September 8, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Among the many non-cinema activities that now occupy Anupam Kher's time and space the one he is most excited about is the Power Within project. It's a nationwide chain of workshops that Anupam will start next year. These would be a haven for healing nurturing and nursing the human spirit back to health.

Explains Anupam, "My idea of these spiritual clinics came about when I lectured on the subject of self-actualization some time ago. So many of us specially from the small towns suffer from low self-esteem. When I came to Mumbai to become an actor I was made to feel small about everything, from my broken English to my lack of table manners. That's when I realized, 'F..k it, I don't need people's approval. I need to like myself to be comfortable with my own personality. That's what the Power Within workshops will strive to achieve."

For starters Anupam will enroll some of his colleagues from the film industry who admit to being low on self worth.The chain of workshops will go global after opening in India next year.

Anupam feels his play Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai has taught him to value his failures as well as his successes. An exhibition held on Tuesday highlighted one endeavor by a painter to understand the importance of Anupam's failures.

Says Anupam, "Geeta Dass did not paint me as a hero. She portrayed my failures in the exhibition. That's what I liked." The chief guest at the exhibition was none other than Amitabh Bachchan. "I didn't have to ask him more than once. He immediately responded and agreed. What really sets the failures apart from their successes is the way you cope with time and people. Deriving pleasure in making people wait for your response is not a sign of importance. It just show how small you are in your self-important space."

-- Subhash K Jha / Sampurn Wire