Four decades after Karma arrived in theatres, Anupam Kher is looking back at the film that changed the scale of his career. The actor marked the 40th anniversary of Subhash Ghai’s 1986 action drama with a heartfelt social media post, remembering both the success of the film and the opportunity to work alongside the legendary Dilip Kumar. For Kher, Karma was more than another successful movie because it took him from being recognised as a serious actor to becoming part of mainstream Hindi cinema’s larger commercial world.
Kher played the antagonist Dr. Michael Dang in the film, sharing the screen with Dilip Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah. His performance as the ruthless villain became one of the memorable parts of the film, while the movie itself emerged as a major commercial success in 1986.
The anniversary also carries a personal significance because Karma came shortly after Kher’s acclaimed debut in Saaransh. As Kher himself remembers it, Saaransh established him as an actor, but Karma opened the door to an entirely different side of the Hindi film industry.
How Karma Changed Anupam Kher’s Career
Kher shared a video on Instagram while remembering the film and described the experience as a major turning point in his professional journey. He wrote, “40 YEARS OF KARMA! 40 years ago, KARMA happened! And what a blockbuster it was! What a film! What memories! What a turning point in my life! #Saaransh had established me as an actor. But Subhash Ghai Sahab’s KARMA made me a commercial star. Suddenly, I was part of that larger-than-life world of mainstream Hindi cinema. And I was loving every moment of it!”
That distinction says a lot about where Kher stood in the industry at the time. His debut Saaransh had already established his acting credentials, but Karma placed him inside an ensemble built around some of the biggest names in Hindi cinema. The film gave him a villain with a strong screen presence, allowing audiences to see another side of an actor who would go on to build an extraordinarily varied career.
Dr. Michael Dang was not a conventional supporting character. In the film, Dang is the main antagonist, a terrorist whose conflict with Dilip Kumar’s Vishwa Pratap Singh drives the revenge story. The film’s central narrative follows Vishwa, a former police officer who takes matters into his own hands after Dang’s actions destroy his family, eventually forming a team of death-row prisoners to pursue him.
Kher’s performance consequently had an important function within the film’s larger commercial structure. He was playing opposite Dilip Kumar at a time when the veteran actor was one of Hindi cinema’s most revered performers, while the rest of the cast included stars such as Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Naseeruddin Shah.
Anupam Kher Remembers Dilip Kumar
While celebrating Karma, Kher reserved his most emotional words for Dilip Kumar, who died in 2021. The actor recalled the privilege of watching the legendary performer work from close range and described the experience as one of the greatest gifts the film gave him.
Kher wrote, “But the greatest gift Karma gave me was the privilege of working with the one and only Dilip Kumar Saab. To share the screen with him, to watch him perform from such close quarters, to learn from his silences, his pauses, his presence — that was my real award.”
He also thanked Subhash Ghai for trusting him with Dr. Dang and credited the director with giving him an opportunity that changed the course of his career. Kher then brought back one of the film’s memorable exchanges with the line, “इस थप्पड़ की गूँज सुनी तुमने, डॉ. डैंग?”
The nostalgia in Kher’s message is understandable because Karma assembled an unusually strong ensemble. Alongside Dilip Kumar and Kher, the film featured Nutan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Sridevi and Poonam Dhillon, with Subhash Ghai directing and producing the project.
The film was also a significant commercial performer for its time. Available historical records list Karma as the top-grossing Indian film of 1986, underlining why Kher remembers the movie not merely as an important acting opportunity but as a genuine commercial breakthrough.
For an actor who had only recently established himself through a very different kind of film, the impact was considerable. Karma showed that Kher could hold his own in a large-scale mainstream production while playing a character audiences were expected to dislike.
From Dr. Dang To Khosla Ka Ghosla 2
Four decades after Karma, Kher continues to move between dramatically different kinds of projects. His career has included serious dramas, comedies, supporting roles, antagonists and international productions, making the transformation he describes from Saaransh actor to commercial star only the beginning of a much longer journey.
His current work also has a strong connection to another beloved Hindi film. Kher has wrapped his work on Khosla Ka Ghosla 2, the sequel to the 2006 comedy-drama that gradually developed a cult following among audiences. The sequel brings him back into the world of the original film, alongside several returning cast members.
Recent promotional activity around the sequel has also brought Kher together with Boman Irani, Ranvir Shorey and Parvin Dabas, giving fans a nostalgic reminder of the original ensemble ahead of the sequel’s release.
That makes the 40th anniversary of Karma particularly fitting. Kher is once again working on a project connected to a film remembered strongly by audiences, while simultaneously celebrating one of the movies that helped establish his position in mainstream cinema.
Looking back at Karma today, it is easy to focus on its star power, memorable dialogues and larger-than-life action. But for Kher, the film represents something much more personal: the moment when recognition as an actor turned into a new level of commercial visibility.
His final reflection captured that feeling perfectly: “Some films give you success. Some give you memories. KARMA gave me both…. for a lifetime! Happy 40 years to the entire team of KARMA! Jai Ho!”
Karma 40th Anniversary Q&A
How old is Karma in 2026?
Subhash Ghai’s Karma has completed 40 years since its release in 1986. Anupam Kher marked the anniversary on Saturday with a tribute to the film and its cast.
Who did Anupam Kher play in Karma?
Anupam Kher played Dr. Michael Dang, the film’s main antagonist. The character is a terrorist whose actions set the revenge-driven story into motion.
What did Anupam Kher say about Karma?
Kher described Karma as a turning point in his career, saying that Saaransh established him as an actor while Karma made him a commercial star.
What did Anupam Kher say about Dilip Kumar?
Kher called working with Dilip Kumar the greatest gift Karma gave him and said he learned from the veteran actor’s “silences, his pauses, his presence.”
Who directed Karma?
Karma was directed and produced by Subhash Ghai. The film featured Dilip Kumar, Nutan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Sridevi and Anupam Kher.
What is Anupam Kher working on now?
Kher has completed his work on Khosla Ka Ghosla 2, the sequel to the 2006 cult favourite, which brings back several members of the original cast.
