Straight answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Anupam Kher</span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">, actor and Censor Board chief, on his most memorable moment</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What has been the most memorable moment in your life?</span><br /><br />The most memorable moments are often the ones you have in your days of hardship. Because they teach you vital lessons in life. During my struggling days as an actor, I would take a local train from Santa Cruz to Charni Road. On one of these days, I was feeling particularly miserable about myself and noticed this man sitting next to the window who seemed to be looking out. He asked me whether I was unhappy. I said yes. He told me maybe it would help if I wore brighter clothes. The fact is I was wearing grey trousers and a white shirt. The man got off at Elphinstone Road and that''s when I realised that he was blind!<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How often does this moment recur in your mind?</span><br /><br />Very often. Especially when I am feeling low and I remember what he said and quickly dress up brightly. You know, one often gets inspired by Gandhi and Mother Teresa, but here was an ordinary man who had his own problems and still imparted such a great wisdom to me.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Is there any other moment that''s had an impact on you?</span><br /><br />The time when I flunked my tenth standard. My dad came to school and asked me to come out with him to this rather expensive restaurant which we used to frequent once in six months. He took me there and fed me mutton samosa. I thought he had got a promotion, but he told me the occasion was my failure in tenth standard. He said that he wanted me to never be afraid of failure and this was his way of showing that you could also celebrate failure. After that I never felt fear.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What do these moments mean to you?</span><br /><br />They mean the world to me. They have left such an impact on me over the years. <br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">suresh.nair@timesgroup.com</span></div> </div>