Sanjay Kapoor

Early life and background

Kapoor was born on 17 October 1965 in Mumbai, to Nirmal Kapoor and film producer Surinder Kapoor, into a Punjabi Hindu family which embraces Arya Samaj teachings. He is the youngest of four children. His elder brothers are Boney Kapoor, a film producer and Anil Kapoor, an actor. Actress Sridevi and the producer Mona Shourie Kapoor, both Boney's wives, were his sisters-in-law, and Sandeep Marwah, founder of the Noida Film City and owner of Marwah Studios, is his brother-in-law, married to his sister Reena Marwah. Actors Sonam Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, Mohit Marwah and Harshvardhan Kapoor, and film producer Rhea Kapoor are his nephews and nieces. Prithviraj Kapoor, patriarch of the Kapoor family, was his father's cousin.

Career

Film

Kapoor made his debut in Hindi cinema in 1995 with the movie Prem, opposite newcomer Tabu. Although both debutants rendered fairly decent performances, the movie was delayed for many years as it was in production since 1989. Sanjay was 30 when it finally released, the press then dismissively calling him Hindi industry's "oldest newcomer." It bombed at the box office. Kapoor's next movie was Raja (1995) opposite Madhuri Dixit which was a box office success. He went on to star in several films as a lead actor such as Auzaar (1997), Mohabbat (1997) and Sirf Tum (1999). Apart from the moderately successful Chhupa Rustam: A Musical Thriller (2001) he didn't have much success as a lead actor as most of his films failed at the box office. In 2002, he appeared as a villain playing the psychotic husband of Esha Deol in Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe. His performance was praised by critics.

He started playing supporting roles in films like Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003), Julie (2004), Luck By Chance (2009) and Shaandaar (2015).

He turned to producing with his first production Tevar starring his nephew Arjun Kapoor releasing in 2015. He played a cameo appearing alongside his brother Anil for the first time in Mubarakan (2017).

In early 2018, Sanjay was cast in the anthology film Lust Stories as a lead character opposite actress Manisha Koirala. In the same year, he was cast in the movie The Zoya Factor as his real life niece Sonam Kapoor's on screen father, and in 2019 in the Kannada film Seetharama Kalyana. In 2020, he appeared in a short film Sleeping Partner opposite actress Divya Dutta.

Television and web career (2003–present)

He made his debut on television in 2003 appearing in the television serial Karishma – The Miracles of Destiny opposite Karisma Kapoor.

In 2017, he was cast in Vikram Bhatt's television serial Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara opposite Smriti Kalra. The show is about a man marrying a girl much younger than him and how they try to make their marriage work.

In 2018, he landed a role in ALTBalaji's web series Soggy Hoga Tera Baap as Chiraag Arora. In 2019, it was announced that Sanjay eventually opted out of Ekta Kapoor's project, choosing instead Amazon Prime series The Last Hour, which released in 2021, playing the role of DCP Arup Singh.

In 2020, he appeared in The Gone Game, a psychological thriller miniseries on Voot, as Rajeev Gujral. In 2022, he appeared in the Netflix web show The Fame Game as Nikhil More, opposite Madhuri Dixit.

Personal life

Kapoor married his longtime girlfriend and entrepreneur Maheep Sandhu in December 1997. The couple has two children, daughter Shanaya (born 1999) and son Jahaan (born 2005). Shanaya is also an actor, who made her debut with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan (2025).

Filmography

Films

Television

Producer

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (18 October 2017). "Here's how Sanjay Kapoor celebrated his 52nd birthday". [[Mid-Day]].
2. (14 March 2014). "I have not become a producer to promote my career as an actor: Sanjay Kapoor". [[Daily News and Analysis]].
3. (27 December 2014). "Sanjay Kapoor: I have got everything in my life late". [[The Times of India]].
4. (12 November 2017). "Sanjay Kapoor: "The reaction to 'Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara' has been heartwarming"". Biz Asia.
5. (23 February 2020). "Sanjay Kapoor: I find this phase of my career interesting". [[Mid-Day]].
6. Vasisht, Divya. (13 April 2003). "Boney Kapoor: A retake of life".
7. "Sandeep Marwah {{!}} Renowned International Media Personality".
8. (14 November 2017). "Equation between Kapoor brothers Anil, Boney and Sanjay going from bad to worse?". [[Deccan Chronicle]].
9. (7 February 2012). "In pics: The Boney-Anil-Sanjay Kapoor Family Tree". [[CNN]].
10. (25 March 2021). "Did you know Kareena Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor are related?". [[Hindustan Times]].
11. Maheshwri, Neha. (15 September 2023). "Sanjay Kapoor: It's not easy for a 90s actor to make a breakthrough in OTT".
12. "Sanjay Kapoor: I wish Boney would interfere in my career". [[Screen India]].
13. (25 March 2017). "Despite of doing big hit with Madhuri, actor Sanjay Kapoor didn't make it big in bollywood!". Filmy Drama.
14. "Do you know how Chhupa Rustam did at the Box Office?".
15. "BBC – Shropshire – Movies – Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche".
16. (21 July 2014). "I am still open to acting". Film Fare.
17. (10 November 2017). "Sanjay Kapoor joins Dibakar's "Bombay Talkies 2"". [[Business Standard]].
18. (8 June 2018). "'It's important to be a part of the right film': Sanjay Kapoor on Lust Stories and more". [[Daily News and Analysis]].
19. (27 August 2018). "Chachu Sanjay Kapoor to play Sonam Kapoor's father in "The Zoya Factor"". [[Times of India]].
20. (27 September 2018). "Sanjay Kapoor to make his Kannada film debut with director Harsha's Seetharama Kalyana". [[Firstpost]].
21. (1 February 2020). "Sanjay Kapoor, Divya Dutta discuss marital rape in Sleeping Partner". [[Mid-Day]].
22. (5 September 2017). "Sanjay Kapoor returns to small screen after 13 years with Vikram Bhatt's Ishq Gunaah". [[Reliance Industries]].
23. (5 September 2017). "This is what Vikram Bhatt's TV show with Sanjay Kapoor is all about". [[Hungama Digital Media Entertainment]].
24. (30 October 2018). "Sanjay Kapoor signs new digital series Soggy Hoga Tera Baap". [[Eastern Eye]].
25. (8 June 2019). "Why Sanjay Kapoor opted out of Ekta Kapoor's Soggy Hoga Tera Baap".
26. "Maheep Kapoor reveals she met Sanjay Kapoor 'drunk' for a one-night stand: 'I never knew we'd get married". Hindustan Times.
27. (28 July 2017). "Shanaya Kapoor: Here's The Future Star Kid to Watch Out For". [[News 18]].
28. (11 July 2025). "Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan movie review: Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor try to charm, but the writing falls flat". The Indian Express.
29. "Raja – Movie – Box Office India". Box Office India.
30. (30 October 2018). "5 best movies of Sanjay Kapoor".
31. Elley, Derek. (2 October 2002). "Shakti: The Power". [[Penske Media Corporation]].
32. Adarsh, Taran. (17 November 2006). "Unns Movie Review".
33. "Sanjay Kapoor makes Kannada debut". [[The Mumbai Mirror]].
34. (5 November 2018). "'Mission Mangal': Akshay Kumar reveals the star cast of his film'". The Times of India.
35. (1 February 2020). "Sanjay Kapoor, Divya Dutta discuss marital rape in Sleeping Partner". [[Mid-Day]].
36. (9 June 2023). "Bloody Daddy movie review: This Shahid Kapoor-starrer serves everything half-baked".
37. (2 March 2022). "Sanjay Kapoor roped in for Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi starrer 'Merry Christmas'". The Times of India.
38. (2024-05-31). "'House Of Lies' On Zee5 Movie Review".
39. "Murder Mubarak: Vijay Varma, Sara Ali Khan & Karishma Kapoor starrer 'Murder Mubarak' directly to release on Netflix skipping theatrical release".
40. (2025-03-30). "Sikandar review: An ode to Salman Khan's stardom that's devoid of fun".
41. (12 August 2025). "Param Sundari trailer out: Janhvi Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra’s chemistry is ‘cute and fresh’ - CNBC TV18".
42. (24 October 2017). "India is progressing and we need to show it on TV: Sanjay".
43. (29 June 2022). "The Gone Game Season 2 trailer: Sanjay Kapoor and Shweta Tripathi's thriller series promises to be an intriguing watch". [[Firstpost]].
44. Jain, Arushi. (2021-05-08). "The Last Hour trailer: Amazon Prime Video series is all about murder, mystery, spirits and love".
45. (27 February 2022). "The Fame Game Review: Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Kapoor and ensemble deliver pitch-perfect family drama".
46. (17 December 2013). "Arjun Kapoors Tevar to be produced by Sanjay Kapoor". bollywoodhungama.com.
47. (9 January 2010). "Winners of Nokia 16th Annual Star Screen Awards 2009".