Kunal Kapoor

Biography:

Kunal Kishore Kapoor, born on October 18, 1977, is a versatile Indian personality involved in acting, modeling, film production, writing, entrepreneurship, and is notably the co-founder of Ketto Online Crowdfunding. He primarily works in Hindi cinema and is best recognized for his role as Aslam in the acclaimed movie “Rang De Basanti” (2006).

He is the youngest among three siblings, with two sisters named Geeta and Reshma. In February 2015, Kunal married Naina Bachchan, the niece of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, in a private ceremony in Seychelles, followed by a celebratory dinner in New Delhi on April 11, 2015. The couple joyfully announced the birth of their baby boy on January 31, 2022.

Kunal’s journey in acting began under the guidance of Barry John, and he became a part of the theater group Motley, founded by the renowned actor Naseeruddin Shah. His initial stint in the film industry included working as an assistant director on “Aks,” a film starring Manoj Bajpayee and featuring Amitabh Bachchan in a pivotal role.

Kapoor’s debut as the male lead came alongside Tabu in “Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities” (2004), a film directed by the celebrated artist MF Hussain. However, it was his role in the Aamir Khan-starrer “Rang De Basanti” (2006) that earned him recognition and a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. The film received both critical acclaim and commercial success and was even nominated in the Best Foreign Film category at the 2007 BAFTA Awards.

Subsequently, Yash Raj Films (YRF) signed Kunal Kapoor for a three-film contract, leading to his appearances in movies like “Laaga Chunari Mein Daag” (2007), “Aaja Nachle” (2007), and “Bachna Ae Haseeno” (2008). Following a brief hiatus of two years, he delivered a remarkable performance as a young Kashmiri politician in Rahul Dholakia’s “Lamhaa” (2010).

In 2011, Kunal Kapoor featured in the Shahrukh Khan-starrer “Don 2,” earning praise for his performance. In 2012, he played the lead role in Sameer Sharma’s comedy film “Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana,” a project he co-wrote. The film garnered positive reviews, with The New York Times even likening him to the Indian Matthew McConaughey. In 2014, he appeared in the offbeat comedy “Kaun Kitne Paani Mein.”

Kunal Kapoor’s subsequent projects included the epic action trilingual film “Veeram,” Gauri Shinde’s film, and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s war drama “Raagdesh,” based on the Indian National Army trials. In 2017, he starred in “Gold,” a film about the first Indian hockey team to win a Gold at the Olympics, alongside Akshay Kumar. It was released on August 15, 2018.

In 2021, Kunal Kapoor had three releases, starting with the T-series production “Koi Jaane Na,” followed by the Disney+ Hotstar series “The Empire,” where he received critical acclaim and won the Best Actor on OTT award. He also featured in the Netflix anthology “Ankahi Kahaniyan,” earning more critical acclaim.

Kunal Kapoor has been associated with several popular brands, including Thums Up, Indian Terrain, Ray-Ban, Pepsico’s Kurkure, and Save the Children charity, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow. In 2009, Kunal commenced writing weekly columns for HT City, the lifestyle supplement of the Hindustan Times, which continued until November 2009 and can still be found online on the Desimartini social network.

Apart from his work in the entertainment industry, Kunal Kapoor is a trained pilot and rally car driver. In 2014, he began training for Formula Three racing. He co-founded Ketto, Asia’s largest crowdfunding platform, dedicated to raising funds for various social and individual causes. The platform has raised close to $120 million to date.

Kunal Kapoor is also renowned for his style and has been recognized as one of the most stylish men in India, featuring on GQ’s list of the top ten stylish men in the country.