Aditya Raj Kapoor

Aditya Raj Kapoor (born 1 July 1956) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, author and retired businessman. Born into the Kapoor family, he is the son of actors Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali.

Kapoor was born into the Kapoor family of Indian film industry. He was born to actors Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali on 1 July 1956 in Bombay.

He is the grandson of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, cousin of actors Rishi Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor. He is uncle to actors Ranbir Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.

He attended The Lawrence School, Sanawar from 1963-1969, he later dropped out from the school. In 2023, he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the age of 67 from Indira Gandhi National Open University in Philosophy via correspondence.[10]

After finishing his school education, Kapoor started his acting career being an assistant director with his uncle Raj Kapoor for his romantic film Bobby (1973) and then went onto work as assistant director in films; Dharam Karam (1975), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Geraftaar (1985), Ajooba (1990).[11][12]

He also did a walk-on part in the film Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978).[13]

He turned producer with the 1989 film Gawaahi, which had Zeenat Aman, Tanuja and Shekhar Kapur in key roles.[14][15] He then ventured into producing television shows; Ek Do Teen Char (1987-1988) and Mama Ji (1992-1993).[16][17]

After refusing to act in films, he turned businessman. His construction company developed the amusements parks Fantasy Land in Mumbai and Appu Ghar in Delhi. He also owns a truck and warehouse business.[18]

After a hiatus from Bollywood, Kapoor made a comeback as writer and director of Don't Stop Dreaming and Sambar Salsa (both 2007).

Kapoor's first important role as an actor came with Jagmohan Mundhra's Chase (2010).[19][20] Following Chase he played the role of a businessman who falls in love with a prostitute in Mumbai 118. Kapoor also starred in Diwangi Ne Had Kar Di (2010),[21] Isi Life Mein (2010),[22] Say Yes to Love (2012)[23] and Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2011). In 2014, he participated in the bike-ride India Hai , that covered several Indian states and some nearby countries like Nepal and Bhutan. In the same year, Kapoor appeared in the Ashutosh Gowariker-directed television series Everest.[24]

In 1982, Kapoor married to Priti Kapoor.[25] The couple has two children together, daughter Tulsi and son Vishwapratap.[26]

He currently resides in Goa.[27]

Kapoor turned biker at a late age and started travelling on his bike.[28][29][30][31][32] In 2014, he participated in the bike-ride contest India Hai that covered several Indian states and some nearby countries like Nepal and Bhutan.[33]

He wrote his first book Bike on a Hike in 2015, in which he told about his biking experiences.[34]

In 2018, he travelled through over a dozen countries over 302 days as part of his world tour on his bike Triumph Bonneville T100.[35][36][37][38] He has clocked 35,000 km around the world, starting off in June 2017 from Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai, his step-mother, Neela Kapoor, cousins Randhir Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor and friend Jackie Shroff were also present there with his wife Priti Kapoor at the start of his journey.[39]

He also wrote a book titled Quest, which documented his travelling experience of these 35,000 km on bike.[40][41] It was launched in Majorda, Goa in 2021.[42]

Assistant director