Anupam Kher Calls Disability “A Superpower” at Times Network’s Samarth India Conclave & Expo 2025

The Samarth India Conclave & Expo 2025 was successfully held in the national capital, organized by Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) in partnership with Times Network, India’s premium broadcast network from the Times Group. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers to spotlight the need for deeper inclusion and accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Bringing the entertainment world’s lens to the conversation, veteran actor Anupam Kher delivered one of the event’s most compelling sessions, sharing deeply personal anecdotes and urging the nation to rethink its perception of disability.

Speaking at the Times Network Samarth India Conclave & Expo 2025, held in partnership with Hyundai Motor India Limited, Anupam Kher said, “My life has taught me that what society labels as a ‘disability’ can in fact become someone’s strongest identity. When I came to Mumbai in 1981, many said I couldn’t be an actor because I was bald. Yet that very trait shaped my journey. Over the years, extraordinary individuals like a visually impaired fellow passenger who helped me ‘see’ life differently, and my autistic niece who inspired my film Tanvi the Great showed me that people with disabilities possess remarkable abilities the world often overlooks. The opposite of normal is not abnormal; it is extraordinary. As a nation, we need sensitivity, inclusion, and respect not sympathy. Events like the Samarth India Conclave push us to rethink ability, widen our empathy, and recognise the superpowers that lie within every person.”

The Conclave highlighted how assistive technologies, accessible mobility solutions, inclusive design practices, and real-life stories can empower PwDs with greater dignity and independence. Industry experts, policymakers, creators, and innovators showcased breakthrough solutions and shared insights on disability inclusion across workplaces, public infrastructure, entertainment, and digital ecosystems.

The Samarth India Conclave & Expo 2025 stands as a defining step in India’s journey toward a more empathetic and accessible society. By bringing together leaders from technology, mobility, cinema, public policy, and grassroots communities, the event aims to ensure that every individual regardless of ability can participate fully, confidently, and proudly in everyday life.