{{Short description|Indian actor, film director (Born February 1961)}} {{distinguish|Rajit Kapur}} {{missing information|1=details about this actor/director |date=June 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Rajat Kapoor | image = Rajat Kapoor in 2014.jpg | alt = | caption = Rajat Kapoor at the International Film Festival of India 2014 | birth_date = 11 February 1961 | birth_place = New Delhi, India | other_names = | spouse = {{marriage|Meenal Agarwal|1996}} | children = 2 | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|filmmaker|playwright}} | years_active = 1987–present }} '''Rajat Kapoor''' is an Indian actor, filmmaker and playwright who works in Hindi cinema.<ref name="big"/>
==Early life and career== Rajat Kapoor was born on 11 February 1961<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajat Kapoor - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos |url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/rajat-kapoor/in.bookmyshow.com/person/rajat-kapoor/1784 |access-date=2025-12-07 |website=BookMyShow |language=en-IN}}</ref> in New Delhi, India and grew up in Old Delhi.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/rajat-kapoor-25-years-back-there-was-nothing-called-gurgaon/articleshow/52480022.cms| title=Rajat Kapoor: 25 years back there was nothing called Gurgaon| author=Pratyush Patra| date=28 January 2017| access-date=5 June 2023| website=indiatimes.com}}</ref> In 1983 he joined the theatre group Chingari in Delhi<ref>{{Cite web |last=imagineindia |date=2020-03-14 |title=Kadakh (Rajat Kapoor) India. Official Section |url=https://imagineindiafestival.com/2020/03/14/kadakh-rajat-kapoor-india-official-section/ |access-date=2025-12-07 |language=en}}</ref>. In 1985 he moved to Pune to attend the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).<ref name="big">{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060225/asp/weekend/story_5872757.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527034200/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060225/asp/weekend/story_5872757.asp | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 May 2006 | title=Big on the small film | publisher=The Telegraph (Calcutta) | work=Telegraph portal | date=25 February 2006 | access-date=18 March 2016 | author=Jagan, Negi}}</ref>
Kapoor started out in Parallel Cinema, making his debut in the 1989 Kumar Shahani film ''Khayal Gatha''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-21 |title=DIFF 2025 - Bringing Independent Cinema to the Mountains |url=https://diff.co.in/ |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Dharamshala International Film Festival |language=en-US}}</ref> When he had trouble finding acting jobs in the 1990s, Kapoor began writing and directing shorts. He made his full-length directorial debut with ''Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One'' (1997), which had Irrfan Khan and Naseeruddin Shah in minor roles.<ref name="big"/>
===Mainstream breakthrough and continued career=== In 2001, Kapoor got his big mainstream break-in ''Dil Chahta Hai'', as Preity Zinta's character's uncle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Then and Now: Dil Chahta Hai {{!}} Filmfare.com |url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/then-and-now-dil-chahta-hai-10194.html |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=www.filmfare.com |language=en}}</ref> He received international attention in Mira Nair's ''Monsoon Wedding'' in which he played an abusive uncle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=India New England |date=2016-07-18 |title=Bollywood-Star-Studded English Play "What's Done is Done" Comes to Boston on July 24 |url=https://indianewengland.com/2016/07/bollywood-stars-studded-english-play-whats-done-done-comes-boston-july-24/ |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=INDIA New England News |language=en}}</ref> Since then, he has written, directed, and appeared in many films. He played Muhammad Ali Jinnah in a UK television film ''The Last Days of the Raj'' in 2007. In 2003, he wrote and directed the independent film ''Raghu Romeo,'' which he financed by sending e-mail requests for money to his friends. Although it was not a box office success, the film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. He then directed and starred in ''Mixed Doubles'', a film that deals with swinging in contemporary Mumbai.<ref name="big"/> In 2008 he directed a sleeper hit Mithya. He was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actor for ''Siddharth: The Prisoner'' at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. In the year 2010, he has also starred in a Bengali movie ''Iti Mrinalini'' opposite Konkona Sen directed by Bengali film writer Aparna Sen.
Apart from films, Kapoor hosts the tri-weekly chat show ''Lounge'' telecasted by NDTV Good Times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goodtimes.ndtv.com/GoodTimesShowPage.aspx?ShowID=12|title=Lounge|access-date=24 September 2010|archive-date=25 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125181312/http://goodtimes.ndtv.com/GoodTimesShowPage.aspx?ShowID=12|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also worked in television shows, including ''Rishtey'' which was aired on Zee TV in the episode "Milan".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://rishtey.tv/tag/rajat-kapoor/ | title=MILAN | publisher=Rishtey Portal | date=18 May 2014 | access-date=18 March 2016 | archive-date=16 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816200520/http://rishtey.tv/tag/rajat-kapoor/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Tired of pitching his stories to investors, Kapoor reached out to his friend Chet Jainn, founder of the crowdfunding platform goCrowdera.com to raise initial seed fund for his next film called ''RkRkay''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/a-crowdfund-in-need-is-a-friend-indeed/article9807737.ece|title=A crowd-fund in need is a friend indeed!|last=Pani|first=Priyanka|website=@businessline|date=8 August 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/entertainment/why-are-more-filmmakers-shifting-towards-crowdfunding-2343547.html|title=How crowdfunding has opened up new avenue of financing for filmmakers|website=Moneycontrol|date=3 August 2017 |access-date=2019-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/actor-director-rajat-kapoor-partners-crowdera-to-raise-funds-for-upcoming-movies/59839789|title=Actor-director Rajat Kapoor partners Crowdera to raise funds for upcoming movies - ETtech|last=www.ETtech.com|newspaper=The Economic Times|language=en|access-date=2019-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rajat-kapoor-plans-to-make-rk-r-kay-through-crowdfunding-118012900864_1.html|title=Rajat Kapoor plans to make 'RK/R Kay' through crowdfunding|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2018-01-29|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-08-16}}</ref> The "RkRkay" crowdfunding campaign went on to raise over ₹35,00,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gocrowdera.com/rkrk/|title=RK/R Kay - Crowd-Produced Feature Film by Rajat Kapoor by Mithya Talkies|website=GoCrowdera|language=en|access-date=2019-07-30|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811221250/https://gocrowdera.com/rkrk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Kapoor is a three time National Award winner, first for his 26-minute non-feature documentary, ''Tarana'', then for his short, ''Hypnothesis'', and after that for Raghu Romeo in Best Feature Film in Hindi section.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gateway- Rajat Kapoor|url=http://www.rediff.com/gateway/rajatkapoor.html}}</ref>
==Personal life== Kapoor married Meenal Agarwal, a photographer-production designer in 1996<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/marriage-is-meant-to-last-rajat-kapoor/500374 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524084203/http://www.freepressjournal.in/marriage-is-meant-to-last-rajat-kapoor/500374 | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 May 2016 | title="Marriage is meant to last" – Rajat Kapoor | publisher=Free Press Journal | work=FPJ Desk | date=19 December 2014 | access-date=18 March 2016 | author=Nichola, Pais}}</ref> and has two children, a daughter Rabia and a son Vivan.<ref name="big" /> Kapoor is an atheist, and he has said he believes God is a man-made concept.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/celeb-trends/21700-10-indian-celebs-who-are-proclaimed-atheists-p6.html| title=10 Indian Celebs Who Are Proclaimed Atheists |date=28 January 2014| access-date=5 June 2023| author=Priyankee Saikia| website=mensxp.com}}</ref>
=== Allegations of sexual harassment === In October 2018, Kapoor was accused of sexual harassment by two different women during the Me Too movement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Actor Rajat Kapoor, Accused Of Harassing 2 Women, Apologises For Causing 'Pain, Hurt, Trauma' |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/actor-rajat-kapoor-accused-of-harassing-2-women-apologises-for-causing-pain-hurt-trauma-1928495 |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=NDTV |language=en}}</ref> One, a journalist, said that he made inappropriate comments during a telephone interview.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Entertainment |first=Quint |date=2018-10-08 |title=#MeToo: "Rajat Kapoor Tried to Kiss Me Repeatedly, I Was 20" |url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/bollywood/metoo-in-india-rajat-kapoor-accused-of-sexual-misconduct |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref> Following these accusations, Kapoor apologised on Twitter, saying "I am sorry from the bottom of my heart – and sad that I was the cause of this hurt to another human being."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=2018-10-08 |title=Actor Rajat Kapoor Apologizes On Twitter Following Harassment Claims As Bollywood Feels The #MeToo Force |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/rajat-kapoor-metoo-nana-patekar-kailash-kher-vikas-bahl-bollywood-1202478260/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> His film ''Kadakh'' was dropped from the 20th MAMI Film Festival due to the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-09 |title=Rajat Kapoor and AIB's films dropped from 20th MAMI Mumbai Film Festival |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/rajat-kapoor-aib-films-dropped-mami-film-festival-5393146/ |access-date=2021-10-10 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |+ Feature films ! rowspan="2" width="33" | Year ! rowspan="2" width="250" | Title ! colspan="5" | Functioned As ! rowspan="2" | Notes |- ! width="65" | Director ! width="65" | Producer ! width="65" | Screenwriter ! width="65" | Actor ! Role |- | 1989 | ''Khayal Gatha'' | | | | {{yes}} | Several characters | |- | 1994 | ''Tarana''<ref>{{cite AV media |date=22 September 2025 |title=Tarana |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TndPAxkez4k |language=en-in |publisher=Films Division of India |via=YouTube |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> | {{yes}} | | | | | National Film Award for Best Short Fiction Film |- | 1996 | ''Hypnothesis'' | {{yes}} | | | | | |National Film Award for Best Short Fiction Film |- | 1997 | ''Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One'' | {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | | |<ref>https://scroll.in/reel/802496/rajat-kapoors-private-detective-is-pulp-for-the-brain</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |2001 |''Dil Chahta Hai'' | | | |{{yes}} | Mahesh | |- |''Monsoon Wedding'' | | | |{{yes}} |Tej Puri | |- | rowspan="2" | 2003 | ''Raghu Romeo'' | {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | | |National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi |- | ''Mudda: The Issue'' | | | | {{yes}} | Harphool Singh | |- | 2004 | ''Tum'' | | | | {{yes}} | Vinod Gupta | |- | rowspan="3" | 2005 | ''Dhadkanein'' | | | | {{yes}} | | |- | ''Kisna: The Warrior Poet'' | | | | {{yes}} | Prince Raghuraj | |- | ''Chehraa'' | | | | {{yes}} | | |- | rowspan="5" | 2006 | ''Mixed Doubles'' | {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Vinod | |- | ''Corporate'' | | | | {{yes}} | Vinay Sehgal | |- | ''Yun Hota To Kya Hota'' | | | | {{yes}} | US Consulate Officer | |- | ''Bombay Skies'' | | | | {{yes}} | Anand | Short film |- | ''Anuranan'' | | | | {{yes}} | Amit Bannerjee | Simultaneously shot in Hindi and Bengali |- | rowspan="5" | 2007 | ''The Last Days of the Raj'' | | | | {{yes}} | Muhammad Ali Jinnah | TV film |- | ''Bheja Fry'' | | | | {{yes}} | Ranjeet Thadani | |- | ''Apna Asmaan'' | | | | {{yes}} | Dr. Sen | |- | ''Hamlet: The Clown Prince'' | {{yes}} | | | | | Play |- | ''Khoya Khoya Chand'' | | | | {{yes}} | Prem Kumar | |- | rowspan="6" | 2008 | ''Mithya'' | {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | | | |- | ''Krazzy 4'' | | | | {{yes}} | Ravi K. Sanyal | |- | ''Via Darjeeling'' | | | | {{yes}} | Ronodeep 'Rono' Sen | |- | ''Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na'' | | | | {{yes}} | Mahesh Pariyar | |- | ''Hulla'' | | | | {{yes}} | Janardhan | |- | ''Dasvidaniya'' | | | | {{yes}} | Rajiv Jhulka | |- | rowspan="5" | 2009 | ''I M 24'' | | | | {{yes}} | Shubendu Roy | |- | ''Ek Tho Chance'' | | | | {{yes}} | | |- | ''Siddharth: The Prisoner'' | | | | {{yes}} | Siddharth Roy | |- | ''Teree Sang'' | | | | {{yes}} | Barrister Mohit Puri | |- | ''Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi?'' | | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Rahul Kapoor | |- | rowspan="6" | 2010 | ''Rann'' | | | | {{yes}} | Naveen Shankalya | |- | ''That Girl in Yellow Boots'' | | | | {{yes}} | Man Who Steps Out of Elevator | Premiered in South Asian International Film Festival 2010 |- | ''Pappu Can't Dance Saala'' | | | | {{yes}} | Palash | Premiered in South Asian International Film Festival 2010 |- | ''...And Once Again'' | | | | {{yes}} | Rishi | |- | ''Iti Mrinalini'' | | | | {{yes}} | Siddhartha Sarkar | |- | ''Phas Gaye Re Obama'' | | | | {{yes}} | Om Shastri | |- | rowspan="2" | 2011 | ''Jo Dooba So Paar: It's Love In Bihar!'' | | | | {{yes}} | Superintendent of Police | |- | ''Nothing Like Lear'' | {{yes}} | | | | | Play |- | rowspan="5" | 2012 | ''Agent Vinod'' | | | | {{yes}} | ISI chief Lt-Gen Iftekhar Ahmed | |- | ''Fatso!'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | | | | |- | ''The Owner'' | | {{yes}} | | | | |- | ''10ml LOVE'' | | | | {{yes}} | Ghalib | |- | ''Midnight's Children'' | | | | {{yes}} | Aadam Aziz | |- | 2013 | ''Carpet Boy'' | | | | {{yes}} | Ehsaan Khan | |- |2014 | ''Ankhon Dekhi'' | {{yes}} | | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | Rishi |Won – Star Screen Award for Best Story <br/>Won - Filmfare Award for Best Story <br/>Won - Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics) |- | rowspan="2" | 2015 | ''Drishyam'' | | | | {{yes}} |Mahesh Deshmukh | |- |''X: Past Is Present'' | | | | {{yes}} | K | |- | rowspan="2" | 2016 |''Kapoor & Sons'' | | | | {{yes}} | Harsh Kapoor |Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |- |''Mantra'' | | | |{{Yes}} |Kapil Kapoor |English-Hindi bilingual film |- |2017 |''Rat Race - Ek Andhi Daud'' | | | |{{yes}} | Akhil | Short film |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |''Pari'' | | | |{{yes}} |Professor Quasim Aali |<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/pari-new-screamer-anushka-sharma-will-scare-the-living-daylights-out-of-you/story-E1g9UT8gj2k1pV2xrPVuwJ.html|title=Pari new screamer: Anushka Sharma will scare the living daylights out of you|date=2018-02-02|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2018-02-10|language=en}}</ref> |- |''Mulk'' | | | |{{yes}} |Danish Javed |<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/rishi-kapoor-surprises-fans-with-his-new-look-for-mulq-then-shares-102-not-out-bonanza-pic/story-GBY9SnQunCI9JZwd3jXwTI.html|title=Rishi Kapoor surprises fans with his new look for Mulk. Then shares 102 Not Out bonanza pic|date=2017-10-17|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2017-10-17|language=en}}</ref> |- |2020 |''Kadakh'' |{{yes}} |{{yes}} | |{{yes}} |Author Rahul | |- | rowspan="3" | 2022 |''Gehraiyaan'' | | | |{{yes}} |Jitesh | |- |''RK/RKay'' |{{yes}} | |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |RK / Mahboob | |- |''Drishyam 2'' | | | |{{yes}} |Mahesh Deshmukh | <ref>{{Cite web|date=17 February 2022|title=Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran begin Drishyam 2 shoot in Goa; Abhishek Pathak to direct|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/ajay-devgn-and-shriya-saran-begin-drishyam-2-shoot-in-goa-abhishek-pathak-to-direct/|access-date=17 February 2022|work=Bollywood Hungama|language=en}}</ref> |- |2023 |''Anur'' | | | |{{yes}} |IAS Loshit Modliar |Assamese film<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 January 2023|title='Anur' review: Navigating the undercurrents of old age|url=https://thenewsmill.com/2023/01/anur-review-navigating-the-undercurrents-of-old-age/|access-date=27 January 2023|work=The News Mill |language=en}}</ref> |- |2024 | Sadabahar | | | | {{Yes}} | Miya Ji's Son | |- |rowspan="2"|2025 |''Raid 2'' | | | |{{yes}} |Anjani Kaul IRS Chief Commissioner of Income Tax | |- |''Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders'' | | | |{{yes}} |DGP Sameer Verma | |- |2026 |''Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa'' |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{yes}} | Chandra | |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Language |- |1987–1988 |''Ganadevta'' | | rowspan="7" |Hindi |- |1994-1998 |''Junoon'' |Pappu |- |1999-2000 |''Gubbare'' |Sharad |- |2000-2003 |''Gharwali Uparwali (one episode only)'' |Advertising Agency Boss |- |2005 |''C.I.D (two episodes only)'' |Tanuj |- | 2008 | ''Gateway To Hollywood''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k8/may/may146.php|title=Sony Pix announces winner of Gateway|date=May 13, 2008|access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref> | Judge |- |2014-2015 |''Everest'' |Ramesh Rungta |- |2017-2019 |''The Good Karma Hospital'' |Amit Nambeesan |English |- | rowspan="3" |2020 |''Code M'' |Col. Suryaveer Chauhan |Hindi |- |''Shobdo Jobdo'' |Sougata |Bengali |- |''Scam 1992'' |K. Madhavan | rowspan="7" |Hindi |- |2021 |''Call My Agent: Bollywood'' |Montie Bahl |- | 2022 |''Tanaav''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tanaav-indian-adaptation-of-fauda-to-stream-on-sony-liv-from-november-11/article66026277.ece|title='Tanaav,' Indian adaptation of 'Fauda' to stream on Sony LIV from November 11|newspaper=The Hindu |date=October 18, 2022|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> | Jagjit Malik |- | 2023 |''Jehanabad - Of Love & War'' |Shivanand Singh |- |2024 |''Lootere'' |Captain A.K. Singh |- |rowspan="2"|2025 |''Khauf'' |Hakim |- |''Saare Jahan Se Accha: The Silent Guardians'' |R. N. Kao |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{IMDb name|0438494}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestStory}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kapoor, Rajat}} Category:Living people Category:Filmfare Awards winners Category:Male actors from Delhi Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni Category:Indian atheists Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:Film directors from Delhi Category:Screenwriters from Delhi Category:Film producers from Delhi Category:Hindi-language screenwriters Category:Hindi-language Indian writers Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:People from Delhi