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As one of the most versatile and successful actors in Hindi Films, Anil Kapoor has entertained audiences for over 25 years. His dynamism, professionalism and talent have set the benchmark for young and upcoming talent. He has acted in close to 100 Hindi movies and won innumerable awards over the years. These include four "Filmfare" Awards (Indian equivalent of the Oscars®) and the much coveted "National Award" for PUKAR which he also produced. It is one of his favorite films.

Anil will also join the cast of the TV series 24 as a regular next season, airing on Fox.

Anil Kapoor was born on December 24, 1958, in a chawl in Tilak Nagar, Mumbai, to a film producer Surinder Kapoor and his wife Nirmal Kapoor. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School, Chembur.[1] Coming from a film-oriented family, Kapoor's elder brother, Boney Kapoor, is a producer while younger brother Sanjay Kapoor is also a well known Bollywood actor, though not as successful.

In 1984, he married Sunita Kapoor (née Bhambhani) after dating casually for two years, becoming best friends before he ever even kissed her.They marriend in a quiet ceremony with just family and close friends. Sunita was a top print model when they met and is now a top jewelry designer. They three children together -- two daughters and a son. Kapoor's eldest daughter is the actress Sonam Kapoor and just recently became a model for LOREAL cosmetics in India. As of 2008, his other daughter, Rhea, is studying in New York while his son Harsh is still in school. His son Harsh is the one who encouraged Anil to do the film SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and attends film school here in Southern California.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE was made for just under 15 million dollars and has gone on to win every major film award it has been nominated for thus far including Best Picture and 7 other Academy Awards. It won the Best Picture from National Board of Review, Golden Globe Award for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay and Score. It received 10 Academy Award Nominations and 11 BAFTA nominations in the UK. In addition it won the Best Ensemble Feature Film SAG Award. It has gone on to make over $55 million dollars since its release.

Popular Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, who often plays the villain in Indian blockbusters, joined the cast in another key role: that of Prem, the flustered, egotistical host of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" who, mystified by Jamal's knowledge, calls the cops in on the cusp of his big win. It's was Kapoor's children who convinced him to take the role. "When I casually happened to mention Danny Boyle's name in front of my children, they just sprang up and said, 'Dad, that's Danny Boyle! He's made TRAINSPOTTING, THE BEACH. He's a fantastic director. At least go and meet him.'"

Kapoor did and became fascinated by the character of Prem. What's interesting about Prem is that he is also from the slums, only he's made it big and now his show is the number one show in India. He's the producer of the show as well as the host, so he controls everything. Yet, even though he worked his way up from the street, he still doesn't believe in any kind of morality. He wants to hold onto his power no matter what and Jamal seems like a threat to him."

As one of India's most prolific film actors, Kapoor was also intrigued to see how Boyle and his team would translate modern India - from steamy slums to lavish television studios -- onto the screen. The results impressed him. "Danny got the feeling of India in a way I feel none of the films that have been made by foreign filmmakers have really been able to capture before," he comments. "And the kinds of places where Danny has shot this film -- I don't think even Indian films have been shot in those kind of locations."

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