Biography
Born in 1959 to Surinder and Nirmal (also known as Suchitra Kapoor), Punjabi-speaking Anil grew up in a chawl in Tilak Nagar. He has an elder brother, Boney, a sister, Reena, and a younger brother, Sanjay. His father worked as Shammi Kapoor's secretary.
A solitary child with few friends, Anil attended O.L.P.S. (Our Lady of Perpetual Succor) School nearby. He was a passionate admirer of Bollywood films shown during the annual Ganesh Maha Utsav. A devoted fan of Raj Kapoor, Anil’s acting style reflected this influence, earning him comparisons to the legendary showman. He secured a role as a child artist alongside Shashi Kapoor in Tu Payal Main Geet, though the film was never released.
After finishing school, he enrolled at St. Xavier’s College, commuting from Chembur to Bombay V.T. by bus and train, then walking the remainder of the way. There, he met Mazhar Khan. However, due to his lack of attendance, he was expelled in his second year. Attempts to join the Pune Film Institute failed when he did not pass the written exam. He then chose to study at Roshan Taneja’s Acting School.
Anil’s debut on the big screen came with a character role in Hamhare Tumhare. His first lead role was in Woh 7 Din, after which his career took off. He has acted in nearly 100 films and currently has five in production. He has produced two movies, Gandhi My Father and Badhaai Ho Badhaai, and served as Casting Director and Outdoor In-charge for the series Hum Paanch.
His first international role was in Danny Boyle’s 2008 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 role in the eighth season of the action series 24 earned high praise from the American press. Worldwide, Anil Kapoor is among the most recognized Indian actors.
In 1984, Anil married Sindhi-speaking model Sunita Bhambhani, known for her elegance and wealth. The couple has three children: two daughters and a son, Harshwardhan Kapoor. Their elder daughter, Sonam Kapoor, is an actress. Rhea Kapoor studied in New York and now works as a producer in Mumbai.
20 wins and 24 nominations
