Anil Kapoor, who is arguably India’s Benjamin Button, has only got better with time. A look at the trailer of his upcoming comedy drama ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ which hits cinemas on Friday, June 24, proves that.
While we wait for Kapoor to slay like he always does, here’s our pick of the actor’s best on-screen characters since this millennium began.
‘Pukar’ (2000)
Kapoor essays the role of Major Jaidev Rajvansh in Rajkumar Santoshi’s action thriller. It’s a nuanced character; Kapoor plays a war hero, a besotted lover, a court martialled officer, a man fighting for his integrity. He pitch perfect performance earned him his first National Film Award.
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Namrata Shirodkar, Danny Denzongpa, Om Puri
Streaming on: Zee5
‘Nayak: The Real Hero’ (2001)
Kapoor proved that a weak script and muddled plot was no deterrent to an actor of his calibre as he gave a brilliant performance alongside Amrish Puri in this political drama. The actor plays Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, an ambitious TV presenter who, in a twist of events, becomes the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a day.
Director: S Shankar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Amrish Puri, Rani Mukerji, Johnny Lever, Paresh Rawal, Pooja Batra, Neena Kulkarni, Shivaji Satam
Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar
‘No Entry’ (2005)
Kapoor easily steals the show in Anees Bazmee’s comedy that comprises an ensemble cast including Salman Khan, Bipasha Basu and Lara Dutta. His beleaguered husband act opposite Dutta’s suspicious wife will have you rolling in laughter.
Director: Anees Bazmee
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Lara Dutta, Bipasha Basu, Esha Deol, Celina Jaitley, Boman Irani
Streaming on: Zee5
‘Welcome’ (2007)
Majnu Bhai is the most talented and entertaining painter in the world, and this is a hill we will die on. Kapoor’s Sagar ‘Majnu’ Pandey, the right-hand man to Nana Patekar’s Don Uday Shetty in the madcap comedy ‘Welcome’, is equal amounts amount adorable, zany and hilarious.
Director: Anees Bazmee
Cast: Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Mallika Sherawat, Paresh Rawl, Feroze Khan, Supriya Karnik
Streaming on: Netflix
‘Race’ (2008)
Nobody does twist pe twist pe twist like director duo Abbas Mustan. And nobody unravels carefully laid clues amidst red herrings like Kapoor’s Inspector Robert ‘RD’ D’Costa. Seemingly harmless and armed with an arsenal of ridiculous, cheesy one-liners, Kapoor’s cop turned out to be an underestimate-him-at-your-own-peril character.
Directors: Abaas-Mustan
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu, Sameera Reddy
Streaming on: Netflix
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (2008)
Dev Patel and Freida Pinto’s on-screen (and off-screen) love story was the cynosure of attention in Danny Boyle’s acclaimed and award-winning film. However, Kapoor’s act as the overly enthused, slick and duplicitous game show host Prem Kumar won him tons of international attention and acclaim.
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Saurabh Shukla, Madhur Mittal
‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ (2015)
Rocking a head full of salt and pepper hair, a dapper wardrobe and an attitude to boot, Kapoor was the epitome of daddy cool from Delhi in this film (pictured above). His portrayal of Kamal Mehra, the philandering patriarch of dysfunctional Mehra parivar, who had everything in control until he didn’t, was applause worthy.
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar
Streaming on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
