Anupam Kher gets nostalgic in his hometown

Veteran actor Anupam Kher went down memory lane on Tuesday when he visited the Himachal Pradesh capital and said he was overwhelmed when he met his old-time friends. But he was sad too for missing his father who died three years back.

"Every year I visit this town as it's my home. I feel myself deeply rooted to this town where every second person knows me and asks about my welfare," Anupam told reporters.

Sitting in an Indian Coffee House here, Anupam, accompanied by another star Neena Gupta, said he was sad too.

"This time it is different as my father is no more with me," an emotional Anupam told reporters in an informal interaction.

His father Pushkar Nath, a Kashmiri Pandit, who settled in Shimla in 1949, died in February 2012.

"I have spent 17 years of my life in this town. I know each and every resident and I am familiar with every shop," he said.

The actor thanked the people of the town for showing him great respect.

On being asked about the resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir, Anupam, who himself belongs to this community, said: "The Kashmiri Pandits, known for their unique cultural identity and wisdom, are today living the life of a refugee in their own nation."

"However, no one has worked to rehabilitate them for more than two decades and to impart justice to them in their own native land."

But he was optimistic.

"I would continue to raise the issue till the Kashmiri Pandits get justice and their privilege as the citizens of this nation."

He refused to comment on a question about his recent remarks about the Jawaharlal Nehru University row.

Anupam and Neena were here to stage a play "Mera Woh Matlab Nahi Tha", directed by Rakesh Bedi in the historic Gaiety Theatre.

--IANS

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