Annu Kapoor (born Anil Kapoor; 20 February 1956) is an Indian actor, singer, director, radio disc jockey, and television presenter who has appeared in over a hundred films, as well as television series. His career has spanned over 45 years as an actor, producer, director and singer. Besides acting, he also does a Radio show, named Suhaana Safar With Annu Kapoor which is broadcast on 92.7 Big FM. He has won numerous awards in his career, including two National Film Awards, one Filmfare Award and two Indian Television Academy Awards.
Early life Annu Kapoor was born Anil Kapoor in Itwara, Bhopal, Bhopal State, on 20 February 1956, to Madanlal, a Punjabi father with roots in Peshawar and Karnal, a Bengali Brahmin mother.Sen, Vishal अन्नू कपूर की संक्षिप्त जीवनी: युवा लड़के से सफल व्यक्ति तक, 2018 His father owned a travelling Parsi theatre company which performed in cities and towns, and his mother was an Urdu teacher and a trained classical singer. His grandfather Kripa Ram Kapoor was a doctor in the British Army and his great grandfather Lala Ganga Ram Kapoor, a revolutionary who was executed during the Indian freedom struggle.
Due to poor financial circumstances, he had to quit school following secondary education. With a salary of ₹ 40, his mother worked as a teacher. On his father's insistence, he joined his theatre company. Following a stint there, he joined National School of Drama in 1976, after his brother Ranjit Kapoor, who was already a student there insisted. After graduating from the National School of Drama and a brief stint with its repertory company, in 1981, he played a 70-year-old man in the play Ek Ruka Hua Faisla in Bombay (now Mumbai). Film director Shyam Benegal who saw Kapoor perform, sent him a letter of appreciation and signed him for his 1983 film, Mandi.
Kapoor's sister Seema Kapoor was briefly married to actor Om Puri. His elder brother, Ranjit, is a director and screenwriter and Seema is a producer and actor. Kapoor's younger brother, Nikhil, is a writer and lyricist.
Personal life
Relationships and family Kapoor first married Anupama Patel, an American by birth, in 1992 and they divorced in 1993. Annu then was married to Arunita Mukherjee from 1995 to 2005. He remarried his first wife, Anupama (Pami), in 2008.
Kapoor has four children (three sons - Kavan, Maahir and Evaan - and a daughter, Aradhita) from two marriages.
Religion Born into a Hindu family, Kapoor considers himself to be an atheist.
Career Acting
He made his screen debut Aadharshila (1982) during his days in Delhi, his debut in the professional film industry in Mumbai was in Mandi (1983) and BETAB Khandar (1984). He got his first breakthrough with Utsav (1984), in which he portrayed the role of Masseur. For which he got his first nomination in the Filmfare Awards in the category of Best Performance in a Comic Role. Subsequently he starred in many critically and commercially acclaimed films like Mr. India (1987), Tezaab (1988), Ram Lakhan (1990), Ghayal (1990), Hum (1991), Darr (1993), Sardar (1993), Om Jai Jagadish (2002), Aitraaz (2004) and 7 Khoon Maaf (2011).
Kapoor began his career as a stage actor in 1979 and was noticed in 1984's Ek Ruka Hua Faisla, directed by Basu Chatterjee and written by elder brother Ranjeet. Annu made his film debut in Mandi, (directed by Shyam Benegal) in 1983. His career has spanned over 30 years, including Bollywood cinema, television serials and game shows. Kapoor is best remembered for hosting the singing show Close-Up Antakshari, produced by Zee TV. His performance as an obsessive-compulsive sperm-bank physician in 2012's Vicky Donor met with critical and popular acclaim. He worked in the horror TV serial Kile ka Rahasya (1989) as a cop who was fond of singing.
Kapoor has also appeared in Yamla Pagla Deewana 2. His second big breakthrough came with Vicky Donor (2012), he portrayed the role of Dr. Baldev Chadha. His performance was lauded by critics and audiences, for which he won a Filmfare Award, a IIFA Award, a National Film Award, a Screen Award all in the category of Best Supporting Actor. After Vicky Donor, he starred in Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013), Shaukeen (2014), Saat Uchakkey (2016), Jolly LLB 2 (2017), Missing (2018), Dream Girl (2019), Khuda Haafiz (2020) and Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (2020).
Television In 2007, Antakshari – The National Challenge was relaunched on STAR One. The previous year, its "final" episode was telecast; the programme's initial run was from 1993 to 2006. His range of roles varies from portrayal as Saint Kabir in DD National TV serial of the same name, as Mahatma Gandhi in Sardar and Veer Savarkar in Kaala Pani, to police inspector in 7 Khoon Maaf, a petty thief in Utsav to comedic villain in Hum.
The Golden Era – With Annu Kapoor on the Mastiii channel is a nostalgia TV show about Indian cinema, adorned with classical era's Hindi film songs and commentary by Annu Kapoor on unheard tales of Bollywood Cinema's Legends.The Golden Era with Annu Kapoor, Montage on Vimeo
Despite films, Annu has been very active in television shows. He is also known for judging and hosting the 90's musical show Antakshari (1993-2005) and Golden Era with Annu Kapoor (2011). He has also appeared in some television series like Param Vir Chakra (1988), Ajnabi (1994), Kabeer (1995), Gubbare (1999) etc.
As a radio presenter Currently, he does a radio programme on 92.7 Big FM called "Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor on 92.7 Big FM". It's a daily show that features nationally on the radio networks covering all Hindi speaking radio stations across the country. He recreates the magic of the Golden era with unforgettable melodies of that era and untold stories of the stars and films of the Hindi Cinema. The show comes with the tagline "Filmy Duniya Ki Kahi Ankahi Kahaniya".
Director Kapoor has directed several plays. He also directed a feature film Abhay (The Fearless), starring Nana Patekar, Moon Sen and Benjamin Gilani) for the Children's Film Society, India. The film won the 1995 National Film Award for Best Children's Film.ABHAY (The Fearless) Children's Film Society India
Producer Kapoor produced a musical talent contest for children (Aao Jhoomein Gaayen for SAB TV) and a Bengali-language musical talent-hunt show, Gaan Gaao Taaka Naao on Rupashi Bangla TV in Kolkata. He also produced a musical in Mathura entitled Ek Sunhari Shyam.
Filmography Directed venture Year Title Notes 1994 Abhay - The Fearless
Films +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released YearFilm Role Notes 1983Mandi Betaab Chelaram1984Mashaal NageshKhandhar AnilUtsav Masseur1985Arjun Babu Ram Damul Sanjeevan 1986Ek Ruka Hua Faisla Juror #9Chameli Ki Shaadi Chhadami Lal1987Susman LakshmayaMr. India Mr. Gaitonde (editor)Diljalaa Fakir Baba 1988Khoon Bahaa Ganga Mein The Perfect Murder Tiny manGunahon Ka Faisla DinuTezaab Abbas Ali / Guldasta1989ChaalBaaz Daya Tribhuvan's servantElaan-E-Jung Dost Forest officerAakhri Gulam Main Azaad Hoon Munna / Azaad Rakhwala Constable Atmaram Ram Lakhan Shiv Charan Mathur1990Ghayal DrunkardAawaz De Kahan Hai Hariya (AKA Harry)Pyasi Nigahen SusheelVeeru Dada Ibrahim GharewaliZakhmi Zameen Madhav1991Hum Havaldar Arjun SinghVishnu-Devaa Petty thiefYodha Umeed SinghJamai Raja Paltu/I.C. MishraRanbhoomi Stationmaster1992Paayal PardesiJeena Marna Tere Sang Muskurahat Jaggan1993Darr Vikram "Vicky" OberoiGardish Manishbhai Harishbhai Waqt Hamara Hai Cafeteria supervisor Dil Ki Baazi Bihari Daulatram's cook Shreemaan Aashique Masterji (song "Is Se Jyada Dukh Na Koi") 1994SardarMohandas Karamchand GandhiDrohkaal Surinder1995Jawab Ladle Anokha Andaaz Charlie1996Vijeta Constable Chamanlal Kala PaniVinayak Damodar Savarkar Malayalam Film1997UdaanAnand Lagpade 1999Kachche Dhaage Arjun PanditDr. Imran2000Tune Mera Dil Le Liyaa K.K.'s assistant2002Hum Kisise Kum Nahin Munnu MobileOm Jai JagadishKK 2004Aitraaz Barrister Ram ChauthraniRaincoat Landlord Kuch To Gadbad Hai Justice Balwant Khanna2008Mehbooba Hari Singh / Lal Singh 2009The Fakir of VeniceSattar20117 Khoon Maaf Inspector Keemat Lal2012Gali Gali Chor Hai Constable Parasuram KhuswaVicky Donor Dr. Baldev Chaddha 2013Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 Sir Yograj Khanna 2014The Shaukeens Kamaldheer "KD" Sharma Badlapur Boys Surajbhan Singh Muavza Bechu Bhai Kisi Ne Titli Ko Dekha Hai Kya Jai Ho Democracy 2015Dharam Sankat Mein Advocate Nawab Mehmood ShahMiss Tanakpur Haazir Ho Sualaal Gandass 2016Saat Uchakkey Bichhi 2017Jolly LLB 2Advocate Pramod Mathur 2018Ba Baa Black SheepBrian Morris/Santa ClausMissing Inspector Ramkhilawan Buddhu Mangal HoGiani Zail Singh 2019Dream Girl Jagjit Singh Khandaani Shafakhana Baby's uncle 2020 Darbaan Narrator Released on Zee5Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari Shantaram Kaka Khuda HaafizUsman Hamid Ali Murad 2021Chehre Adv. Paramjeet Singh Bhullar2023Non Stop DhamaalSatinder Dream Girl 2 Jagjit Singh Rules Ranjann Telugu filmSab Moh Maaya Hai Dry Day Dauji 2024The Signature Hamare Baarah Manzoor Ali Khan Sanjari Shaitaan Nitin Rishi Luv Ki Arrange Marriage Prem, Luv's father 2026Uttar Da Puttar
Television Programme Notes Khari-Khari Rajendra Bhatia Darpan (two stories) Basu Chatterji Pathrai Aankhon Ke Sapne (Tele Film) Pramod Soni Phatichar Dr Quack Kabir Anil Chaudry Satya Ray Presents (one story) Satyajit Ray Param Vir Chakra Chetan Anand Quile Ka Rahasya Seema Kapoor Close Up Antakshari Gajendra Singh Chekhov Ki Duniya (one story) Ranjit Kapoor Idea Jalsa By Durga Jasraj Wheel Smart Shrimati For Doordarshan Junoon Kuch Kar Dikhane Ka Gajendra Singh Ek Se Badkar Ek Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka Ki Funshala Golden Era With Annu Kapoor Mastiii Itihaas Gavah Hai(Voice Over) News24 Paurashpur ALTBalajiCrash CourseAmazon Prime Video
Radio (RJ) Show Radio Station Name Suhaana Safar With Annu Kapoor 92.7 Big FM
Theatre Parsi theatre Laila Majnu Harischandra Shirin-Farhad Bhakta Prahlad Shree Krishna Avtar Dahi Wali Qatl-e-Tamizan
Modern plays Antim Yatra: Directed by Barry John Three Sisters: Written by Anton Chekhov, directed by E. Alkazi The Great God Brown by Eugene O'Neill The Zoo Story by Edward Albee Ek Ruka Hua Faisla
Awards
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef(s) 1986 Filmfare Awards Best Performance in a Comic Role Utsav 1994 V. Shantaram AwardBest DirectorAbhay National Film AwardsBest Children’s Film National Film Award for Best Children's Film 2002Indian Telly AwardsBest AnchorAntakshari 2003 ITA AwardsBest Anchor 2004 2013 Apsara Awards Best Actor in a Comic RoleVicky Donor IIFA Awards Best Supporting ActorBest Performance in a Comic Role Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actor National Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Screen Awards Best Comedian Times of India Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Zee Cine Awards Best Actor in a Comic Role Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role 2014 Stardust Awards Best Supporting Actor The Shaukeens 2017 Zee Cine Awards Best Actor in a Negative RoleJolly LLB 22018 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actor in a Web SeriesHome ITA 2018 Winners List: Supriya Pilgoankar, Annu Kapoor wins big! Streaming Awards Best Actor
Footnotes
References
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