Anil Kapoor (born 24 December 1956) is an Indian actor and producer who works primarily in Hindi films, besides television and international films. In a career spanning over 40 years as an actor and since 2005 as a producer, Kapoor has appeared in more than 100 films. Recognised for multiple iconic, popular and cult films, he has received several accolades including two National Film Awards and seven Filmfare Awards.
Born to film producer Surinder Kapoor, he made his Bollywood debut with a small role in the romance Hamare Tumhare (1979) before starring in the Telugu film Vamsa Vruksham (1980) and Kannada film Pallavi Anupallavi (1983). His career saw a turning point with the action drama Mashaal (1984), before he established himself as a leading man with his roles in Meri Jung (1985), Karma (1986), Mr. India (1987), Tezaab (1988), Ram Lakhan (1989) and Eeshwar (1989). Kapoor's other critically and commercially successful films include Lamhe (1991), Benaam Badsha (1991), Beta (1992), 1942: A Love Story (1994), (1994), Laadla (1994), Trimurti (1995), Loafer (1996), Virasat (1997), Judaai (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Gharwali Baharwali (1998), Taal (1999), Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999), Biwi No. 1 (1999), Pukar (2000), Lajja (2001), Nayak (2001), No Entry (2005), Welcome (2007), Black & White (2008), Race (2008), Race 2 (2013), Shootout at Wadala (2013), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Welcome Back (2015), Race 3 (2018), Total Dhamaal (2019), Malang (2020), AK vs AK (2020), Thar (2022), and Jugjugg Jeeyo (2022).
Kapoor's first role in an international film was in Danny Boyle's Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, for which he shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. His performance in the eighth season of the action series 24 generated rave reviews from the American press. Globally, Kapoor is one of the most recognised Indian film actors.
Early life
Kapoor was born into a Punjabi Hindu family on 24 December 1956 in Chembur to Nirmal Kapoor and film producer Surinder Kapoor. He is the second of four children. His elder brother Boney Kapoor is a film producer and younger brother Sanjay Kapoor is an actor. The late actress Sridevi and the producer Mona Shourie Kapoor, both Boney's wives, were his sisters-in-law, and Sandeep Marwah, founder of the Noida Film City and owner of Marwah Studios, is his brother-in-law. The film actors Arjun Kapoor, Mohit Marwah and Ranveer Singh are his nephews, while actress Janhvi Kapoor is his niece. The Kapoor family of Prithviraj Kapoor are also his relatives as Prithviraj Kapoor was his father's cousin.
Kapoor was educated at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School, Chembur, and at the St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Career
Acting
Kapoor made his debut in films in 1970, playing a young Shashi Kapoor in Tu Payal Mein Geet. The film, however, did not release theatrically.
1980s
Anil Kapoor made his Hindi films debut with Umesh Mehra's Hamare Tumhare (1979) in a small role. He then starred as a lead actor in the 1980 Telugu film, Vamsa Vruksham directed by veteran Bapu. In the same year, he also appeared in two more Hindi films – Ek Baar Kaho and Hum Paanch. In 1981, he appeared in M. S. Sathyu 's Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya. After playing a small role in Shakti (1982), he made his Kannada film debut with Mani Ratnam's Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983). He played his first Hindi film leading role in Woh Saat Din (1983) which was directed by Bapu and featured Padmini Kolhapure and Naseeruddin Shah. He gained recognition in Bollywood with Yash Chopra's action drama Mashaal (1984) as a tapori, for which he won his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. His tapori persona and stubble look was considered unconventional at the time, but would become fashionable in India many years later. Kapoor's 1985 releases included Yudh and Saaheb. Yudh featured him uttering his iconic line "Ek Dum Jhakaas". But it was Meri Jung (1985), wherein he played the role of an angry young lawyer fighting for justice that earned him his first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Anil Kapoor played a comic tapori again in Karma (1986), the biggest hit of the year. Also in 1986, Kapoor played the role of a carefree playboy in the hit Janbaaz, co-starring Feroz Khan. Kapoor's other release of 1986 Insaaf Ki Awaaz with Rekha was a box office hit. In the same year, Basu Chatterjee directed Chameli Ki Shaadi where he was seen doing a comedic role.