Veteran actor Anupam Kher has paid an emotional tribute to celebrated British author and former politician Jeffrey Archer, who passed away on 5 October 2026 at the age of 86. Kher described the news as deeply saddening and shared a cherished photograph from a brief but significant meeting with the legendary storyteller.

A Priceless Encounter in Dubai

The two met at the Emirates Literature Festival in Dubai, where Kher presented Archer with a copy of his debut book, 'The Best Thing About You Is You.' Recounting the moment on Instagram, Kher called it 'one of the highlights of my life.' The actor noted that seeing Archer — a writer whose books he had long held with admiration — holding his own book in return was a moment of profound personal significance.

'Looking at this photograph today, what touches me most is that he is holding my book in his hand,' Kher wrote. 'A writer whose books I had held with such admiration was now holding mine. There was something so beautiful about that moment. I was an actor and a first-time author, but beside him, I was simply an excited admirer.'

Archer's Words That Stayed With Kher

Kher recalled asking Archer what he considered the most important quality for a writer. Archer's response — centred on 'the importance of memory' and 'imagination' — left a lasting impression. 'Those words have remained with me ever since,' Kher wrote, adding that today his own memory carries him back to that meeting, 'while his imagination lives on through his stories.'

Kher specifically cited 'Kane and Abel' and 'Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less' as works that demonstrated Archer's 'extraordinary ability to draw readers into a world they never wanted to leave.'

A Farewell From a Lifelong Admirer

Closing his tribute, Kher wrote: 'Thank you, Mr. Archer, for your stories, your warmth, and for holding my first book with such kindness. It is a memory I will always cherish. My heartfelt condolences to your family and to the countless readers who feel this loss. Rest in peace. You will always have an admirer in me.'

The 71-year-old actor — known for films such as 'Special 26' and 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!' — reflected on the particular ache of losing someone admired from a distance: 'An old photograph becomes more precious. A brief conversation returns with unexpected clarity. And we wish we could have that moment once more.'

Who Was Jeffrey Archer

Jeffrey Archer, born 15 April 1940, was one of Britain's most widely read novelists and a former Conservative politician. His debut thriller 'Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less' (1976) launched a decades-long career that produced global bestsellers including 'Kane and Abel' and the Clifton Chronicles series. Despite a tumultuous political life that included a high-profile perjury conviction, Archer's fiction never lost its commercial appeal, with his books reportedly selling over 330 million copies worldwide. He is survived by his family and a vast global readership.