Kunal Kapoor (Kapoor family)

Kunal Kapoor is a former Indian film actor of British and Indian descent. He is the eldest son of Shashi Kapoor and the late Jennifer Kendal.

Family background

Kunal was born in the famous Kapoor family, particularly known for having produced several generations of popular actors and actresses. His paternal grandfather was Prithviraj Kapoor, his paternal uncles are Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. His younger brother Karan Kapoor and sister Sanjana Kapoor have also acted in some films but like him they were not very successful.His maternal grandparents Geoffrey Kendal and Laura Kendal were actors who toured India & Asia with their theatre group, ‘SHAKESPEAREANA’ performing Shakespeare and Shaw. ( Merchant Ivory's film, SHAKESPEARE WALLA’ was loosely based on them, which starred his father & and his aunt the actress Felicity Kendal.

He is married to lara Sippy, the daughter of the famous film director Ramesh Sippy, and has two children – Zahan Prithviraj Kapoor & Shaira Laura Kapoor.

Acting career

Kunal mostly acted in his father's films. He made his debut with the 1972 English-language film "Siddhartha" where he played the son of the title character played by his father. He then appeared in Shyam Benegal's critically acclaimed 1978 film "Junoon" which also featured his father, mother and both his siblings. In 1981 he appeared in his first mainstream Bollywood film titled "Ahista Ahista" opposite Padmini Kolhapure. The film was a box office hit but failed to launch his career in Bollywood. In 1982 he once again featured alongside his father in the much acclaimed "Vijeta". After that he appeared in the controversial art film "Utsav" (1984), and "Trikaal" (1985).

Filmography

*"Siddharta" (1972)
*"Junoon" (1978)
*"Ahista Ahista (1981)"
*"Vijeta" (1982)
*"Utsav" (1984)
*"Trikaal" (1985)

Directing & Producing Career

In 1987, Kunal set up his own company Adfilm-Valas, and started producing-directing television Commercials. One of this memorable creations was the ‘Dream Lover’ series for Bombay Dyeing starring his brother, Karan. Since then he has directed over 800 TV commercials, and is considered one of the better Adfilm Directors in India. He is particularly known for his large scale formats, action, glamour and humour. Of late most of the successful Car Commercials in India have been produced and directed by KunalFact|date=August 2008.

Adfilm-valas has also line-produced for many Internationl Feature films and Adfilms shot in India. Notably the credit sequence of the film ‘City of Joy’, the French films ‘Le Cactus’ & ‘Fire in Paradise’.

Kunal Kapoor, along with his Father, Shashi Kapoor are also the Trustees of the Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust & Research Foundation, set up by his father, which owns and runs Prithvi Theatre to promote professional Indian Theatre.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004431 Kunal Kapoor] at the Internet Movie Database