Introduction

Even since Anil Kapoor gained recognition with his tapori role and stubble in the film Mashaal in 1984, and iconic dialogue “ek dum jhakaas” from the movie Yudh, he has really come far in these three decades. He has acted in International films like “Mission Impossible 3 – The Ghost Protocol” and the British drama “Slumdog Millionaire”. He now stands tall as a director, singer and even a TV serial (Indian version of 24) producer.

Early Life

Born in Chembur, Mumbai, Anil Kapoor studied at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour School, and was an avid fan of Bollywood films at an early age. He managed to see most of the films telecasted during the Ganesh Maha Utsav every year. He was also a fan of Raj Kapoor, and mimicked the legendary showman in his early days.

He went on to study at St Xavier’s College; often commuting by bus and train from Chembur to VT and then walking the remaining distance to the college. He met Mazhar Khan here. His distraction with the film world led to his low attendance in college and eventually got him kicked out in the second year. All his attempts to join the Pune Film Institute were also in vain as he failed the written test. Finally, he joined Roshan Taneja’s Acting School.

Entry into Bollywood

Anil Kapoor made his debut in Bollywood by playing a small role in the 1979 movie Humare Tumhare. The following year he was the lead actor in the Telugu film Vamsa Vruksham, and then went on to act in a blockbuster Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi in 1984. His claim to fame came in the same year when he received first Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for the film Mashaal. Four years later he earned his Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in the film Tezaab (1988). In between, he started starring in many critically acclaimed films and successful films like Woh Saat Din (1983), Meri Jung (1985), Janbaaz (1986) , Karma (1986), Mr. India (1987). His acting in the 1997 film Virasat earned him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.

By 1999, his acting in the film Taal won him his second Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. His other film in 1999 included Biwi No.1.The much acclaimed film Pukar in 2000 got him National Film Award for Best Actor. Next up came his films like No Entry (2005), Welcome (2007), Race (2008) and Race 2 (2013). Some of Anil Kapoor’s upcoming films include Welcome Back, No Entry Mein Entry, and Dil Dhadakne Do- the last one due for 2015 release. So far, he has acted in over a hundred films.

Internationally, Anil Kapoor is well- recognized for his role in Danny Boyle’s Academy Award winning Slumdog Millionaire (2008), in which he shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. On the small screen, his performance in the eighth season of the action series 24 generated rave reviews from the American press. After buying the rights for 24 for Hindi remakes, he played the lead role of Jai Singh Rathod in 24 (Indian).

Awards

Filmfare Awards

• Best Supporting Actor Award- Mashaal (1985)

• Best Actor Award- Tezaab (1989)

• Best Actor Award- Beta (1993)

• Critics Award for Best Actor- Virasat (1998)

• Screen Award for Best Actor- Virasat (1998)

• Best Supporting Actor Award- Taal (2000)

IIFA Awards

• Best Comedian Award- Biwi No.1 (2000)

• Best Supporting Actor Award- Taal (2000)

• Wall of Fame For his contribution to Bollywood (2006)

• Outstanding Achievement by an Indian Internationally (For his contribution) (2010)

Zee Cine Awards

• Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Taal (2000)

• Best Film (Critics)- Gandhi, My Father (2008)

Other Awards

• Performer with All Round Comic Excellence by Vodafone Comedy Honors (2008)

• Best Actor in a Comic Role from Apsara Awards (2009)

• Lifetime Achievement Award from AXN Action Awards (2010)

• Lifetime Achievement from GQ Award (2012)

Producer

Anil Kapoor entered the world of producing in the year 2002 with the comedy film Badhaai Ho Badhaai. He also acted in this film. In 2005, he produced My Wife’s Murder and followed it up with Gandhi, My Father in 2007. The film Gandhi, My Father was awarded with the National Film Award –Special Jury Award/Special Mention. Next, he produced movie Shortkut: The Con is On, which starred Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi. By 2010, he produced the film Aisha that starred his daughter Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol.

Singer

Anil Kapoor is a singer too! One of his first playback songs was the title track for the 1986 film Chameli Ki Shaadi, which was actually a love song, picturing the love between himself (as Charandas) and Chameli (portrayed by Amrita Singh). He also has one full album entitled Welcome in which he co sang with Salma Agha, with the album music scored by Bappi Lahiri in 1986. Earlier, he had sung Tere Bina Main Nahin Mere Bina Tu Nahin for the 1983 movie Woh Saat Din. In the year 2000, he sang I Love You for Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai and in 2008 he provided a rhyme like dialogue on the theme of Bhaiyaji Ka Tashan for the film Tashan in order to introduce his characters.