Pankaj Kapur

Pankaj Kapur
Kapur in 2022
Born (1954-05-29) 29 May 1954 (age 69)
Alma materNational School of Drama
Occupation(s)Actor, story writer, screenwriter, director
Years active1981–present
Spouse
(m. 1979; div. 1984)
(m. 1988)
Children3, including Shahid
RelativesDina Pathak (mother-in-law)
Ratna Pathak (sister-in-law)

Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who has worked in Hindi theatre, television and films. He has appeared in several television serials and films. He is the recipient of several awards, including a Filmfare Award and three National Film Awards. His most acclaimed film roles to date have been that of Inspector P.K. in Raakh (1989), Dr. Dipankar Roy in Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991) and Abba ji, (based on Shakespeare's King Duncan) in Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Macbeth; Maqbool (2004). He is widely considered as one of the best actors in World Cinema.

In the 1780s, he became a household name through the TV series Karamchand, a comedy television series in the detective genre. And in the millennium, Office Office, a comic satire on prevalent corruption in India.

In 1988, he married his second wife, actress Supriya Pathak, daughter of actress Dina Pathak, with whom he has a daughter and a son. His sister-in-law is actress Ratna Pathak Shah, who is married to actor Naseeruddin Shah. His son (from his first marriage to actress Neelima Azeem) is actor Shahid Kapoor.

Early and personal life

Shahid Kapoor, Supriya Pathak and Pankaj Kapur attend the screening of Teri Meri Kahaani

Pankaj Kapur was born on 29th May 1954 in a Khatri family Ludhiana, Punjab. He completed his education in Punjab and developed a keen interest in theatre and acting while growing up. He then enrolled in the National School of Drama to pursue his interest.

He married actress and dancer Neelima Azeem in 1979. They were settled in New Delhi where they had their only child Shahid Kapoor in 1981. The couple divorced in 1984.

Pankaj Kapur went on to marry actress Supriya Pathak in 1988. They have one daughter Sanah Kapur and a son Ruhaan Kapur.

Career

After graduating from National School of Drama, he did theatre for the next four years, until he was offered a role in Gandhi by Richard Attenborough. Over the years, as a director, he has done over 74 plays and serials, including Mohandas B.A.L.L.B., Wah Bhai Wah, Sahabji Biwiji Ghulamji and Drishtanth, Kanak Di Balli, Albert's Bridge and Panchvan Savaar.

He made his film debut with Shyam Benegal's film Arohan (1982). Following that he played Mahatma Gandhi's second secretary, Pyarelal Nayyar, in the Richard Attenborough film Gandhi in 1982. Later he dubbed for Ben Kingsley in the Hindi version of the film.

Thereafter he appeared in a string of art films that came under the parallel cinema category, with leading art films directors, starting with Shyam Benegal's Mandi (1983), Kundan Shah's comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro again in 1983. This was followed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza satirical Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1984), Mrinal Sen's Khandhar (1984), and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's suspense thriller Khamosh in 1985. He appeared in a number of art films, many of which went on to win National Film Awards.

In 1986, he switched to television, with the role of Karamchand jasoos(detective) in the detective-comedy, Karamchand, also starring Sushmita Mukherjee. Over the years he has been seen in numerous TV serials, including, Kab Tak Pukaroon (Doordarshan) Zabaan Sambhaal Ke (a remake of the English TV series, Mind Your Language), Lifeline with Vijaya Mehta, Neem ka Ped and finally comic interludes in Philips Top 10.

Meanwhile, his tryst with art cinema continued, as he starred in films like Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986), Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986), and Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987). In 1987, his comic side was visible again in the commercial action film Jalwa, also starring Naseeruddin Shah.

His first National Film Award came with the 1989 film, Raakh, which also starred Aamir Khan.

He starred in the classic Punjabi film Marhi Da Diva (1989). He featured in the 1992 Mani Ratnam film Roja directed. (Roja was made in Tamil and later dubbed in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Malayalam.)

His strongest performance in the early part of his career came from his lead role of struggling scientist in the film Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991), for which he was awarded the 1991 National Film Award – Special Jury Award.

In 2000 he returned to television with the serial Office Office a satirical take on the prevalent corruption in India.

In 2003 he appeared in Maqbool, Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. His antagonistic performance as the short-statured, potbellied, shuffle-footed Abbaji in Maqbool got him the 2004 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Meanwhile, he released films like The Blue Umbrella (2005), Dus (2005) and Halla Bol (2007). In 2006, he started to be seen again on TV. In the TV series, Naya Office Office, a sequel to his previous series Office Office.

On 11 January 2013, the Vishal Bharadwaj-directed film Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, starring Kapur was released.

In November 2019, Kapur made his literature debut with his novella 'Dopehri', which he had written in 1992. Presently he appears in the television series named ‘Naya Office Office’ which itself is a sequel to the previous hit TV series ‘Office Office’. Now the actor can be seen in the movie Bheed, released on March 24, 2023.

Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
1981 Hari Hondal Bargadar : Share Cropper
Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya
1982 Gandhi Pyarelal Nayyar
Aadharshila
1983 Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro Tarneja
Arohan
Mandi Shanti Devi's Assistant
1984 Khandhar Dipu
Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!
1985 Khamosh Kukku
Aitbaar Advocate Jha Uncredited
Aghaat Chotelal
1986 Chameli Ki Shaadi Kallumal "Koylawala"
Musafir Shankeran Pillai
Ek Ruka Hua Faisla Juror #3 TV adaptation of 12 Angry Men
1987 Jalwa Albert Pinto
Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin Rohit
Susman
1988 Main Zinda Hoon
Ek Aadmi
Tamas Thekedaar Television Film
1989 Agla Mausam
Raakh Inspector P.K National Film Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
Marhi Da Deeva Raunaki Punjabi film
Kamla Ki Maut Sudhakar Patel
1990 Ek Doctor Ki Maut Dr. Dipankar Roy National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film)
Shadyantra Sub-Inspector Tabrez Mohammad 'Tabbu' Khan
1992 Roja Liaqat Tamil film
1993 Aakanksha Ahmed
The Burning Season Ashok Sarkar
1994 Kokh
1995 Ram Jaane Pannu Technicolor
1997 Rui Ka Bojh
2002 Jackpot Do Karode Rana
2003 Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon Satyaprakash
Maqbool Jahangir Khan (Abbaji) National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor

Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics)

2005 Dus Jamwal Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role
The Blue Umbrella Nand Kishore
Sehar Prof. Bhole Shankar Tiwari
2007 Dharm Pundit Chaturvedi
2008 Halla Bol Sidhu
2009 Love Khichdi Subramani in Dream Fantasy
2010 Good Sharma Hanuman
2011 Chala Musaddi Office Office Musaddi Lal Tripathi
2013 Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Harry Mandola Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
2014 Finding Fanny Don Pedro English film
2015 Shaandaar Bipin Arora
2018 Toba Tek Singh Toba Tek Singh
2019 Happi Happi Delayed film
Released on Zee5
2022 Jersey Coach
2023 Lost Nanu Zee5 film
Bheed Balram Trivedi
TBA Jab Khuli Kitaab

Director

Writer

Television

Dubbing roles

Live action films

Film Title Actor(s) Character(s) Dub Language Original Language Original Year release Dub Year release Notes
Gandhi Ben Kingsley Mahatma Gandhi Hindi English 1982 1982 Pankaj also played Mahatma Gandhiji's Assistant Pyarelal Nayyar in movie

Awards and nominations

Film awards
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2005 IIFA Awards Best Supporting Actor Maqbool Nominated
2006 Best Performance in a Negative Role Dus Nominated
1990 Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actor Raakh Nominated
2005 Best Actor (Critics) Maqbool Won
2006 Best Performance in a Negative Role Dus Nominated
2014 Best Supporting Actor Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Nominated
1989 National Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Raakh Won
1991 Special Jury Award Ek Doctor Ki Maut Won
2004 Best Supporting Actor Maqbool Won
2004 Producers Guild Film Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Won
2015 Best Actor in a Comic Role Finding Fanny Nominated
2006 Screen Awards Best Supporting Actor Maqbool Nominated
2008 Best Actor in a Negative Role The Blue Umbrella Won
2009 Best Supporting Actor Halla Bol Nominated
2005 Zee Cine Awards Best Actor (Critics) Maqbool Won
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male Nominated
Television awards
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2021 Asian Television Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role JL50 Nominated
2003 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actor - Comedy Office Office Won
2004 Won
2007 Won
2002 Indian Telly Awards Best Actor in a Comic Role Won
2003 Won
2004 Nominated
2006 Nominated
2007 Nominated

This page was last updated at 2024-02-19 08:04 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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