Shahid Kapoor, born 25 February 1981 in New Delhi, is one of the most versatile actors of his generation — the star of Ishq Vishk, Haider, Kabir Singh and O' Romeo. From a trained dancer to one of Bollywood's highest-paid leading men, his journey spans over two decades of acclaimed performances and box-office blockbusters.
Image: Bollywood Hungama via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0 — Shahid Kapoor at the Bloody Daddy launch
Early Life
Shahid Kapoor was born on 25 February 1981 in New Delhi to actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem. Growing up in a family rooted in cinema and theatre, he gravitated toward the performing arts early. He trained as a dancer at Shiamak Davar's academy and worked as a background dancer in 1990s films before appearing in music videos and television commercials, which first brought him public attention.
Career
Shahid made his leading-role acting debut with the romantic comedy Ishq Vishk (2003), a sleeper hit that earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. His breakthroughs followed with the family drama Vivah (2006) and Imtiaz Ali's beloved romance Jab We Met (2007). He then showcased remarkable range playing twin brothers in Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminey (2009).
His career-defining turn came with Haider (2014), Bhardwaj's adaptation of Hamlet, which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. He earned the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for Udta Punjab (2016), taking his total to three Filmfare Awards. Among his biggest box-office hits are the period epic Padmaavat (2018), co-starring Deepika Padukone — read our Deepika Padukone biography — and the blockbuster Kabir Singh (2019), directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and co-starring Kiara Advani. Fans of his contemporaries can also read our Ranveer Singh biography and Aamir Khan biography.
Recent Work
In 2024, Shahid starred in the romantic comedy Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya opposite Kriti Sanon — see our Kriti Sanon biography. He followed it with Deva, an action thriller released on 31 January 2025. His latest release, O' Romeo, arrived on 13 February 2026 over Valentine's weekend. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and co-starring Triptii Dimri, the film is based on Hussain Zaidi's Mafia Queens of Mumbai and marks the fourth collaboration between Bhardwaj and Shahid after Kaminey, Haider and Rangoon. It received mixed reviews and began streaming on Prime Video from 10 April 2026.
Personal Life
Shahid married Mira Rajput in 2015, and the couple has two children. Beyond films, he judged the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded in 2015. He remains one of India's highest-paid actors and has featured on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2012.
Watch the Official Video
Watch the official trailer of Kabir Singh below, released by T-Series:
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shahid Kapoor born?
Shahid Kapoor was born on 25 February 1981 in New Delhi, India.
Which film marked his debut as a leading man?
His leading-role acting debut was the romantic comedy Ishq Vishk (2003), a sleeper hit that won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.
Which awards has Shahid Kapoor won?
He has won three Filmfare Awards: Best Male Debut for Ishq Vishk, Best Actor for Haider, and the Critics Award for Best Actor for Udta Punjab.
What are his latest movies (2024–2026)?
His recent releases include Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (2024), the action thriller Deva (released 31 January 2025), and O' Romeo (released 13 February 2026), which streams on Prime Video from 10 April 2026.
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