievement.
