Pankaj Kapoor was born in the year 1954, May 29th. He started his career with television. Serials like Karamchand, a detective series made him a household name. Later on he did comic satire like Office Office and the laugh riot Zabaan Sambhaal Ke both of which had brought him a lot of recognition. He was awarded at several television award ceremonies. A graduate from
National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi and here he bagged the Best Actor Award. He was offered Gandhi by Richard Attenborough. He dubbed for Ben Kingsley in the Hindi version and played the role of Gandhi's second secretary Pyarelal.
One of his most memorable films till date has been Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991) as Dr. Dipankar Roy. This film got him a National Award. In 2003 Vishal Bhardwaj's Maqbool brought him the same recognition. Pankaj Kapoor has also ventured into the field of direction on television. The serials which were aired on Indian television are Mohandas B.A.L.L.B, Wah Bhai Wah, Sahabji Biwiji Ghulamji and Drishtanth, Kanak Di Balli, Albert's Bridge and Panchvan Savaar.
His debut film is Arohan (1982), a film by
Shyam Benegal. Thereafter he went onto establish himself as one of the most versatile Indian actors. He appeared in several parallel films like Shyam Benegal's Mandi (1983), Kundan Shah's comedy flick Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro in 1983, Saeed Akhtar Mirza's Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1984),
Mrinal Sen's Khandhar (1984), and
Vidhu Vinod Chopra's suspense thriller Khamosh (1985). He went onto become one of the most important stars on the silver screen. His commercial films include Chameli Ki Shaadi with
Anil Kapoor and
Amrita Singh and much later in
Mani Ratnam's
Roja. The art films of Pankaj Kapoor fetched him several National Awards.
In the late 1980s he arrived with one of his career best films with Basu Chatterjee, Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986). The next year he treaded on different grounds with Jalwa, also starring
Naseeruddin Shah. This was a comic film. He got his first National Film Award for Rakh (1989). Pankaj Kapoor was also a part of certain Punjabi movies as well. One of them is Mari da Deeva. He received the 2004 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the movie Maqbool. He was also seen in films like Dus (2005) in the role of an anti hero. He once again teamed with Vishal Bhardwaj for Blue Umbrella (2005). He once again bagged popular awards for his role as the greedy tea stall owner in this film.
Filmography of Pankaj Kapoor:
| Year |
Films |
Year |
Films |
| 1982 |
Arohan, Gandhi |
1995 |
Ram Jaane |
| 1983 |
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro |
1997 |
Rui Ka Bojh |
| 1984 |
Mohan Joshi Haazir Ho |
2003 |
Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Maqbool |
| 1986 |
Chameli Ki Shaadi, Ek Ruka Hua Faisla |
2005 |
Dus |
| 1991 |
Ek Doctor Ki Maut |
2007 |
Dharm, The Blue Umbrella, Halla Bol |
| 1992 |
Roja |
- |
- |
