Anil Kapoor
Birthday: December 24
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Address: 31, Shringar, Presidency Society, 7th Rd., J.V.P.D. Scheme, Mumbai
Wife: Sunita
First Movie: Hamare Tumhare
Anil Kapoor was born in 1959. He began his career with minor roles in films like 'Hamare Tumhare' and 'Ek Baar Phir'. He did a few roles in Kannada films. He also starred in M.S. Sathaya's 'Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaye', but the film was a complete failure. Finally, with the film 'Woh Saat Din', he achieved some success. Films like 'Meri Jung' portrayed his acting proficiency, while 'Karma' and then 'Mr. India' gave him commercial standing.
Anil Kapoor reached the zenith of his career during the late 1980's with the stupendous success of 'Tezaab', 'Ram Lakhan' and 'Parinda'. But then he had to face a string of major flops like 'Lamhe' and 'Roop Ke Rani Choron Ka Raja'.His attempts at portraying a plethora of different characters is a proof of his versatility. Be it his role of intense passion in 'Tezaab' or ruffian acts in 'Ram Lakhan', Anil Kapoor has demonstrated that he has the capability to play a varieties of role.
When Amitabh Bachchan was in semi-retirement in the late eighties, Anil Kapoor was the only actor who came closest to the throne vacated by the Big B, but for a brief while only. Unfortunately for Anil, he fell short of the expectations people demanded of him and that's why he failed to sustain.But that irrespective, nobody can take away from Anil his phenomenal talent, his boundless energy and absolute commitment to his work. Which is what has put him ahead of all his contemporaries. For most industry folk, Anil Kapoor is still Mr. Consistent at the box-office.
Not bad for a man whose family didn't have a roof over their heads when they began their struggle in Bombay. Very few people know that Anil's father, Surinder Kapoor was secretary to Shammi Kapoor. Anil Kapoor had lived for a few years in a one-room tenement in one of Bombay's distant suburbs. Their journey from poverty to pomp has been phenomenal and one man responsible for this is none other than Anil Kapoor himself.
When Anil Kapoor was launched by his brother Boney in a small-budget emotional drama Woh Saat Din in 1983, not much was expected from the film. After all, that was the time when star-sons were being launched in a major way. Kumar Gaurav with Love Story, Sanjay Dutt with Rocky and Sunny Deol with Betaab.But Woh Saat Din managed to strike some balance with the audience and Anil Kapoor was noticed. There was no looking back, thereafter. Anil was soon signed by makers like Gulshan Rai, Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai. He was pitted against actors of the calibre of Dilip Kumar and Naseeruddin Shah. But Anil held his ground and that worked in his favour.
Anil evolved with his roles and never really limited himself to any set image. On one hand, he had emotional dramas like Meri Jung, then there were comedies like Chameli Ki Shaadi, thrillers like Karma and fantasy-capers like Mr. India. Anil excelled in every role he played.1988-89 were the crucial years for him. He was the only actor who delivered hit after hit. Tezaab, Eeshwar and Ram Lakhan in a row. The industry was quick to label him the new numero uno. Anil's undoing was that he went along with the image and as a result, the expectations rose sky-high. When he couldn't match upto them he fell. And he fell hard.
In the mid-nineties, after disasters like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Rajkumar and Trimurti behind him, Anil changed his strategy a bit. Now, a quick potboiler was the name of the game. And the gamble paid off. Hits like Laadla, Loafer and Judaai gave him back the lost recognition. In the late nineties, with age catching up, Anil was playing a new tune. He had shifted to playing character roles and even in these, he managed to steal the thunder from right under the respective heroes. Like it happened in Taal and Biwi no.1.
Right now, Anil is safely playing a bit of both. He's still the lead opposite actresses like Aishwarya Rai and Preity Zinta. At the same time, he's specialising in cameo roles that have some substance.
|