Anil Kapoor Movies
A native of Mumbai, India, born December 24, 1959, Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor grew up in the thick of show business, with an executive assistant-turned-film producer father and a homemaker mother. Kapoor signed for his first acting role at seven years old, in a feature entitled Tu Payal Main Geet that eventually went unreleased; the experience nevertheless revealed Anil's true passion and his life's calling to him. He attended the local OLPS school, then St. Xavier's College, where he participated in dramatic competitions and netted a Best Actor trophy at an intercollegiate drama contest. At the same time, however, Kapoor felt a marked lack of commitment to his general studies and was expelled from college after two years due to non-attendance; reportedly "relieved" by this occurrence, the blossoming actor used that apparent step backward as a step up, confounding his distraught parents in the process by focusing all of his attention and energy on aggressive dramatic training. When an application to the esteemed Pune Film Institute failed to generate admission, Kapoor instead teamed up with fellow upstart Mazhar Khan and enrolled in famed acting coach Roshan Taneja's drama classes, training aggressively at a breakneck pace to make it in Indian cinema. He also studied singing and dancing, and got a foothold in the local film industry by working as a casting director and assistant producer.Film roles then began to arrive; Kapoor signed for his debut with a part in Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya, and followed it up with roles in such features as Woh Saat Din and Laila, but only achieved stardom thanks to his lead billing in Yash Chopra's film Mashaal (1984), alongside Dilip Kumar. Subsequent projects included Rakhwala (1989), Loafer (1996), Armaan (2003), and Tashan (2008). Kapoor returned to producing on the 2007 Gandhi, My Father. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this romantic comedy from India, Raju (Anil Kapoor) is a young man who has grown up under the thumb of his step-mother, who has raised him to be a farmer. When he attends a friend's wedding, he meets a woman named Saraswati (Madhuri Dixit) and quickly falls in love with her. Raju longs to see Saraswati again and meets up with her at a festival, where he saves her from an attack by a pervert. However, while he's walking her home, the pair are caught in a rainstorm and must take refuge in a barn. When they return the next morning, everyone is convinced they spent the night together in an inappropriate manner, and Raju marries Saraswati to save her reputation. However, Raju's mother is not especially happy with her son's new bride, and soon Saraswati is at war with her mother-in-law. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Joshilaay is a bitter pill to take for anyone who thinks that Indian movies consist chiefly of Satyajit Ray epics and lighthearted musicals. Popular Indian film personality Anil Kapoor doesn't make his entrance until after half the cast has been murdered. The culprits are a pair of out-of-control criminals, played by Kulbhusan Kharbanda and Rajesh Vivek. Kapoor and Sunny Deol, the sons of two of the victims, wait many years to exact their revenge. The question: was it worth the wait? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Director Subhash Ghai also dreamed up the story of the Indian Ram Lakhan. Raakhee plays a widowed mother who lives for revenge. She raises her sons Ram (Jacki Shroff) and Lakhan (Anil Kapoor) with hatred in their hearts. It is her wish that her sons avenge the murder of their father. To that end, both boys become police officers, though one is far more committed to honesty than the other. Like most Indian films, Ram Lakhan is something of an endurance test for western audiences, unfolding its simple tale in an epic 186 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Anil Kapoor and Shakti Kapoor star in the Indian Abhimanyu, but their characters have absolutely nothing in common. Anil's sister Poonam Dhillon is raped by Shakti. Anil has no recourse; he is a dirt-poor peasant, while Shakti is the son of a wealthy landowner. There is nothing for Anil and Poonam to do but leave the village, taking their shame with them. Years later, Anil and Poonam, wise to the ways of the non-Indian world, exact a not-so-sweet revenge upon Shakti. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Two brothers take different paths in life, which leads both of them into danger in this drama from India. Kishan (Jackie Shroff) and Karan (Anil Kapoor) are two brothers who move to Bombay to find their fortunes. Kishan falls in with Anna (Nana Patekar), a drug dealer; Karan becomes friends with a policeman (Anupam Kher), falls in love with schoolteacher Paru (Madhuri Dixit), and decides to go to America to further his education. As Kishan sinks deeper into the criminal underworld, Anna discovers the policeman Karan used to know has been assigned to bring him to justice. Anna intends to kill the cop rather than lose control of his criminal empire, and Kishan learns of Anna's deadly plan just as Karan is about to return home. Kishan is determined to keep his brother away from himself and the policeman to protect his safety, but Karan isn't so sure he wants to be sent away to Delhi, since he hopes to renew his relationship with Paru. Like many "Bollywood" dramas, Parinda also features several songs. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, (more)
- 1982
First-time filmmaker and director Ashok Ahuja has made a film about a director making a film -- undoubtedly following the adage that it is better to stick with something you know in any attempt at fiction. The director in the film is busy trying to get a writer to agree to work with him on his next project, based on one of the writer's own stories. No matter how persistent he is, the writer does not keep his original promise to join with the director and drops him for another, more lucrative venture. In spite of this setback, the director does not give up and writes and produces his own story. Both his film and this film end at about the same time, as the director is waiting for everyone to come out of the theater -- and give some feedback on his creation. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Naseeruddin Shah
