Pankaj Kapur is an Indian actor and director. He is 72 years old and was born on 29 May 1954 in Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
He has worked in Hindi theatre, television, and films, and he has been active in entertainment since the 1970s.
He trained at the National School of Drama, which helped him build a strong base in acting before he moved into screen roles.
One of his early film appearances was in Shyam Benegal’s Arohan (1982).
On television, he became widely known for playing the lead role in Karamchand, a detective-comedy series that first aired in June 1985.
Later, many viewers also recognised him from Office Office, where the show used humour to comment on everyday problems.
He has received major acting honours, including a National Film Award (Best Supporting Actor) for Maqbool (2004).
Quick Facts Pankaj Kapur
| Full Name | Pankaj Kapur |
| Profession | Actor, director |
| Age | 72 years old |
| Date of Birth | 29 May 1954 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Birthplace | Ludhiana, Punjab, India |
| Current Address | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Gender | Male |
Pankaj Kapur Early Life and Education
Pankaj Kapur was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. It is known that when he told his father he wanted to act at around age 18, his father, an English professor, asked him to be clear about his reasons and pushed him to test his ability through proper training. As he grew up, he became interested in theatre and acting.
Education
He attended Kundan Vidya Mandir in Ludhiana, where he first developed an interest in school plays and cultural activities.
He studied in Punjab and later joined the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi for formal training in acting.
| School | Kundan Vidya Mandir in Ludhiana |
| Alma Mater | National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi |
| Highest Qualification | Yet to be updated |
Pankaj Kapur Personal Life
Veteran actor Pankaj Kapur leads a rich personal life deeply intertwined with the Indian film industry.
A celebrated figure across theatre, television, and film, he has navigated two marriages and shares a close-knit, blended family with three children, including Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor.
Partner and Children
Pankaj Kapur married classical dancer and actress Neelima Azeem. The couple had one son, prominent Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, born in 1981. Pankaj and Neelima divorced in 1984.
In 1988, Pankaj married acclaimed actress Supriya Pathak (daughter of legendary actress Dina Pathak). The couple has two children: a daughter, Sanah Kapur, and a son, Ruhaan Kapur.
Family
His parents’ names and sibling details are yet to be updated.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife/Ex-Wife | Wife: Supriya Pathak Ex-Wife: Neelima Azeem |
| Children | Sons: Shahid Kapoor, Ruhaan Kapur Daughter: Sanah Kapur |
| Parents | Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Yet to be updated |
Pankaj Kapur Career
Pankaj Kapur began his professional work in theatre after graduating from the National School of Drama. He acted in theatre for about four years before he was offered a part in Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi (1982).
He started appearing in films in the early 1980s, including Hari Hondal Bargadar: Share Cropper (1981) and Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya (1981).
In 1982, he played Pyarelal Nayyar in Gandhi (1982), starring Ben Kingsley. He then worked in several parallel cinema titles such as Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), which featured Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, and Mandi (1983), known for a large ensemble led by Shabana Azmi.
Other films from this period include Aadharshila (1982), Arohan (1983), Khandhar (1984), Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1984), Khamosh (1985), Aitbaar (1985), Aghaat (1985), Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986), Musafir (1986), Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986), Jalwa (1987), Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987), Susman (1987), Main Zinda Hoon (1988), Ek Aadmi (1988), Tamas (1988, TV film), Agla Mausam (1989), Raakh (1989), Marhi Da Deeva (1989, Punjabi), Kamla Ki Maut (1989).
In the mid-1980s, he moved strongly into television and became a household name as the lead in Karamchand (first aired 1985). The show also starred Sushmita Mukherjee.
In 1991, he played Dr Dipankar Roy in Ek Doctor Ki Maut. He appeared in Shadyantra (1990) and in Mani Ratnam’s Roja (1992), which starred Arvind Swamy and Madhoo.
Other films in the 1990s include Aakanksha (1993), The Burning Season (1993), Kokh (1994), Ram Jaane (1995) with Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, Daughters of this Century (1995), and Rui Ka Bojh (1997).
On television in these years, he also appeared in shows such as Kab Tak Pukaroon (Doordarshan), Zabaan Sambhaal Ke, Lifeline (with Vijaya Mehta), Neem Ka Ped, and Philips Top 10.
In 2000, he returned to TV with the satire Office Office as Mussadilal. In cinema, he played Abbaji in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool (released in India in 2004). The film also starred Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri.
He also acted in Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003) with Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, Dus (2005) with an ensemble led by Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty, The Blue Umbrella (2005), Sehar (2005), Dharm (2007), and Halla Bol (2008).
In 2011, he appeared in Chala Musaddi Office Office (as Mussadilal), and in 2013, he played Harry Mandola in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola alongside Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma.
He played Don Pedro in Finding Fanny (2014), which featured Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, and Dimple Kapadia.
His later films include Shaandaar (2015) with Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, Toba Tek Singh (2018), Happi (2019), Jersey (2022) with Shahid Kapoor, Lost (2023) with Yami Gautam and Rahul Khanna, and Bheed (2023) with Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Ashutosh Rana, and Kritika Kamra.
On OTT, he appeared in the Netflix mini-series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (released 29 August 2024), which starred Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy.
In 2025, he played “Grandpa” in the family series Thode Door Thode Paas.
In 2026, he starred in the ZEE5 film Jab Khuli Kitaab as Gopal Chandra Nautiyal, alongside Dimple Kapadia and Aparshakti Khurana (streaming premiere: 6 March 2026).
Upcoming Projects
- Badlapur 2 (Hindi Film): Pre-production. The director is Sriram Raghavan, and Pankaj Kapur is listed in the cast.
Pankaj Kapur Awards and Achievement
Pankaj Kapur has won major honours for both films and television. His best-known awards include National Film Awards for Raakh and Maqbool, and multiple TV awards for Office Office.
His major wins
- National Film Awards (1989): Won Best Supporting Actor for Raakh.
- National Film Awards (1991): Won Special Jury Award for Ek Doctor Ki Maut.
- National Film Awards (2004): Won Best Supporting Actor for Maqbool.
- Filmfare Awards (2005): Won Best Actor (Critics) for Maqbool.
- Producers Guild Film Awards (2004): Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Maqbool.
- Indian Television Academy Awards (2003, 2004, 2007): Won Best Actor in a Comic Role for Office Office (for different award years).
- Indian Telly Awards (2002, 2003): Won Best Actor in a Comic Role for Office Office.
His key nominations
- Filmfare Awards (1990): Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Raakh.
- IIFA Awards (2005): Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Maqbool.
- Filmfare Awards (2006): Nominated for Best Performance in a Negative Role for Dusk.
- Filmfare Awards (2014): Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.
- Asian Television Awards (2021): Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for JL50.
Pankaj Kapur Controversies
Pankaj Kapur has mostly stayed away from major public disputes. Still, he has been part of public debate because of the comments he made and because of reactions to projects linked to him.
October 2025: Pankaj Kapur spoke in support of Shahid Kapoor’s film Kabir Singh (2019), which had faced criticism for its portrayal of violence and misogyny. He said the film showed issues that already exist in society. His comments were widely discussed online.
Around 2024 to 2025: He also responded to criticism linked to the series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (where he appears). In an interview, he addressed the backlash and said people can find faults in many things, and he did not feel the need to react to every criticism.
Pankaj Kapur Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Pankaj Kapur is about ₹132 crore ($15 million-$16 million), and his annual salary is yet to be updated.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $15 million-$16 million |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Pankaj Kapur Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
Pankaj Kapur’s height is around 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm), and he weighs 70kg (154 lbs). Though it is known that he has black eyes and hair.
| Height | In centimetres: 168 cm In meters: 1.68 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 6 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 70 kg In lbs: 154 Ibs |
| Body Measurements | 42-36-12 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
Pankaj Kapur Instagram
 @officialpankajkapur |
FAQs
Who is Pankaj Kapur?
Pankaj Kapur is an Indian actor and director known for his film, theatre, and television work.
What is Pankaj Kapur’s age and date of birth?
Pankaj Kapur is 72 years old and was born on 29 May 1954.
Where was Pankaj Kapur born?
Pankaj Kapur was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
Where did Pankaj Kapur study acting?
Pankaj Kapur studied at the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi.
Which TV shows is Pankaj Kapur known for?
Pankaj Kapur is widely known for Karamchand and Office Office.
Which films is Pankaj Kapur known for?
Pankaj Kapur is known for films such as Gandhi, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, and Maqbool.
Who is Pankaj Kapur’s wife?
Pankaj Kapur is married to actress Supriya Pathak.
How many children does Pankaj Kapur have?
Pankaj Kapur has three children: Shahid Kapoor, Sanah Kapur, and Ruhaan Kapur.
What are Pankaj Kapur’s main awards?
Pankaj Kapur has won National Film Awards for Raakh and Maqbool. He has also received major TV awards for Office Office.
