Shahid Kapoor is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. Known for his versatility, he has appeared in a wide range of films spanning romantic dramas, action thrillers, and biographical films. Over the course of his career, he has received several accolades, including three Filmfare Awards, and is recognised as one of the leading actors of his generation in Bollywood.
| Full name | Shahid Kapoor |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 February 1981, New Delhi, India |
| Father | Pankaj Kapur (actor) |
| Mother | Neelima Azeem (actress and dancer) |
| Spouse | Mira Rajput (m. 2015) |
| Half-brother | Ishaan Khatter (actor) |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, dancer |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Debut film | Ishq Vishk (2003) |
Shahid Kapoor was born on 25 February 1981 in New Delhi to actor Pankaj Kapur and actress-dancer Neelima Azeem. His parents separated when he was young, and he was raised primarily by his mother in Mumbai. He trained in dance under choreographer Shiamak Davar and worked as a background dancer in Hindi films and music videos before transitioning to acting. He also appeared in several television commercials in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Kapoor made his film debut in Ken Ghosh's romantic film Ishq Vishk (2003), for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. The early years of his career featured a mix of romantic and family-oriented films such as Fida (2004), Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! (2005), and Shikhar (2005). He achieved his first major commercial success with Vivah (2006), directed by Sooraj Barjatya.
In 2007, Kapoor starred in Imtiaz Ali's romantic comedy Jab We Met opposite Kareena Kapoor, which became a major critical and commercial success and earned him widespread recognition. He went on to appear in Kismat Konnection (2008) and Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey (2009), in which he played dual roles, earning critical praise and a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor.
Subsequent films included Badmaash Company (2010), Mausam (2011) directed by his father, and Phata Poster Nikhla Hero (2013).
Kapoor's collaboration with Vishal Bhardwaj continued with Haider (2014), an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet set in Kashmir. His performance won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics). He starred in Udta Punjab (2016), addressing drug abuse in Punjab, for which he received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.
In 2018, he played the male lead in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's historical epic Padmaavat opposite Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. The film became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year. He followed this with Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018).
Kapoor headlined Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Kabir Singh (2019), a remake of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy. The film was a major box office success and earned him a Filmfare nomination, although it drew significant debate over its depiction of relationships. He made his web series debut with Farzi (2023) on Amazon Prime Video, directed by Raj & DK. Subsequent theatrical releases included Bloody Daddy (2023) and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024).
Shahid Kapoor married Mira Rajput on 7 July 2015 in New Delhi. The couple have two children, daughter Misha (born 2016) and son Zain (born 2018). He is a practising vegetarian and is known for his interest in fitness and martial arts.
Kapoor is regarded as one of the most accomplished dancer-actors of contemporary Hindi cinema. His career trajectory from a romantic lead in family entertainers to performance-driven roles in films such as Kaminey, Haider, Udta Punjab, and Kabir Singh reflects a deliberate shift towards diverse and challenging characters. He has been involved in various endorsements and is associated with social causes related to animal welfare.