Happy Birthday, Anil Kapoor. Race Continues @62

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has enjoyed quite a consistent film career with big hits and rave reviews for his movies. 2018 hasn't been a great year for Anil Kapoor films-wise (Race 3 and Fanney Khan were panned by the critics) but on a personal front, it was Jhakaas. Anil Kapoor's elder daughter Sonam married longtime boyfriend Anand Ahuja. But more on that later. As he turns 62, we take a pictorial look at his Bollywood journey so far.

Anil Kapoor was born in Mumbai to film producer Surinder Kapoor and Nirmal Kapoor. His elder brother Boney Kapoor is a film producer and younger brother Sanjay is also an actor-producer. He also has a sister.

Like his professional career, Anil's personal life too has been a pleasant journey so far. In 1984, he met Sunita Bhambhani, a beautiful model whom he got married to. The couple has three children, two daughters - Sonam and Rhea and a son Harshwardhan Kapoor. Sonam has found her footing in Bollywood as an actor while Rhea is an accomplished director. Harshvardhan has starred in two unsuccessful films so far - Mirzya (also his debut project) and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero.

Anil Kapoor did his schooling from Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School and then joined St Xavier's College. He also tried to get an admission in the Film and Television Institute, Pune, but he failed the written test.

But destiny had already planned a place for him in Bollywood. Though his Bollywood debut went unnoticed with Humhare Tumhare, his first lead role in Woh Saat Din in 1983, marked the entry of a promising star in the film industry.

At the same time he tried his hand in south, with movies like Vamsa Vriksham (1979) and Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983), but Bollywood always remained his first love. His next movie was Mashaal (1984), in which he played a vagabond. He showed an excellent acting prowess and won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. He also took the credit of setting a trend for the tapori character in Bollywood.

During the 80s, he kept the show going with hits like Saaheb (1985), Janbaaz (1986), Insaaf Ki Awaaz (1986) and Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986).

But the real feathers in his cap came with blockbusters such as Meri Jung (1985), Karma (1986), Mr India (1987), Tezaab (1988) and Ram Lakhan (1989).

He struck a right balance between commercial masala films as well as substantive appearances in films like Thikana (1987), Eeshwar (1988) and Parinda (1989). In fact, Thikana earned him his first Filmfare Best Actor Award.

The Nineties were full of ups and downs for Anil Kapoor. The major highlights during this period were Beta (1992) opposite Madhuri Dixit, 1942: A Love Story (1994) opposite Manisha Koirala and Laadla (1994) with Sridevi.

During this time, when he had established himself as a superstar, movies like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993) and Trimurti (1995) not just turned out as complete disasters but also shook his image in the industry.

But flops never bogged him down as he bounced back on the success track with hits like Loafer (1996), Judaai (1996), Deewana Mastana (1997), Biwi No 1 (1999) and Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999). In fact, his performance in Taal (1999) was extremely appreciated and he won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for the film.

Even in the 2000s he kept himself in the league of successful actors. He is among the very few actors who have been successful in all genres of films. Whether its Rajkumar Santoshi's critically acclaimed Pukar (2000), or his power-packed appearance in Nayak (2001), cine-buffs loved him in all kinds of roles. Calcutta Mail (2003) is another major highlight of his career.

He won his first National Film Award in the Best Actor category for Pukar.

He also gave box office laugh riots like No Entry (2005) and Welcome (2007).

Anil Kapoor also made his presence felt in films like Musafir (2004) and Race (2008). Both were hit films.

His consistency paid off in 2008 when Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire earned accolades from all over the world. The movie won international awards like Golden Globe and the Oscars. Anil Kapoor became an internationally-known star after this film.

Besides acting, Anil Kapoor moved to producing films in 2002. Some of the films produced by him are Badhaai Ho Badhaai (2002), My Wife's Murder (2005), Gandhi, My Father (2007), Shortkut: The Con Is On (2009), Aisha (2010), No Problem (2010) and his first television series 24.

In 2010, Anil Kapoor featured in the eighth season of the American television series 24. His role generated rave reviews from the American press.

In 2011, the actor featured in another big Hollywood project, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, where he played the role of an Indian businessman Brij Nath.

The actor later featured in mostly multiple starrer movies like Tezz (2012), Shootout At Wadala (2013) and Race 2 (2013), but the actor had a significant role in all the movies.

Anil Kapoor ventured into the small screen with the television series 24, the Indian version of the hit American series of the same name. The second season of the show aired this year.

In 2015, Anil Kapoor greyed his hair onscreen for the first time in his career for Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do. In the film, Anil Kapoor played Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh's onscreen father. The film was a commercial and critical success.

Anees Bazmee's Welcome Back was Anil Kapoor's second project of the year.

The same year, Anil Kapoor had a cameo in popular American show Family Guy. Jhakaas.

This image was posted on Instagram by Anil Kapoor

Anil Kapoor had no releases in 2016 and then in 2017, he was seen in Mubarakan with his real-life nephew Arjun Kapoor. The film was directed by Anees Bazmee and it fared decently at the box office.

This year, Anil Kapoor starred in the reboot of the Race series. The principal cast of the film was changed - Saif was replaced by Salman Khan - and Anil Kapoor's character was completely redone. The film was panned by the critics but it managed to make over Rs 100 crore at the ticket window.

Anil Kapoor's second release of the year - Fanney Khan - did not help him either. The film reunited him with his Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai and Taal co-star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Anil Kapoor was also the voice of Baloo in the Hindi version of Netflix's Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. He also produced Netflix series Selection Day recently.

His upcoming projects are Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga co-starring his daughter Sonam Kapoor and the biopic on Abhinav Bindra, which features his son Harshvardhan in the titular role. Anil Kapoor has also signed up for Total Dhamaal.

This image was posted on Instagram by Anil Kapoor

We wish Anil Kapoor a very happy birthday. This image was posted on Instagram by Anil Kapoor