Annu Kapoor Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Bio/Wiki
Birth name	Anil Kapoor [1]Patrika
Profession(s)	Actor, Television Anchor, Film Director, Film Producer
Famous For	Hosting the popular music reality show "Antakshari" (1993-2006)
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5' 4" (163 cm)
Eye Colour	Dark Brown
Hair Colour	Salt & Pepper
Career
Debut	Film: Mandi (1983) as 'A Doctor' TV: Khari Khari (1980's)
Awards, Honours, Achievements	• V. Shantaram Award for ‘Best Director’ for the film “Abhay (The Fearless)” • National Film Award for ‘Best Children’s Film’ for the film “Abhay (The Fearless)” (1995) • National Film Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for the film “Vicky Donor” (2013) • Filmfare Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for the film “Vicky Donor” (2013) • Screen Award for ‘Best Comedian’ for the film “Vicky Donor” • Star Guild Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for the film “Vicky Donor” • Star Guild Award for ‘Best Actor in a Comic Role’ for the film “Vicky Donor” • Times of India Film Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for the film “Vicky Donor” • IIFA Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for the film “Vicky Donor” (2013)
Personal Life
Date of Birth	20 February 1956 (Monday)
Age (as of 2024)	68 Years
Birthplace	Itwara, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Zodiac sign	Pisces
Signature
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Itwara, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
College/University	National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi [2]Times of India
Caste/Ethnicity	Annu is a Punjabi from his father's side and a Bengali Brahmin from his mother's side. [3]Times of India
Food Habit	Non-Vegetarian [4]Times of India
Hobbies	Reading, Travelling
Controversies	• Once Annu Kapoor attracted controversy for commenting over the change of names of cities and railway stations. Annu, while calling it meaningless, said that all victors left behind an imprint of their rule. Further, he went on to say, "The country’s original name is Bharat. The names like Hindustan and India were given by invaders.” [5]India Today • After getting married to Arunita, Annu was still in contact with his first wife, Anupama. His second wife, Arunita, alleged that Annu often used to abuse her and forced her to leave his home and move back to her parents along with their daughter, Aradhita. [6]India Times • In 2011, Annu attracted controversy again by making silly remarks about his "7 Khoon Maaf" co-star Priyanka Chopra. Annu Kapoor, during an interview said, "I’m not good-looking, I’m not a hero. Agar main hero hota, then maybe she would have done intimate scenes with me.” [7]Hindustan Times • War of words with Kangana Ranaut During the press conference of his film Hamare Barah, he was asked about Kangana Ranaut's slap incident at Chandigarh Airport to which he seemed unaware of her identity and said, “Yeh Kangana ji kaun hain? Please batao na kaun hain? Zaahir hai aap pooch rahe hain toh koi bahut badi heroine hongi? Sundar hain kya?” A journalist later told him that Kangana was an elected Member of Parliament to which Annu Kapoor said, “Oho woh bhi ho gayi! Abhi toh bahut shaktishaali ho gayi hain. Ek sundar hai toh hume waese hi unse jalan horahi hai kyuki hum toh bohut bhadde...aadmi hai. Uske baad powerful hai. Aap bolrahe hai kisi officer nein unhe thappad maar diya? Toh unko puri kaarwahi karni chahiye definitely.” Kangana Ranaut later posted a reply on her Instagram story where she wrote, “Do you agree with Annu Kapoor ji that we tend to hate a successful woman, hate her more if she is beautiful and hate her even more passionately if she is powerful? Is it true?” Annu Kapoor later responded to her reaction to his comments and posted an apology letter on social media and clarified that not knowing someone was not a crime.
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Married
Affairs/Girlfriends	• Anupama (American) • Arunita Mukherjee (TV Host)
Family
Wife/Spouse	• First-Wife: Anupama (m. 1992-93; Remarried her in 2008) • Second-Wife: Arunita Mukherjee (Divorced)
Children	Son(s)- Maahir Kapoor (From his first wife, Anupama), Kavam Kapoor (From his first wife, Anupama), Evaan Kapoor (From his first wife, Anupama) Daughter- Aradhita Kapoor (From his second wife, Arunita Mukherjee)
Parents	Father- Madanlal Kapoor (Owner of a travelling Parsi Theatre Company) Mother- Kamal Shabnam Kapoor (Urdu Teacher, Classical Singer)
Siblings	Brother(s)- Ranjit Kapoor (Screenwriter & Film Director), Nikhil Kapoor (Lyricist & Writer) Sister- Seema Kapoor (Actress)
Favourite Things
Cuisine(s)	Continental, Italian, Indian
Food	Lucknowi Biryani, Kakori Kebab, Sheermal
Dessert(s)	Jalebi, Gulab Jamun
Restaurant(s)	Indigo and Pizza Express in Mumbai, Gulati in Delhi
Travel Destination	Switzerland
Singer	Asha Bhosle

Some Lesser Known Facts About Annu Kapoor

• Does Annu Kapoor smoke?: No (Earlier, he used to smoke but he gave up smoking in 2007 owing to health related issues) ^[8]India Forums

• Does Annu Kapoor drink alcohol?: Yes
  

• Annu Kapoor is an Indian actor, television presenter, film director, and a film producer who is well known for hosting the popular music reality show, “Antakshari” (1993-2006).

• His father originally came from Peshawar, Pakistan and motivated his wife (Annu’s mother) to learn Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, and after some time, she became a teacher of Urdu.

• Annu wanted to become a surgeon or an IAS officer since childhood. However, his family could not afford to support his studies after class 10.

• Annu left his studies after class 10, and started doing odd jobs like selling tea, dummy currency notes, fire-crackers, and lottery tickets.

• After a while, his father insisted him to join his Parsi theatre company. In his father’s theatre company, Annu worked in many professional plays, like “Laila Majnu,” “Harischandra,” “Shirin-Farhad,” “Bhakta Prahlad,” “Dahi Wali,” and “Qatl-e-Tamizan.” He even went on to direct a few of them.

• Thereafter, he joined the National School of Drama (NSD) on the insistence of his elder brother, Ranjit Kapoor. Ranjit was also a student of NSD at that time.
  

  Annu Kapoor in his young age

• During his NSD days, Annu took part in plays like “Antim Yatra,” “Three Sisters,” “The Great God Brown,” and “The Zoo Story.”

• In 1981, Annu acted in the play “Ek Ruka Hua Faisla” in Mumbai in which he played the role of a 70-year-old man. Impressed by his performance, Shyam Benegal, a renowned movie director, then signed him for his film, “Mandi.”

• In 1982, he moved to Mumbai with just Rs. 419.25 with him.
  

  Annu Kapoor’s Instagram Post

• He then went on to feature in films like “Betaab,” “Mashaal,” “Utsav,” “Arjun,” “Chameli Ki Shaadi,” “Susman,” and “Tezaab.”

• Subsequently, he appeared in TV shows like “Darpan,” “Phatichar,” “Param Vir Chakra,” “Wheel Smart Shrimati,” “Ek Se Badkar Ek,” and “Golden Era With Annu Kapoor.”
  

  Annu Kapoor in The Golden Era with Annu Kapoor

• Annu became a household name after hosting the popular reality TV show “Antakshari” (1993-2006).

• He has also featured in many other Hindi films like  “Mr. India,” “The Perfect Murder,” “Ram Lakhan,” “Dil Ki Baazi,” “Waqt Hamara Hai,” “Darr,” “Om Jai Jagadish,” and “7 Khoon Maaf.”
  

  Annu Kapoor in 7 Khoon Maaf

• In 2012, he played the role of ‘Dr. Baldev Chaddha,’ a fertility expert in the Bollywood film “Vicky Donor.” He received around seven awards for this film.
  

  Annu Kapoor in Vicky Donor

• In addition to acting, he has also directed the film “Abhay (The Fearless)” (1994). Annu received the V. Shantaram Award for “Best Director” for the film. The film even won a National Film Award for “Best Children’s Film.”

• He used to run a show- “Suhaana Safar with Annu Kapoor” on BIG 92.7 F.M. During the show, he talked about vintage Bollywood movies and its music.
  

  Annu Kapoor at the radio station

• On 13 December 2008, he got angry on the set of “Ek Se Badhkar Ek – Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka,” and fought with Kunal Kohli because Kunal was against his decision regarding extra marks given to Tanmay (a contestant on the show).

• Kapoor is 13 years older than his first wife, Anupama. ^[9]India Times

• His sister, Seema Kapoor, was once married to Om Puri. However, their marriage lasted only for a few months.

• Annu has even produced a musical contest for children “Aao Jhoomein Gaayen” which aired on SAB TV.

• Kapoor disclosed during an interview that he had never cast his vote in any election. On being asked the reason for it, he said,
  

  Because I don’t want to elect between don**yes and mu**sI only want to elect the best. This country elects corrupt people.”

  He even said that he was a free man of a free country and that it was his right to vote or not to vote for anyone. ^[10]India Today

• Kapoor is very close to the film director Satish Kaushik and the actor Rumi Jaffery.
  

  Annu Kapoor with Satish Kaushik

• While talking about his struggling days, Kapoor revealed that his mother’s salary as an Urdu teacher was only Rs. 40 a month. ^[11]Times of India

• Annu’s grandfather, Dr Kripa Ram Kapoor, was a doctor in the British Army.

• Kapoor’s great-grandfather, Lala Ganga Ram Kapoor, was a revolutionary and was executed by the British government. His maternal grandfather served as the ‘Pradhan’ of the state of Tikamgarh.‘

• While talking about his father’s theatre group, Annu said that his father had founded his theatre company in 1947 by investing Rs. 25,000. He told the interviewer that people had started calling them ‘Nautankiwalas.’ His grandmother was very upset with his son’s work, and she chucked him out of the house.

• Annu has a love for reading religious texts like the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Quran. He has read them for as many as 14 times.

• Annu revealed during an interview that he believed in ‘euthanasia’ (the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering). ^[12]Times of India

• Kapoor was born as Anil Kapoor. Later, he changed it to Annu from Anil to avoid confusing it with the Bollywood actor, Anil Kapoor. This happened in 1984 during the shooting of the film, “Mashaal.” At that time, Anil Kapoor was an emerging actor, and both of them (Annu and Anil) were cast for the film “Mashaal.” Annu was to receive Rs. 4000 for his role in the film and Anil Kapoor was cast at the amount of Rs. 10,000. However, their cheques got exchanged with each other due to the same names. On realising that there was another actor with the same name, Kapoor changed his name to Annu.

• In September 2022, he became a victim of an online robbery when he was duped by an online fraudster of Rs 4.36 lakh. According to Annu Kapoor, a person disguised as a banker asked for his bank details to update his KYC following which he shared his bank details along with the OTP, and within minutes, Rs. 4.36 lakh was withdrawn from his account. Reportedly, the Oshiwara police managed to recover Rs 3.08 lakh from the two banks where the fraudsters did the transactions. ^[13]The Times of India