Anil Kapoor is one of the most established and versatile actors of Bollywood today. One of the very few heroes who have ever kept a moustache and been popular with it, Anil Kapoor has created a niche for himself in the industry such that at the age of 46 is well above the new breed of heroes and has always been respected despite the ruling Khans. Anil himself belongs to a family that has been well-versed in the film industry. He was born on the 24th of December, 1959 in Mumbai to film producer Surinder Kapoor, who is a cousin of the legendary Raj Kapoor, and Nirmala Kapoor. Anil was brought up in Mumbai with elder brother Bonney Kapoor who is now an established film producer and younger brother Sanjay Kapoor who is now an actor in Bollywood. He did his schooling from the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School and graduation from St. Xavier’s College. He then went to the Pune Film and T.V Institute of India to learn the nuances of acting and pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
Anil’s career of almost a 100 films began in 1979 with small supporting roles in movies, such as Hamare Tumhare and Shakti. However, the movie that got him into the limelight as a hero was Woh Saat Din in 1983. He essayed the role of a simpleton with panache in this movie and most people actually confuse Woh Saat Din to be his first movie. Woh Saat Din was the first and a very lucky feather in his cap and won him films with top film makers such as Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai. Anil won his first Filmfare award in 1984 with his very next film Mashal. The award was for a role as a supporting actor. He seemed to rule the 1980s with memorable movies such as Meri Jung, Karma, and Chameli Ki Shaadi. One his biggest hits in 1987 and remarkable movies in the history of Indian cinema was Mr. India. The movie took him to the heights of stardom. The glorious 1980s ended with the commendable Tezaab, Parinda, Eeshwar, and Ram Lakhan. Anil won his first Filmfare award as the best actor for Tezaab in 1988.
The 1980s were not just good for Anil on the career front but also on the personal front. Anil got married to girlfriend Sunita in 1984. For a person who loves and adores his family, Anil was blessed with a daughter, Sonam, in 1985. After Sonam, the couple had another daughter Rhea and a son Harshavardhan. Sonam is soon going to seen on the big screen in a much awaited movie Saanwariya by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
The 1990s were a mixed bag in Anil’s career. From 1990 to 1996 Anil did a lot of movies, many of which were not successful at the box office. Though, a few of his movies released during this period also became hits, such as Beta that won him the Filmfare best actor award in 1992, 1942- A Love Story, and Trimurti. From 1997 to 1999, Anil did some very memorable movies, such as Virasat, Judaai, and Biwi No. 1 which became hits at the box office. The power-packed performance in a unique role in Virasat, won Anil the Filmare Critics Award for the best actor. Anil was never an actor for a season and his success story continued in 2000 with an incomparable performance in Pukaar for which he won a National award in 2001. From 2000 to 2007 Anil has worked in almost 19 movies that have tasted mixed fortune at the office.
Anil finally turns producer with the movie Gandhi, My Father. Let’s now wait and watch whether the actor for all seasons and genres also turns out to be a successful producer – we hope he does!
