Before and after Mr. India: The roles that redefined a superstar.
Say “Anil Kapoor” and Mr. India instantly pops into your head. The 1987 cult classic turned
him into a pop-culture icon, but it also created a myth that Kapoor’s legacy begins and ends with an invisible suit. Four decades on, that idea feels laughably incomplete.
As Anil Kapoor celebrates another birthday, it’s time to revisit the roles that proved his true strength lies not in spectacle, but in emotional depth, risk-taking, and reinvention. From tragic lovers to morally complex men, Kapoor has quietly built one of Bollywood’s most versatile filmographies.
Here are five performances that shattered the “Mr. India only” stereotype.
Lamhe (1991): The Romantic Who Dared to Be Vulnerable
Lamhe remains one of Bollywood’s most misunderstood masterpieces and one of Anil Kapoor’s bravest performances. Playing a man torn between memory and reality, Kapoor ditched heroism for restraint. His silences spoke louder than dialogues.
At a time when romantic heroes relied on bravado, Kapoor chose emotional maturity. The film may not have succeeded commercially upon release, but its cult status today proves how far ahead of its time both actor and film were.
Why it mattered: It established Kapoor as an actor unafraid of uncomfortable emotions.
Virasat (1997): The Son Caught Between Roots and Reason
In Virasat, Anil Kapoor delivered a deeply grounded performance as a man struggling to balance tradition and progress. Inspired by Tamil cinema, the role demanded physical transformation, emotional intensity, and cultural authenticity.
Gone was the flashy star replaced by a performer immersed in rural India’s moral dilemmas. The film showcased his ability to lead serious, content-driven cinema without losing mainstream appeal.
Why it mattered: It proved Kapoor could anchor socially rooted narratives with conviction.
Nayak: The Real Hero (2001): Power Without Superpowers
What happens when an ordinary man becomes Chief Minister for a day? Nayak gave Kapoor the perfect platform to channel anger, idealism, and urgency. His performance balanced mass appeal with genuine political commentary.
Long before political dramas became fashionable, Kapoor delivered a character that felt aspirational yet relatable. The film’s relevance has only grown stronger with time.
Why it mattered: It showed Kapoor’s command over high-voltage performances without gimmicks.
Dil Dhadakne Do (2015): The Patriarch You Love to Question
As Kamal Mehra, Anil Kapoor played a wealthy, emotionally distant father who mirrored many real-life Indian households. Subtle, restrained, and deeply flawed, the character struck a chord with urban audiences.
Kapoor resisted the urge to soften the role. Instead, he leaned into discomfort making the character real rather than redeemable.
Why it mattered: It marked his seamless transition from leading man to powerful ensemble actor.
AK vs AK (2020): When Anil Kapoor Played… Anil Kapoor
Perhaps his most daring performance came in AK vs AK, where Anil Kapoor blurred the line between star persona and real personality. Playing a heightened version of himself, Kapoor allowed the camera to expose vanity, vulnerability, insecurity, and ego.
The film demanded self-awareness and courage qualities few mainstream stars willingly display. Kapoor’s willingness to deconstruct his own stardom made the performance feel fresh, raw, and deeply modern.
Why it mattered: It proved that even after four decades, Anil Kapoor is still willing to take creative risks.
Mr. India made Anil Kapoor immortal but these roles made him timeless. As he celebrates another year, his career stands as proof that longevity in Bollywood belongs to those willing to grow, fail, adapt, and surprise.
Happy Birthday to a star who never stopped becoming an actor.
