Annu Kapoor


Annu Kapoor is an Indian film actor and television presenter best-remembered for hosting the vocal reality show Antakshari from 1993 to 2006 and his roles in Mr. India, Vicky Donor and Jolly LLB 2. He received Filmfare award as well as National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Vicky Donor.

Early life

Annu Kapoor was born in Itwara, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on 20 February 1956, to Madanlal, a Punjabi father and Kamal, a Bengali mother. His father owned a travelling Parsi theatre company which performed in cities and towns, and his mother was a poet and a trained classical singer. His grandfather Dr 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. Film director Shyam Benegal who saw Kapoor perform, sent him a letter of appreciation and signed him for his 1983 film, Mandi.

Career

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, 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 as a cop who fond of singing. Kapoor has also appeared in Yamla Pagla Deewana 2.
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.
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".
Actor Annu Kapoor recollects working with Basu Chatterjee when he acted in ‘Ek Ruka Hua Faisla’ and ‘Chameli Ki Shaadi’. He describes how Basu Chaterjee refused to take multiple shots and loved keeping it simple and natural.

Personal life

Kapoor's entire family is associated with art. His mother, Kamal Shabnam Kapoor, was a poet, teacher and scholar of Urdu, Arabic and Persian. Kapoor has promoted India's positive aspects in his programmes. Kapoor's sister Seema Kapoor, was married to actor Om Puri.
His elder brother, Ranjit, is a director and screenwriter and his sister, Seema, is a producer and actor. Kapoor's younger brother, Nikhil, is a writer and lyricist. Annu has four children from two marriages. His wife, Anupama, is American by birth.
He changed his name from Anil Kapoor to Annu Kapoor to avoid confusion with the hero of the film Anil Kapoor, while acting in Tezaab.

Director

Kapoor has directed several plays. He also directed a feature film ''Abhay for the Children's Film Society, India. The film won the 1994 National Film Award for Best Children's Film.

Producer

Kapoor produced a musical talent contest for children 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.

Honours

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
2020ChehreTBAFilming
2020DarbaanNarrator
2019Dream GirlJagjeet SinghHero's father
2019Khandaani ShafakhanaBaby's uncle
2019The Fakir of VeniceSattar
2018Mangal HoGyanii Jail Singh
2018MissingInspector Buddhu
2018HomeHimansh Sethiweb series streaming on ALT Balaji
2018Ba Baa Black SheepBrian Morris/Santa Claus
2017Jolly LLB 2Adv. Pramod Mathur
2016Saat Uchakkey
2015Dharam Sankat MeinAdv. Nawab Mehmood Shah
2015Miss Tanakpur Haazir HoSualaal Gandass
2014Shaukeen
2014Saat Uchakkey
2014Kisi Ne Titli Ko Dekha Hai Kya
2014Jai Ho Democracy
2014MuavzaBechu Bhai
2014Badlapur Boys
2013Yamla Pagla Deewana 2Sir Yograj Khanna
2012Vicky DonorDr. Baldev ChaddhaScreen Award for Best Comedian
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role
National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor
TOIFA Award 2013 for Best Supporting Actor
2012Gali Gali Chor Hai
20117 Khoon MaafInspector Keemat Lal
2004AitraazBarrister Ram Chauthrani
2004RaincoatLandlord
2004Kuch To Gadbad HaiJustice Balwant Khanna
2002Om Jai JagadishKK
2002Hum Kisise Kum NahinMunnu Mobile
2000Tune Mera Dil Le LiyaaK.K.'s assistant
1999Arjun PanditImran
1999Kachche Dhaage
1997UdaanAnand Lagpade
1996VijetaConstable Chamanlal
1996Kala PaniVinayak Damodar SavarkarMalayalam Film
1995Anokha Andaaz
1995Jawab
1994DrohkaalSurinder
1993DarrVikram "Vicky" Oberoi
1993GardishManishbhai Harishbhai
1993Waqt Hamara HaiCafeteria supervisor
1993SardarMohandas Karamchand Gandhi
1993Dil Ki BaaziBihari Daulatram's cook
1993Shreemaan AashiqueMasterji
1992MuskurahatJaggan
1992PaayalPardesi
1992Jeena Marna Tere Sang
1991RanbhoomiStationmaster
1991Vishnu-DevaaPetty thief
1991HumHavaldar Arjun Singh
1991Jamai RajaPaltu/I.C. Mishra
1991YodhaUmeed Singh
1990GhayalDrunkard
1990Aawaz De Kahan HaiHariya
1990Pyasi NigahenSusheel
1990Veeru DadaIbrahim Gharewali
1990Zakhmi ZameenMadhav
1989ChaalBaazDaya Tribhuvan's servant
1989Elaan-E-Jung
1989DostForest officer
1989Aakhri Gulam
1989Main Azaad HoonMunna
1989Ram LakhanShiv Charan Mathur
1988The Perfect MurderTiny man
1988Gunahon Ka FaislaDinu
1988Khoon Bahaa Ganga Mein
1988TezaabAbbas Ali Guldasta
1987DiljalaaFakir Baba
1987Mr. IndiaMr. Gaitonde
1987SusmanLakshmaya
1986Chameli Ki ShaadiChhadami Lal
1986Ek Ruka Hua FaislaJuror #9
1985ArjunBabu Ram
1985DamulSanjeevan
1984UtsavMasseurNominated, Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role
1984KhandharAnil
1984MashaalNagesh
1983BetaabChelaram
1983Mandi

ProgrammeNotes
Khari-KhariRajendra Bhatia
Darpan Basu Chatterji
PhaticharDr Quack
KabirAnil Chaudry
Satya Ray Presents Satyajit Ray
Param Vir ChakraChetan Anand
Quile Ka RahasyaSeema Kapoor
Close Up AntakshariGajendra Singh
Chekhov Ki Duniya Ranjit Kapoor
Idea JalsaBy Durga Jasraj
Wheel Smart ShrimatiFor Doordarshan
Junoon Kuch Kar Dikhane KaGajendra Singh
Ek Se Badkar EkChota Packet
Bada DhamakaKi Funshala
Golden Era With Annu KapoorMastiii
Itihaas Gavah HaiNews24

ShowRadio Station Name
Suhaana Safar With Annu Kapoor92.7 Big FM

Theatre

;Parsi theatre:
;Modern plays: