Anil Kapoor (born 24 December 1956) is an Indian actor and producer whose career in Hindi cinema has lasted more than four decades and over 100 films. He became a leading star in the 1980s with Mr. India, Tezaab and Ram Lakhan. He later reached international audiences through Slumdog Millionaire, the American series 24 and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. He has won two National Film Awards and seven Filmfare Awards, and he is famous for his energy and for seeming hardly to age.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Anil Kapoor |
| Born | 24 December 1956, Chembur, Bombay (now Mumbai), India |
| Age | 69 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Father | Surinder Kapoor (film producer) |
| Siblings | Boney Kapoor (producer), Sanjay Kapoor (actor) |
| Spouse | Sunita Kapoor (m. 1984) |
| Children | 3 (Sonam, Rhea, Harsh Varrdhan) |
| Known for | Mr. India, Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Beta, Virasat, Slumdog Millionaire, Animal |
Early Life
Kapoor was born in Chembur, Bombay, to the film producer Surinder Kapoor, who had worked as a secretary to the actress Geeta Bali. The family had modest means when he was young, and for a time they lived in a rented room in the house of Raj Kapoor. His older brother, Boney Kapoor, became a producer, and his younger brother, Sanjay Kapoor, an actor.
Career
After a small part in Hamare Tumhare (1979) and early roles in Telugu and Kannada films, Kapoor had his breakthrough in Woh 7 Din (1983). He won his first Filmfare Award, for Best Supporting Actor, for Yash Chopra’s Mashaal (1984). Meri Jung (1985) confirmed him as a leading man. In Shekhar Kapur’s science-fiction adventure Mr. India (1987) he played a man who can turn invisible, and the film became a classic.
The hits Tezaab (1988) and Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan (1989) made him one of the biggest stars of the era. He played a gangster in the acclaimed crime drama Parinda (1989). He won Filmfare Best Actor awards for Tezaab and Beta (1992), and the Filmfare Critics Award for Virasat (1997). He also starred in the romance 1942: A Love Story (1994) and the musical Taal (1999). His performance as an army officer in Pukar (2000) won him the National Film Award for Best Actor, and he played a man made chief minister for a day in Nayak (2001).
Kapoor found success in the comedies No Entry (2005) and Welcome (2007). He played the host of a TV quiz show in Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire (2008). He then appeared in the eighth season of the American series 24 (2010) and in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). He also produced and starred in an Indian adaptation of 24. His more recent films include Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Animal (2023) and Fighter (2024). He is in the cast of Shah Rukh Khan’s King, due in December 2026.
Personal Life
Kapoor married Sunita Bhavnani, a costume designer, in 1984. They have three children: the actress Sonam Kapoor, the film producer Rhea Kapoor and the actor Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor. He is known for his strict fitness routine, and he is often praised for looking far younger than his age.
Awards and Honours
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Anil Kapoor born?
Anil Kapoor was born on 24 December 1956 in Chembur, Bombay (now Mumbai), India and is 69 years old.
What is Anil Kapoor known for?
Known for: Mr. India, Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Beta, Virasat, Slumdog Millionaire, Animal.
Featured image: Anil Kapoor at the Eleanor Roosevelt dedication ceremony, 2012. Photo by Wikimedia Commons contributor, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
