Veteran actor Pankaj Kapur’s is undeniably a powerhouse of talent. Widely respected for his commitment towards good Indian cinema, the 66-year-old actor has time and again pleased the audience with his mind-blowing acting skills. On his birthday, we pay tribute to one of India’s finest actors by compiling his best roles that are surely a must-watch. But before that, let’s have a look at his journey in the entertainment world.
A look at Pankaj Kapur's journey
Kapur was born on May 29, 1954, in Punjab. He completed his education there and developed a keen interest in theatre and acting while growing up. No sooner, he enrolled in the National School of Drama to pursue his interest. After graduating from NSD, he did theatre for the next four years, until he was offered a role in the historical drama film Gandhi by Richard Attenborough. In 1982, he made his debut with Shyam Benegal’s film titled Arohan. Thereafter, he appeared in a string of films that came under the parallel cinema category. Here are some of his best roles:
Tarneja in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)
From Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri to Neena Gupta and Satish Kaushik, the cast of Jaane bhi Do Yaaro is actually a list of all the who’s who of the acting world. Pankaj Kapur is also one of the actors in this film who shines bright like the others. Just a year after making his debut in the film industry, Kapur bagged the role of Tarneja - a corrupt contractor who murders the Municipal Commissioner in this dark satire film. The confidence with which he essayed the role is sheer proof of his talent which he brought with him to the acting industry.
Dr Dipankar Roy in Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1990)
Starring Pankaj Kapur and Shabana Azmi in the lead roles, Ek Doctor Ki Maut released in 1990. The film was based on the life of Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay who could not get the due he deserved in the international medical community. He brilliantly portrayed the role of a frustrated and impatient man for whom his vaccine research is the only priority. Kapur’s role in the film was greatly applauded by the film critics and he also received the Special Jury Award in the 38th National Film Awards for his performance.
Mussadi Lal in Office Office (2001)
Pankaj Kapur was blessed with yet another unforgettable character of Mussadi Lal in television’s timeless classic – Office Office. With characteristic wit and poker-faced sarcasm, Kapur brilliantly demonstrated the corruption in government offices. The show gave the audience a reason to laugh while highlighting the problems of a common man. Episode after episode, Kapur delivered splendid performances with a straight face. The show is now among the classic shows that have made a comeback on television to fill the spot due to the lockdown in the country.
Jahangir Khan alias Abbaji in Maqbool (2003)
This Vishal Bharadwaj directorial is based on Shakespeare's Macbeth, with the Mumbai underworld as its backdrop. The film saw Kapur play the role of Jahangir Khan and win the National Film Award for Best Supporting Role and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics). He once again charmed the audience with another unique character of an underworld don. Even though Irrfan Khan had played the titular role in the film, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Kapur was just brilliant.
Jambwal in Dus (2005)
Pankaj Kapur played the villain in Abhishek Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt-starrer Dus and just like every other role of his, Kapur earned much appreciation. He played the role of terrorist Jambwal in the film.
Nandkishore Khatri in The Blue Umbrella (2005)
Based on a Ruskin Bond short story, Vishal Bharadwaj's The Blue Umbrella saw Kapur play the shopkeeper Nandkishore, who falls in love with a blue umbrella owned by a little girl and wants to possess it. Kapur's powerful performance was not only appreciated across the country, but it also drew universal acclaim from the critics.
