Anupam Kher on ageism: 'Experience never retires, age is not expiry date'
Synopsis
Anupam Kher's Instagram video on ageism cuts through with a line that landed: 'Age is not an expiry date. And experience never retires.' At 71, citing Narayana Murthy, Meryl Streep, and James Cameron, he makes the case that dismissing the elderly isn't just disrespectful — it's foolish.
Key Takeaways
Anupam Kher , 71 , posted a video on Instagram on 14 August challenging the labelling of elderly people as 'irrelevant' or 'redundant.' He cited global figures including N.
Narayana Murthy , Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw , Nandan Nilekani , Anand Mahindra , Meryl Streep , and James Cameron as examples of impactful work beyond age 70 .
Kher described the elderly as society's 'memory bank,' 'moving history,' and 'living library.' He cautioned younger generations: those who dismiss the old will one day be old themselves.
His closing message — 'Age is not an expiry date.
And experience never retires' — drew widespread attention online.
Actor Anupam Kher has pushed back against the growing tendency to label elderly people as 'irrelevant' or 'redundant,' asserting that a person's worth and capabilities are not governed by age. The 71-year-old actor made his views known through a video posted on Instagram on 14 August, drawing wide attention ahead of Independence Day.
The Core Message
In the video, Kher challenged the logic of age-based dismissal with pointed questions: 'Does a person's software get old as he grows older? Does God send notifications after 70?' He directed his remarks squarely at those who consider older individuals past their prime, asking, 'Don't you have parents? Don't you have grandparents? Are they irrelevant or redundant for you?'
The actor — known for films such as 'Special 26' and the recently released 'Tanvi the Great' — argued that while youth brings energy, speed, and fresh ideas, age delivers something that cannot be purchased or downloaded: experience. 'It is not available on Amazon. It has to be lived,' he said.
Celebrating Elderly Achievers
In his Instagram caption, Kher cited a roster of global figures who have continued to create and lead well past the age of 70 — including N. R. Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Nandan Nilekani, Anand Mahindra, Meryl Streep, and James Cameron. 'Timeless Golden Energy!!' he captioned the post, framing older individuals not as liabilities but as active contributors shaping the world.
He described the elderly as society's 'memory bank,' a 'moving history' and a 'living library' — rejecting any framing that positions them as a burden.
On the Youth-Experience Equation
Kher was careful not to pit generations against each other. He acknowledged the importance of younger voices — their impatience, ambition, and new ideas — but questioned whether celebrating youth requires diminishing age. 'Is it necessary to declare the elderly irrelevant to make the youth relevant?' he asked. 'The youth have speed. The elderly have the knowledge of the roads. The youth have dreams. The elderly have the experience of reaching those dreams.'
He also noted a specific kind of wisdom that only comes with time: 'Sometimes the youth feel that they know everything. The elderly know that no one knows everything. This is what age teaches.'
A Warning and a Reminder
Kher closed his remarks with a forward-looking caution: 'Today you are dismissing him by saying he is old. If life is benevolent, then one day you will also reach there. And believe me, that day you will also not like to be called irrelevant.' His closing line has since resonated widely: 'Age is not an expiry date. And experience never retires.'
The video arrives at a moment when conversations around ageism in workplaces and public life are gaining traction in India, making Kher's remarks both timely and pointed.
Point of View
How often are actors over 60, particularly women, afforded the same 'timeless energy' he celebrates? The names he cites — Murthy, Mahindra, Cameron — are almost uniformly male and from fields where capital and creative control insulate against ageism. A more complete argument would reckon with structural ageism, not just anecdotal exception.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Anupam Kher say about elderly people being called irrelevant?
Anupam Kher said in an Instagram video that labelling elderly people as 'irrelevant' or 'redundant' is both disrespectful and foolish. He argued that a person's abilities do not come with an expiry date, and that experience — unlike energy or speed — cannot be replicated by youth.
Why did Anupam Kher post this video?
Kher posted the video in response to what he described as a growing trend of using the words 'irrelevant' and 'redundant' to dismiss older individuals. He said the trend troubled him and wanted to challenge its underlying assumptions publicly.
Which public figures did Anupam Kher mention as examples of elderly achievers?
Kher named N. R. Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Nandan Nilekani, Anand Mahindra, Meryl Streep, and James Cameron — all of whom, he noted, have continued creating and leading meaningfully past the age of 70.
What is Anupam Kher's view on the relationship between youth and experience?
Kher said youth and experience are complementary, not competing. He acknowledged that younger generations bring speed, ambition, and new ideas, but argued it is unnecessary to declare the elderly irrelevant in order to celebrate youth. 'The youth have dreams. The elderly have the experience of reaching those dreams,' he said.
What is Anupam Kher's latest film?
Anupam Kher's latest film is 'Tanvi the Great,' a project he is associated with at the time of this video. He is also widely known for 'Special 26' and a decades-long career in Hindi cinema.
