Anil Kapoor recalls his visit to Shirdi Sai Baba temple during struggling days in Bollywood and how Telugu cinema won him fans

New Delhi: Noted Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor adds a personal touch as a host on Star India Ke Top 1%, making the game more exciting. In this weekend’s episode, he revisits his early struggles, recalling how his Telugu film  Vamsa Vruksham won him fans while Hindi film offers remained elusive. He even shared how he once paid a visit to the Shirdi Sai Baba temple and what followed was an unexpected moment of joy when Telugu fans recognised him and approached him for autographs for the very first time.

Anil Kapoor on Shirdi Sai Baba blessings

Recalling this memorable moment from his early career, Anil Kapoor shared, “Shirdi Sai Baba has blessed me immensely. Back then, I was struggling to find work. I wasn’t getting any Hindi films, and nobody was taking me seriously. Then I received an offer for a Telugu film, Vamsa Vruksham, which I went on to do. Even after that, I was sitting at home without work, so I decided to visit Shirdi for Sai Baba ji’s darshan. I prayed, ‘Keep everyone happy, keep me and my family happy, and if possible, let me get a little work so that my career can move forward.’”

 He continued, “You won’t believe it, but as I was leaving Shirdi, buses arrived from Andhra Pradesh, where my Telugu film had released. Children and girls got off those buses and started asking for my autograph. I said, ‘Yeh kya ho gaya?’ My film had released there, and here I was in Shirdi, with people recognising me and asking for my autograph. It was the first time in my life that this had happened. It is Sai Baba ji’s blessing.”

India Ke Top 1% is telecast every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM on Star Plus and JioHotstar.