Anil Kapoor turns 64: Revisit 5 iconic films by the Bollywood star

Bollywood actor and producer Anil Kapoor remains one of Indian cinema’s most dynamic and age-defying talents, having starred in over 100 Hindi movies in his 40-year long career.

Apart from his rich catalogue of films and a thriving career, Kapoor is also known for being a family man. Anil has three children with wife Sunita -- Sonam, Rhea and Harshvardhan.  As ‘The Slumdog Millionaire’ star celebrated his 64th birthday on December 24, his children took to social media to wish him. Actress and daughter Sonam Kapoor Ahuja wished her doting father a wonderful day, while producer Rhea Kapoor called him her superhero and mentor. On the icon’s birthday, here’s a look at 5 films that define the actor.

The actor is currently busy shooting for 'Jug Jug Jeeyo', which also stars Neetu Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani. 

Parinda: This remains Anil Kapoor’s most celebrated film and continues to enthrall even after 30 years of its release. Kapoor played Karan who’s unaware that his brother, Kishen, played efficiently by Jackie Shroff, has entered the nefarious world of drug trade. His elder brother tries to protect him from the crafty drug lord Anna (Nana Patekar), but things go tragically wrong. Another element that made this film a classic was the epic love story between Madhuri Dixit and Kapoor’s character. The song ‘Tum Se Mil Ke Aisa Laga’ remains one of the most romantic hits lip-synced by Kapoor. The movie dealt with the dirt and grime of the underworld landscape and is seen from the prism of two siblings who try to protect each other against all evils. This remains director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s significant films of his career.

Slumdog Millionaire: Anil Kapoor was thoroughly engaging as a larger-than-life game show host who presses the buttons of the young protagonist, played by Dev Patel. While the spotlight was on the story of an orphan born in the Mumbai slums who seems to have all the right answers to the questions in a game show, Kapooor was in his element here. This movie also introduced Kapoor to the Western audience, long before Priyanka Chopra made serious inroads.

Dil Dhadakne Do: Anil Kapoor as a flamboyant Delhi-based businessman and a confused father to two grown up kids is a hoot in director Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do. The actor in him captures all the emotions that an ageing businessman undergoes. His chemistry with his on-screen wife, played by Shefali Shah, was spot-on and the highlight remains his father-son conversations with Ranveer Singh. He played a materialistic father who believed that his kids needed private jets more than his affection. When it comes to playing that rich, troubled and confused dad, Kapoor outshone others by taking on the role with craftiness and sensitivity.

Lamhe: This film, directed by the late legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra, was way ahead of its time. It released in the 1990s, but the audiences were shocked at the unconventional love story. Kapoor played Viren who falls in love with a young woman played magnificently by the late actress Sridevi, but she doesn’t return his affection and is in love with someone else. Viren is heartbroken and struggles to get over his first love, but then her daughter — who bears an uncanny resemblance to her mother — falls in love with him. It was a brave film that explored love stories with a wide age gap. Kapoor as the emotionally unavailable Viren was brilliant in this film that was ahead of its time.

Mr India: Anil Kapoor spearheaded one of Hindi cinema’s first superhero films, directed by Shekhar Kapur in 1987. Kapoor played a kind young man who gets the powers of invisibility and he embarks to help those in distress. His chemistry with Sridevi was also enjoyable. It remains one of the highest-grossing Indian film of 1987, and has a cult following for its mix of action, drama and fantasy.