Anil Kapoor was born on 24 December 1956 in Chembur, Bombay, India (present-day Mumbai, Maharashtra). He is the son of film producer Surinder Kapoor and Nirmal Kapoor. His siblings include filmmaker Boney Kapoor, actor Sanjay Kapoor, and Reena Marwah.
Kapoor began his acting career with a small role in Hamare Tumhare (1979). He subsequently appeared in the Telugu film Vamsa Vruksham (1980) and the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983). His first major Hindi lead role came with Woh Saat Din (1983).
His breakthrough came with Mashaal (1984), followed by a series of successful films including Meri Jung, Karma, Mr. India, Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Eeshwar, Beta, Taal, and Pukar. His performance in Tezaab earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
Anil Kapoor has also worked internationally, including in the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire and the television series 24. He has received two National Film Awards and multiple Filmfare Awards for his contribution to cinema.
In recent years, Kapoor has continued to remain active in films and television. His recent work includes Subedaar, while current 2026 listings also include projects such as Cocktail 2 and Awarapan 2.