Shekhar Kapur

Shekhar Kapur is a multi-faceted Indian film personality who wears many hats in his profession. He is a successful actor, producer and director. Born on 6th December 1945 in Lahore, in undivided India to a doctor, his initial beginnings were nowhere near to being a film personality. His father didn't like him going to the way of acting. Also he is the nephew of popular Bollywood actor Dev Anand, a fact unknown to many. He completed his schooling in New Delhi's Modern School and finished his graduation in economics in the 'St Stephen's College'. By the age of 22 he was a chartered accountant.

He started working for an international oil company and moved to the UK in 1970 and worked there as a management consultant alongside being an accountant. However, it was in 1975, he made his debut in the film industry in the film 'Jaan Hazir Hai' and also in 'Toote Khilone'. He had also acted in a couple of Hindi TV dramas, such as 'Udaan'. In 1983, he made his directorial debut with 'Masoom', which was very well received. In 1987, he directed Bollywood's first sci-fi film named 'Mr India' starring Amrish Puri, Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. In 1994, he made 'The Bandit Queen', based on the real life events of Poolan Devi. He also did a cameo role in the film.

He also co-directed several other Hindi films like 'Joshilay' (1989) and 'Dushmani'. He also nurtured an ambitious sci-fi film project named 'Time Machine' which included Aamir Khan, Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah and Raveena Tandon, but had to abandon it given some financial restraints. In 1998, he came up with an amazing piece of art named 'Elizabeth', which was based on the life events of Queen Elizabeth 1. It won an Academy Award for direction.

He established a production company with Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma as well the well known Southern film director Mani Ratnam, which made 'Dil Se' in 1998, the only film by the company. In 2002 he was the executive producer of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical named 'Bombay Dreams'. In 2006, he established the Liquid Comics as well as Virgin Animation, which was intended to make new characters as well as stories for the entertainment of the global audience. In 2007, he made the sequel 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age', which won two Oscar nominations. He was one of the judges on the panel at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

However, so much of an achievement hasn't stopped him from contributing more. His future projects include a third part of Queen Elizabeth's film and films like 'Long Walk To Freedom' 'The Last Full Measure' and 'Paani'. He also intends to make a film based on the condemnable Armenian Genocide by Turkey, for which he travelled to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.