Annu Kapoor is a well-known Indian actor and TV presenter. He hosted one of the famous TV shows, Antakashari. Apart from acting, he is known for his radio shows focusing on the Golden Era of Bollywood. Annu Kapoor is termed an encyclopedia of the Golden Era.
Annu Kapoor family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anil Kapoor (changed to Annu Kapoor to avoid confusion with actor Anil Kapoor) |
| Screen Name | Annu Kapoor |
| Date of Birth | February 20, 1956 |
| Place of Birth | Itwara, Bhopal, Bhopal State (now Madhya Pradesh), India |
| Age | 69 years (as of March 19, 2025) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Indian (Punjabi father from Peshawar/Karnal roots; Ghoti Brahmin Bengali mother) |
| Family | Father: Madanlal Kapoor (Parsi theatre owner); Mother: Kamal Kapoor (Urdu teacher, classical singer); Siblings: Ranjit Kapoor (brother, director), Seema Kapoor (sister, producer/actor), Nikhil Kapoor (brother, writer/lyricist) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wives | 1. Anupama Patel (m. 1992, div. 1993; remarried 2008); 2. Arunita Mukherjee (m. 1995, div. 2005) |
| Children | 4: Sons – Kavan, Maahir, Evaan (from Anupama); Daughter – Aradhita (from Arunita) |
| Education | Secondary education (quit after Class 10 due to financial issues); National School of Drama (NSD), 1976 |
| Height | 5’8″ (1.73 m, estimated from visual references and media reports) |
| Weight | Approximately 70-75 kg (estimated; no recent official data) |
| Profession | Actor, Singer, Director, Radio Host, TV Presenter |
| Debut (Film) | Aadharshila (1982, uncredited); Professional debut: Mandi (1983, directed by Shyam Benegal) |
| Debut (TV) | Param Vir Chakra (1988, Doordarshan) |
| Total Films | Over 100 (acted across five decades) |
| Notable Films | Utsav (1984), Mr. India (1987), Tezaab (1988), Vicky Donor (2012), Dream Girl (2019), Chehre (2021) |
| Notable TV Shows | Antakshari (1993-2006, Zee TV/Star Plus), Golden Era with Annu Kapoor (2011, Mastiii), Kile ka Rahasya (1989) |
| Recent Project | Hamare Baarah (2024, released June 21, 2024, as Eijaz Ali Khan) |
| Upcoming Projects | Mangal Ho (Hindi, drama, TBD 2025), Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi (Punjabi, drama, TBD 2025) |
| Radio Show | Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor (ongoing since 2011, 92.7 Big FM; daily show on Hindi cinema nostalgia) |
| Awards | 2 National Film Awards (Vicky Donor, 2012; The Dirty Picture, 2011), 1 Filmfare Award (Vicky Donor, 2012), 2 Indian Television Academy Awards (Antakshari) |
| Early Career | Stage actor (1979), NSD graduate; odd jobs (tea seller, firecracker vendor); theatre with father’s company |
| Languages | Fluent in Hindi, English, Urdu (learned from mother) |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | ₹20-25 crore (as of 2025; based on film fees, radio, TV hosting, and endorsements) |
| Annual Income (Estimated) | ₹1-2 crore (from acting, radio, and endorsements) |
| Social Media | Instagram: @annukapoor_official (15k+ followers); Twitter/X: Not active |
| Residence | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Hobbies | Singing, numerology, storytelling, exploring vintage Bollywood |
| Health | Admitted for chest pain in January 2023 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi; recovered (India Today, 2023) |
| Personal Insights | Atheist; avid numerology follower; never voted in elections (per interview with India Times) |
| Controversies | – KYC fraud (lost ₹4.36 lakh in 2022; recovered ₹3.08 lakh) Refused to recognize Kangana Ranaut at Hamare Baarah press meet (June 2024) Tiff with Shashi Kapoor on Utsav set (1984) |
| Latest Update | Promoted Hamare Baarah (June 2024); ongoing radio show Suhaana Safar (March 2025 updates on X) |
| Legacy | Iconic host of Antakshari; versatile actor in Bollywood; celebrated for Vicky Donor role as Dr. Baldev Chadha |
Annu Kapoor’s original name was Anil Kapoor. He was born on February 20, 1956, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to a Bengali Brahmin mother and a Punjabi father.
After joining the film list, Anu Kapoor changed her name from Anil Kapoor to Anu. He used to get his name from the hero Anil Kapoor, but he wanted his own identity. Everyone used to affectionately call Annu in the house, and that is why he changed Anil to Annu.
His father owned a travelling Parsi theatre company, and his mother, Kamal Shabnam Kapoor, was an Urdu teacher and a trend classical dancer.
The financial condition of Anu Kapoor’s father was not good, so Anu Kapoor could not study beyond school. His mother did not want Annu Kapoor to go to the theatre or act, but at his father’s request, Annu Kapoor joined his theatre group.
Anu Kapoor is proficient in Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, and Urdu and has also learned poetry from her mother.
Annu has two brothers, elder brother Ranjit Kapoor is a writer and director, while the younger brother Nikhil Kapoor is a lyricist and writer.
His elder brother has directed many hit movies and written the stories and scripts of cult movies like Jane Bhi Do Yaaro.
Also read- Bollywood’s Blue-eyed Boy, who was American by skin but Indian by heart.
He also has a younger sister named Seema Kapoor. She married Om Puri in 1991, but this marriage did not last long. Within a few months, both of them got divorced. Seema Kapoor is also seen in many films such as Katputli, Bawarchi, Warrant Dharmatma, Kaala Sona, Sevak, Santo Banto, and Bhanwar, and she is busier in the TV industry nowadays.
Annu Kapoor married Anupama, an American citizen, in 1992, but the marriage ended in 1993 due to a mutual misunderstanding.
Then he married his second wife, Arunita Mukherjee, and had a daughter named Aradhita Kapoor from his second wife. Even after his second marriage, Anu Kapoor was in regular touch with his first wife, Anupama Kapoor. This relationship disturbed his second marriage, and soon, he got divorced from his second wife.
In 2008, Kapoor remarried to his first wife, Anupama Kapoor. He has three sons from his first wife: Mahir Kapoor, Kavam, and Evaan Kapoor.
Career
Due to poor financial conditions, he had to quit his education after secondary. Annu Kapoor joined NSA in 1976 to learn more about acting. Annu started his film career with Shyam Benegal directed Mandi in 1983 but was noticed for his acting skills in the movie Ek Ruka Hua Faisla. He then acted in films such as Utsav, Mr. India, and Tezaab.
Annu Kapoor’s roles in movies like Viky Donor, Miss Tanakpur Hazir Ho, Dream Girl, and Jolly LLB 2 were loved widely by people.
Annu Kapoor’s radio show, ‘Suhana Safar with Annu Kapoor,‘ on Big FM is one of the most loved shows on FM radio. In it, he narrates stories of old movies and artists, and old movie songs are played.
The show has been awarded as the best radio show for years. It started on June 24, 2013, and has completed eight successful years.
Annu Kapoor also directed a 1994 movie, Abhay, which won the ‘Best Children’ award at the 42nd National Film Awards.
FAQs
Dream girl film me Annu Kapoor ne Ayushman ka relationship kya hai?
He played the role of Ayushman Khurana’s Father.
Controversies: The Stormy Side of Stardom
Annu’s no stranger to headlines—some flattering, some fiery. Here’s the dirt:
The KYC Scam (2022)
In October 2022, a fraudster posing as a bank official duped Annu of Rs. 4.36 lakh. Posing as “Krishnakumar Reddy,” the scammer tricked him into sharing OTPs for “KYC updates.” Annu acted fast, recovering Rs. 3.08 lakh with police help. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for the street-smart star.
Hamare Baarah (2024–2025)
His film Hamare Baarah (originally Hum Do Hamare Baarah) sparked chaos. Released in June 2024 after legal battles, it tackled population growth—some saw it as anti-Muslim propaganda. Death threats flooded in; Annu sought police protection via X. At a press meet, he said, “Watch it before you curse us.” The Supreme Court halted its initial release; Bombay High Court later greenlit it with cuts. By 2025, the dust hasn’t fully settled.
Kangana Clash (2024)
During Hamare Baarah promotions, a journalist asked about Kangana Ranaut’s airport slap incident. Annu quipped, “Who’s she? A big heroine?” Kangana fired back on X, questioning societal hate for successful women. Annu apologized, calling her “honorable sister,” but the spat lit up social media.
Bollywood’s Dark Side
Annu’s never minced words. In interviews, he’s claimed Bollywood tweaks narratives—swapping Hindu characters for Muslim ones (e.g., Chak De India’s coach). “Muslims are praised; Pandits mocked,” he once said, stirring debate.