Anupam Kher’s brother opens up on Kashmir Files star’s first marriage before he wed his ‘Bariwali’ Kirron – it lasted just one day: ‘Nobody from the family…’

Actors Anupam and Kirron Kher are known as some of the most versatile performers in showbiz. The duo tied the knot in 1985, and he is close to his stepson Sikander Kher, who is also an actor. Both became close when they were struggling actors in Bollywood, and coincidentally, both were graduates from the Department of Indian Theatre of Panjab University, Chandigarh. However, little is known about his first wife. In a recent interview, the actor’s brother, Raju, who is also an actor, reflected on his famous brother’s first marriage – to actress Madhumalti Kapoor – and claimed that they separated the same year they got married – 1979.

In a chat with Siddharth Kannan, he revealed that the two were involved for two or three years before having a wedding in a temple in Lucknow. Just days later, the ‘Kashmir Files’ star left her.

“It ended in one day. They got married at a temple in Lucknow. The next day, he left from there, saying, ‘I cannot stay here.’ Anupam had first come to Shimla for a few days and then went to Delhi,” Raju said.


At that time, Anupam Kher had not started his career in Hindi movies. He was staying in Lucknow, and his brother Raju Kher was living in Shimla. Anupam finally moved to Mumbai with the goal of becoming an actor and started his career in Bollywood by appearing in Mahesh Bhatt’s film *Saaransh* in 1984.

Family Was Kept Dark About Anupam's Marriage.

Raju Kher was also asked about how the family reacted when Anupam’s marriage ended soon after it started. He said the family didn't know about the situation because none of them went to the wedding. So, they didn't know at first that Anupam had gotten married.

Raju also said that he on purpose did not look into why Anupam's relationship with Madhumalti ended. He said that Anupam was pretty direct back then, but Madhumalti was more confident and strong-willed. He thought that the details of their relationship were private things that only the two of them could really understand.

Instead of asking Anupam about his failed marriage, Raju chose to honor his brother's privacy. He thought that Anupam should handle his own personal issues and told him that he would be there to help whenever his brother needed support.

After she separated from Anupam, Madhumalti married Ranjit Kapoor, who was a writer and filmmaker. Raju also talked about her later life during the conversation, saying that Madhumalti and Ranjit started a family and had kids together.

Concurrently, Anupam is also Kirron’s second husband. The Bariwali star (who won the National Award for Best Actress for the 2000 Rituparno Ghost directorial) was earlier married to entrepreneur Goutam Berry. The movie was also produced by Anupam Kher.

Second marriages signify that there is a chance for all of us, even those who have been disillusioned in a previous marriage. Famous writer Oscar Wilde once humorously observed, "First marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence, while second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.”