ANIL-KAPOOR

STYLE BHAI

Anil Kapoor rose from the ranks.  His father Surinder Kapoor was the secretary of Shammi Kapoor.  He was seriously bitten by the film bug.  His college studies suffered due to his obsession with films.  He tried to get into FTII at Pune, but failed their written exam.  He joined the Roshan Taneja school for Acting. Armed with this he tried his hand in films.

He was not particularly handsome.  At least not in the way of Rishi Kapoor, his distant cousin. Despite lacking choclatey looks, he exuded a charisma. This coupled with his undeniable talent, he became one of the top stars of Bollywood. He has also avoided another bane of most Kapoors, the inevitable weight problem.  He remains as slim and boyish as he was 30 years ago.

His first movie was Hamare Tumhare which was the Indian version of Yours, Mine and Ours. He was one of the sons of Rakhi in the film.  It was a good start to his illustrious career. This was in the year 1979.  In Shakti, 1982, he had a small role alongside Amitabh and Dilip Kumar.

THOSE DAYS

His first film as a full fledged hero was Woh Saat Din. He was pitted against the vetern Naseeruddin Shah and his co-star was Padmini Kolhapuri.  The movie was about a street singer, Prem Pratap Patialawale (Anil) who falls in love with Maya (Padmini). Her family, however, marries her off to Dr Anand (Naseer).  Naseer tries to reunite the lovers. The movie was a hit. For a young hero, Anil performed very well.

In his next film, Anil was against tested against Dilip Kumar, in Mashaal, and not found lacking.  The movie was both appreciated and a hit. Anil played Raja, a young man fallen to bad ways, but with a golden core which helps him overcome his circumstances.  Anil has often played a disadvantaged young man with great aplomb in many of his early films.  It became his image.

This was repeated in films like Saheb with Amrita Singh. Yudh with Tina Munim, Meri Jung with Meenakshi Sheshadri.  He turned in a fine and stylish performance in these movies and the viewers responded by giving him a resounding thumbs up at the box office.  These movies should be on the must-see list of all Anil Kapoor fans.  Never before and never after has an actor turned in such a fine, controlled, stylised performance.

ACTION COMEDY ROMANCE

His films hitherto were mainly action dramas.  He tried his hand at comedy very successfully in Chameli Ki Shaadi, where he co-starred with Amrita Singh. This Basu Chatterjee movie remains as watchable now as it was then.

In the Feroze Khan starrer Jaanbaaz, he got to do more action and romance the resurgent Dimple Kapadia.

Subhash Ghai's Karma was a big canvas, stars like Naseer, Dilip Kumar, Nutan, Jackie Shroff and Anil.  Anil put in a great performance, undaunted by the other greats, or maybe inspired by them.

Mr. India saw him starring with Sridevi in a romantic comedy.  The movie was one of the biggest hits ever.

ACID RAIN

N Chandra's Tezaab gave Munna an iconic status.  It was the first big movie for his co-star Madhuri too.  While she won with Ek Do Teen, Munna won with his mean power.  He played a man pushed into a corner by the mafia who has no way out but to fight back. Munna will undoubtably remain Anil Kapoor's finest performance.

Anil was ruling the roost along with stars like Jackie Shroff, Sridevi and Madhuri.  

Ram Lakhan, Parinda, Kishen Kanhiyya, Awargi were some of the more popular movies that Anil Kapoor was in.  In Benam Badshah he peaked as the bad man with golden core.  He played a rapist in Benam Badshah, a mean person who torments people, one who has not an iota of sympathy for others.  His victim, Juhi Chawla turns the tables on him by stalking him, marrying him to give legitimacy to her child and brings out the good man in him.

ROMANCE

He lightened his act by doing films like Yash Chopra's Lamhe.  Here he plays a very young man who is charmed by an older girl Sridevi.  She marries another, dies, and leaves a lookalike daughter who grows up to love Anil.  It was an out and out romance.  It did not do too well in India but was a big hit overseas.

Beta was up next with Madhuri.  He plays a devoted son being duped by his evil stepmother.  This movie was again a superhit.
His own production, lavishly mounted, Roop Ki Raani Choroon Ka Raja flopped badly.

Then came Vidhu Vinod Chopra's next, 1942 a Love Story, set in the times of the last days of the British Raj. It was a well made film with lovely song sequences between the beautiful Manisha and Anil. Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga.

DRAMA

In Priyadarshan's Viraasat, Anil Kapoor played Shakti, a young educated man who gives up the trappings of his foreign education to settle down in his small village and take over the mantle of the 'Godfatherly' man of the village.  He was ably aided by his talented co-star Tabu.  Tabu and Anil put in a fine performance. The movie too, was a megahit.

Anil Kapoor had another string of successful romantic comedies up ahead. Deewana Mastaana, Jhooth Bole Kavvua Kate, Biwi No 1.  In the last, though he was not the main hero, he had an important role alongside Salman Khan, and the movie was a big hit.

He turned an activist with Nayak.  Playing a young journalist who takes on the seat of the Chief Minister for a day and shows the politicians how to govern.

In Hamara Dil Aapke Pass Hai, he co-starred with Aishwarya and put in a good performance in this emotional film.

In Om Jai Jagdish, he was the lead hero.  But alas, this Anupam Kher directed movie flopped.

ENTER THE FORTIES

Anil was into his forties now and doing serious roles like Calcutta Mail, Musafir, Bewafaa and My Wife's Murder

However, for a good actor and a good looker there is no dearth of good roles.  He was part of Anees Bazmee's No Entry where he played a husband who is desperate to play the field.  This rib tickling bollywood comedy was one of the biggest hits of 2005.

Chocolate was based on The Usual Suspects.  Along with Irfaan Khan, he was one of the redeeming features of the movie with his polished performance.

He was the part of six stories that formed Salaam E Ishq.  He was again the 'older' hero who strays.  Starring with Juhi, he was his usual dignified self.  The movie did not do too well but raised a lot of curiosity among viewers.

GOSSSSSIP

He was linked to Madhuri and Sridevi in his early career.  Sri married his brother Boney, so its clear her focus was elsewhere.  Madhuri moved on and married SR Nene.

Anil married Sunita who runs a successful dance and fitness academy in Mumbai. No wonder Anil remains as trim at the waist as he was during his Meri Jung days, and is still able to carry off skinny jeans.

Sunita and Anil have three children.  His eldest, Sonam is all set to debut with Ranbir in Saawariya.

FILMOGRAPY

• Chandralekha (2007) (in production)
• Yahan Ke Hum Sikander (2007) (in production)
• Tashan (2008) (filming)
• Yuvraaj (2008) (filming)
• Welcome (2007/I) (completed)
• Salaam-E-Ishq (2007) .... Vinay Malhotra
• Naksha (2006) .... Narrator
• Darna Zaroori Hai (2006) .... Karan Chopra
• Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006) .... Karan Oberoi
• Chocolate (2005) .... Advocate Krishan Pundit
• No Entry (2005) .... Kishan
• My Wife's Murder (2005) .... Ravi Patwardhan
• Bewafaa (2005) .... Aditya Sahai
• Musafir (2004) .... Lucky
• Calcutta Mail (2003) .... Avinash
• Armaan (2003) .... Dr. Akash Sinha
• Rishtey (2002) .... Suraj Singh
• Om Jai Jagadish (2002) .... Om Batra
• Badhaai Ho Badhaai (2002) .... Raja
• Lajja (2001) .... Raju
• Nayak: The Real Hero (2001) .... Shivaji Rao Gaekwad
• Karobaar: The Business of Love (2000) .... Rajiv Sinha
• Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000) .... Avinash
• Pukar (2000) .... Major Jaidev Rajvansh
• Bulandi (2000) .... Dharamraj "Dada" Thakur/Arjun Thakur
• Taal (1999) .... Vikrant Kapoor
• Mann (1999) .... Raj
• Biwi No. 1 (1999) .... Lakhan
• Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999) .... Vijay
• Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate (1998) .... Shanker Sharma/Ramanuj
• Gharwali Baharwali (1998) .... Arun
• Kabhi Na Kabhi (1998) .... Rajeshwar 'Raja'
• Deewana Mastana (1997) .... Raj Kumar (Raja)/Inspector. Bansi Rao
• Judaai (1997) .... Raj Verma
• Virasat (1997) .... Shakti Thakur
• Mr. Bechara (1996) .... Anand Verma
• Loafer (1996) .... Ravi Kumar
• Rajkumar (1996) .... Rajkumar
• Trimurti (1995) .... Anand Singh/Sikander
• Mr. Azaad (1994) .... Azaad
• Laadla (1994) .... Raj Verma (Raju)
• Andaz (1994) .... Ajay Kumar Saxena
• 1942: A Love Story (1993) .... Narendra Singh
• Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993) .... Ramesh Verma/Romeo
• Gurudev (1993) .... Guru (Gaurav)
• Apradhi (1992) .... Shiva
• Humlaa (1992) .... Shiva
• Zindagi Ek Juaa (1992) .... Hari Krishan aka Harry
• Beta (1992) .... Raju
• Heer Ranjha (1992) .... Deedho/Ranjha
• Lamhe (1991) .... Virendra Pratap Singh
• Pratikar (1991) .... Krishna Srivastav
• Benaam Badsha (1991) .... Deepak
• Jigarwala (1991) .... Amar Singh
• Jamai Raja (1991) .... Raja
• Khel (1991) .... Chief Inspector Dutta Dharmadhikari
• Amba (1990) .... Suraj 'Sarju' B. Singh
• Jeevan Ek Sanghursh (1990) .... Karan Kumar
• Awaargi (1990) .... Azaad
• Ghar Ho To Aisa (1990) .... Amar R. Kumar
• Kishen Kanhaiya (1990) .... Kishen/Kanhaiya
• Aag Se Khelenge (1989) .... Johnny
• Abhimanyu (1989) .... Manu/Abhimanyu America Puri/Abdul Jabbar
• Rakhwala (1989)
• Eeshwar (1989) .... Ishwarchand Vishnunath Brahmanand
• Joshilaay (1989) .... Karan
• Kala Bazaar (1989) .... Vijay Girdharilal
• Parinda (1989) .... Karan
• Ram Lakhan (1989) .... Inspector Lakhan Pratap Singh
• Vijay (1988) .... Arjun I. Gujral/Arjun S. Bhalla
• Ram-Avtar (1988) .... Avtar
• Kasam (1988) .... Inspector Kisna
• Inteqam (1988)
• Sone Pe Suhaaga (1988) .... Ravi/Joginder
• Tezaab (1988) .... Mahesh Deshmukh (Munna)
• Thikana (1987) .... Ravi Goel
• Hifazat (1987) .... Ram Kumar/Raj Kumar
• Mr India (1987) .... Arun Verma
• Itihaas (1987) .... Vijay
• Karma (1986) .... Johnny/Gyaneshwar
• Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge (1986) .... Anand
• Janbaaz (1986) .... Amar Singh
• Aap Ke Saath (1986) .... Vimal
• Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986) .... Charan Das
• Pyaar Ka Sindoor (1986)
• Insaaf Ki Awaaz (1986) .... Ravi Kumar
• Kahan Kahan Se Guzar (1986)
• Meri Jung (1985) .... Arun Verma
• Mohabbat (1985) .... Shekhar
• Yudh (1985) .... Avinash Rathod
• Saaheb (1985) .... Sunil Sharma (Saaheb)
• Love Marriage (1984) .... Rajesh Mehra/Kaushal Tiwari
• Andar Baahar (1984) .... Raja
• Laila (1984) .... Kumar Deshraj Singh
• Mashaal (1984) .... Raja
• Woh 7 Din (1983) .... Prem Pratap
• Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983)
• Rachna (1983)
• Shakti (1982) .... Ravi Kumar (Guest Appearance)
• Hum Paanch (1980)
• Vamsa Vriksham (1980)
• Ek Baar Kaho (1980)
• Hamare Tumhare (1979) .... Vipin