Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi theatre, television and films. A recipient of a Filmfare Award and three National Film Awards, his most acclaimed film roles include that of Inspector P.K. in Raakh (1989), Dr. Dipankar Roy in Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991) and Abba ji in Maqbool (2004), the latter based on Shakespeare's King Duncan in Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Macbeth. He played the role of Grandpa in the series Thode Door Thode Paas.
In the 1980s, he became a household name through the TV series Karamchand, a comedy television series in the detective genre. And in the millennium, Office Office, a comic satire on prevalent corruption in India.
In 1988, he married his second wife, actress Supriya Pathak, daughter of actress Dina Pathak, with whom he has a daughter and a son. His sister-in-law is actress Ratna Pathak Shah, who is married to actor Naseeruddin Shah. His son (from his first marriage to actress Neelima Azeem) is actor Shahid Kapoor.
Early and personal life
Pankaj Kapur was born on 29 May 1954 to a Hindu family in Ludhiana, Punjab. His family roots lie in pre-partition Hafizabad (now Punjab, Pakistan); his father was a writer and magazine editor established in Lahore and well-known in the local literary circles. He completed his education in Punjab and developed a keen interest in theatre and acting while growing up. He then enrolled in the National School of Drama to pursue his interest.
He married actress and dancer Neelima Azeem in 1979. They were settled in New Delhi where they had their only child Shahid Kapoor in 1981. The couple divorced in 1984.
Pankaj Kapur went on to marry actress Supriya Pathak in 1988. They have one daughter Sanah Kapur and a son Ruhaan Kapur. On 2 March 2022 Sanah married Mayank Pahwa whereas in September 2023 Ruhaan married Manukriti Pahwa both siblings being the children of actors Manoj Pahwa and Seema Bhargava Pahwa.
Career
After graduating from the National School of Drama, he did theatre for the next four years until he was offered a role in Gandhi by Richard Attenborough. Over the years, as a director, he has done over 74 plays and serials, including Mohandas B.A.L.L.B., Wah Bhai Wah, Sahabji Biwiji Ghulamji and Drishtanth, Kanak Di Balli, Albert's Bridge and Panchvan Savaar.
He made his film debut with Shyam Benegal's film Arohan (1982). Following that he played Mahatma Gandhi's second secretary, Pyarelal Nayyar, in the Richard Attenborough film Gandhi in 1982. Later he dubbed for Ben Kingsley in the Hindi version of the film.
Thereafter he appeared in a string of art films that came under the parallel cinema category, with leading art films directors, starting with Shyam Benegal's Mandi (1983), Kundan Shah's comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro again in 1983. This was followed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza satirical Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1984), Mrinal Sen's Khandhar (1984), and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's suspense thriller Khamosh in 1985. He appeared in a number of art films, many of which went on to win National Film Awards.
In 1986, he switched to television, with the role of Karamchand jasoos(detective) in the detective-comedy, Karamchand, also starring Sushmita Mukherjee. Over the years he has been seen in numerous TV serials, including, Kab Tak Pukaroon (Doordarshan) Zabaan Sambhaal Ke (a remake of the English TV series, Mind Your Language), Lifeline with Vijaya Mehta, Neem ka Ped and finally comic interludes in Philips Top 10.
Meanwhile, his tryst with art cinema continued, as he starred in films like Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986), Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986), and Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987). In 1987, his comic side was visible again in the commercial action film Jalwa, also starring Naseeruddin Shah.
His first National Film Award came with the 1989 film, Raakh, which also starred Aamir Khan.
He starred in the classic Punjabi film Marhi Da Diva (1989). He featured in the 1992 Mani Ratnam film Roja directed. (Roja was made in Tamil and later dubbed in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Malayalam.)
His strongest performance in the early part of his career came from his lead role of struggling scientist in the film Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991), for which he was awarded the 1991 National Film Award – Special Jury Award.
In 2000 he returned to television with the serial Office Office a satirical take on the prevalent corruption in India.
In 2003 he appeared in Maqbool, Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. His antagonistic performance as the short-statured, potbellied, shuffle-footed Abbaji in Maqbool got him the 2004 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Meanwhile, he released films like The Blue Umbrella (2005), Dus (2005) and Halla Bol (2008). In 2006, he started to be seen again on TV. In the TV series, Naya Office Office, a sequel to his previous series Office Office.
On 11 January 2013, the Vishal Bharadwaj-directed film Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, starring Kapur was released.
In November 2019, Kapur made his literature debut with his novella 'Dopehri''', which he had written in 1992.
Filmography Year Title Role Other notes1981 Hari Hondal Bargadar : Share Cropper Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya 1982 Gandhi Pyarelal Nayyar Aadharshila 1983 Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro Tarneja Arohan Mandi Shanti Devi's Assistant 1984 Khandhar Dipu Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! 1985 Khamosh Kukku Aitbaar Advocate Jha Uncredited Aghaat Chotelal 1986 Chameli Ki Shaadi Kallumal "Koylawala" Musafir Shankeran Pillai Ek Ruka Hua Faisla Juror #3 1987 Jalwa Albert Pinto Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin Rohit Susman 1988 Main Zinda Hoon Ek Aadmi Tamas Thekedaar Television Film1989 Agla Mausam Raakh Inspector P.K National Film Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor Marhi Da Deeva Raunaki Punjabi filmKamla Ki Maut Sudhakar Patel 1990 Ek Doctor Ki Maut Dr. Dipankar Roy National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film)Shadyantra Sub-Inspector Tabrez Mohammad 'Tabbu' Khan 1992 Roja Liaqat Tamil film1993 Aakanksha Ahmed The Burning Season Ashok Sarkar 1994 Kokh 1995 Ram Jaane Pannu Technicolor Daughters of this Century 1997 Rui Ka Bojh 2002 Jackpot Do Karode Rana 2003 Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon Satyaprakash Maqbool Jahangir Khan (Abbaji) National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics)2005 Dus Jamwal Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative RoleThe Blue Umbrella Nand Kishore Sehar Prof. Bhole Shankar Tiwari 2007 Dharm Pundit Chaturvedi 2008 Halla Bol Sidhu 2009 Love Khichdi Subramani in Dream Fantasy 2010 Good Sharma Hanuman 2011 Chala Musaddi Office Office Musaddi Lal Tripathi 2013 Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Harry Mandola Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor 2014 Finding Fanny Don Pedro English film 2015 Shaandaar Bipin Arora 2018 Toba Tek Singh Toba Tek Singh 2019 Happi Happi Delayed filmReleased on Zee5 2022 Jersey Coach 2023 Lost NanuZee5 filmBheed Balram Trivedi 2024Binny And FamilySN Singh2025Raavi De KandeChaman LalPunjabi film 2026 Jab Khuli Kitaab Gopal Chandra Nautiyal
Director Mausam (2011) Starring Shahid Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Jaspal Bhatti Mohandas B.A.L.L.B. (1998)
Writer Sau Jhooth Ek Sach (2005)
Television Karamchand (Season 1) (1985–1988) Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne (1989-1990) Zabaan Sambhalke (Season 1) (1993-1994) as Mohan Bharti Neem Ka Ped (1991) as Budhai Ram Phatichar (1991) Lifeline with Vijaya Mehta Zabaan Sambhalke (Season 2) (1997-1998) as Mohan Bharti Mohandas B.A.L.L.B. (1997-1998) Office Office (2000) as Musaddi Lal Bharat Ek Khoj Tehreer Munshi Premchand Ki – Godaan & Kafan on Doordarshan (2004) Kab Tak Pukaroon Naya Office Office (2006–2009) Karamchand (Season 2) (2007) JL50 (2020) IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024) Thode Dur Thode Paas'' (2025)
Dubbing roles
Live action films Film title Actor(s) Character(s) Dub language Original language Original Year release Dub Year release Notes Gandhi Ben Kingsley Mahatma Gandhi Hindi English 1982 1982 Pankaj also played Mahatma Gandhiji's Assistant Pyarelal Nayyar in movie.
Awards and nominations + Film awards Year Award Category Nominated work Result2005IIFA AwardsBest Supporting ActorMaqbool2006Best Performance in a Negative RoleDus1990Filmfare AwardsBest Supporting ActorRaakh2005Best Actor (Critics)Maqbool2006Best Performance in a Negative RoleDus2014Best Supporting ActorMatru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola1989National Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorRaakh1991Special Jury AwardEk Doctor Ki Maut2004Best Supporting ActorMaqbool2004Producers Guild Film AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting Role2015Best Actor in a Comic RoleFinding Fanny2006Screen AwardsBest Supporting ActorMaqbool2008Best Actor in a Negative RoleThe Blue Umbrella2009Best Supporting ActorHalla Bol2005Zee Cine AwardsBest Actor (Critics)MaqboolBest Actor in a Supporting Role – Male
+ Television awards Year Award Category Nominated work Result2021Asian Television AwardsBest Actor in a Leading RoleJL502003Indian Television Academy AwardsBest Actor - ComedyOffice Office200420072002Indian Telly AwardsBest Actor in a Comic Role2003200420062007
References
External links
Interview with Pankaj Kapoor 16 October 2002