Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor
{{short description|Indian actor (born 1990)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor
| image = Harshvardhan Kapoor.jpg
| caption = Kapoor in 2016
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|11|09}}
| birth_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| father = Anil Kapoor
| family = Surinder Kapoor family
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2015–present
}}
Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor ({{IPAc-en|h|ɑːr|s|h|v|ɑːr|d|h|ɑː|n}} born 9 November 1990) is an Indian actor.{{Cite web |date=9 November 2022 |title=Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor receives sweet birthday wishes from sisters Sonam-Rhea and parents Anil-Sunita. See photos |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-receives-sweet-birthday-wishes-from-sisters-sonam-rhea-anil-mother-see-photos-8257991/ |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} He is the son of actor Anil Kapoor.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Harshvardhan-Kapoor-If-I-had-my-way-I-would-do-one-film-every-two-years/articleshow/54169434.cms|title=Harshvardhan Kapoor: If I had my way, I would do one film every two years|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910194244/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Harshvardhan-Kapoor-If-I-had-my-way-I-would-do-one-film-every-two-years/articleshow/54169434.cms|url-status=live}} He made his acting debut with the romantic drama film Mirzya (2016). He has since starred in the action films Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018) and Thar (2022).
Early life
Harsh was born in Mumbai on 9 November 1990, the only son of actor Anil Kapoor and Sunita Kapoor. The youngest of three children, he is the brother of actress Sonam Kapoor and producer Rhea Kapoor. He did his early schooling at Arya Vidya Mandir in Juhu and A levels at Podar International.{{Cite web |title=Mirzya star Harshvardhan Kapoor: At 16, I predicted Anurag Kashyap will change the film industry |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/mirzya-special/story/mirzya-harshvardhan-kapoor-interview-rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-342725-2016-09-23 |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=India Today |language=en}} Kapoor pursued screenwriting at Chapman University in Orange County Southern California. While at Chapman, Harsh trained under screenwriter David S. Ward.{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/physical-transformation-hardest-part-of-prep-harshvardhan-kapoor-3024299/|title=Physical transformation hardest part of prep: Harshvardhan Kapoor|date=10 September 2016|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915132212/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/physical-transformation-hardest-part-of-prep-harshvardhan-kapoor-3024299/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |author=Roshmila Bhattacharya|date=3 October 2016 |title=Harshvardhan Kapoor walks down the memory lane |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/harshvardhan-kapoor-walks-down-the-memory-lane/articleshow/54650082.cms |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=Mumbai Mirror |language=en}}
Harsh has often said in interviews that from a very young age, he was fortunate enough to have been exposed to various genres of cinema from all over the world. This exposure to different forms and aesthetics has been instrumental in shaping his choices and sensibilities in his own film career.{{Cite web |title=Harshvardhan Kapoor: I Am Nothing Like My Father Anil And Sister Sonam |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshvardhan-kapoor-i-am-nothing-like-my-father-anil-and-sister-sonam-1471027 |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=NDTV.com}}
Before his acting debut, Kapoor worked as an assistant director on Anurag Kashyap's 2015 film Bombay Velvet.{{cite web|url=http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/exclusives/362019/exclusive-i-was-never-dating-sapna-pabbi-says-harshvardhan-kapoor|title=EXCLUSIVE: I was never dating Sapna Pabbi, says Harshvardhan Kapoor|date=13 September 2016|publisher=pinkvilla|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914162521/http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/exclusives/362019/exclusive-i-was-never-dating-sapna-pabbi-says-harshvardhan-kapoor|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Consider-Aamir-my-inspiration-says-Harshvardhan-Kapoor/articleshow/54322076.cms|title=Consider Aamir my inspiration, says Harshvardhan Kapoor|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917075007/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Consider-Aamir-my-inspiration-says-Harshvardhan-Kapoor/articleshow/54322076.cms|url-status=live}}
Career
Harsh Varrdhan made his acting debut when Rakesh Omprakash Mehra approached him for an art house romantic musical called Mirzya. Written by the Oscar winning Gulzar, Mirzya used poetry and a Greek chorus as narrative guides, a style that was both bold and unconventional.{{Cite web |date=30 September 2016 |title=Mehra searches for today's Mirza-Sahiban through his adaptation of Punjab's love story |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-searches-for-todays-mirza-sahiban-through-his-adaptation-of-punjabs-love-story-3057399/ |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Having signed the film in 2013, Harsh spent over a year preparing for the film.{{Cite web |date=5 October 2016 |title=Mirzya co-stars Harshvardhan Kapoor, Saiyami Kher have become friends for life |url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/entertainment-gallery/mirzya-co-stars-harshvardhan-kapoor-and-saiyami-kher-have-become-friends-for-life-3064786/ |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} He learned horse riding and archery and worked on the two distinct characters that the film required him to play.{{Cite web |date=15 September 2016 |title=Harshvardhan Kapoor trained in horse-riding for two years for Mirzya |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/harshvardhan-kapoor-trained-in-horse-riding-for-two-years-for-mirzya/story-UqluzFWUzEN5AQaO6DLRsO.html |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} Mirzya premiered at the prestigious London film festival in 2016 to positive reviews in the international press with the New York Times praising it but received mixed reviews back home in India and could not perform very well commercially.{{Cite news |title='Mirzya' wows audience at the London Film Festival |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mirzya-wows-audience-at-the-london-film-festival/articleshow/54735866.cms#:~:text=Rakeysh%20Omprakash%20Mehra%27s%20%27Mirzya,(LFF)%20on%20October%206. |access-date=24 February 2023 |issn=0971-8257}} The Economic Times gave the film 3.5/5 rating and stated, "Impressive performance by Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor & Saiyami Kher, but a one-time watch."{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/perfectionistharshvardhan-kapoor-spent-18-months-preparing-for-his-role-in-mirzya/articleshow/54699230.cms |title='Mirzya' review: Impressive performance by Harshvardhan Kapoor & Saiyami Kher, but a one-time watch |author=PTI |date=7 October 2016 |work=The Economic Times |publisher=The Times Group}}
Harsh’s next film was Vikramaditya Motwane’s vigilante drama Bhavesh Joshi Superhero.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Harshvardhan-Kapoor-already-shaping-up-for-his-next-film-with-Vikramaditya-Motwane/articleshow/53338755.cms|title=Harshvardhan Kapoor already shaping up for his next film with Vikramaditya Motwane|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020041347/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Harshvardhan-Kapoor-already-shaping-up-for-his-next-film-with-Vikramaditya-Motwane/articleshow/53338755.cms|url-status=live}} Financed by Eros, and later Reliance and Phantom Films, the film released to polarising reviews in June 2018.{{Cite web |date=13 May 2018 |title=Bhavesh Joshi Superhero gets the Chavanprash advantage, thanks to Arjun Kapoor. Watch video |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/bhavesh-joshi-superhero-gets-the-chavanprash-advantage-thanks-to-arjun-kapoor-watch-video/story-myQJ3oGkhsVV8NYlpSusQP.html |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} In spite receiving positive reviews, the film was a box-office bomb grossing just {{INR}}4.35 crore on a {{INR}}21 crore budget.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3778|title=Bhavesh Joshi Superhero - Movie - Box Office India|website=www.boxofficeindia.com|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155158/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3778|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/sometimes-great-movies-bomb-at-the-box-office-like-bhavesh-joshi-5-films-you-need-to-discover-online/story-UEv87LZS8r8L7codcSN3HK.html|title=Sometimes, great movies bomb at the box office. Like Bhavesh Joshi, 5 films you need to discover online|date=18 August 2018|website=www.hindustantimes.com|language=en|access-date=14 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215065822/https://www.hindustantimes.com/hollywood/sometimes-great-movies-bomb-at-the-box-office-like-bhavesh-joshi-5-films-you-need-to-discover-online/story-UEv87LZS8r8L7codcSN3HK.html|archive-date=15 December 2018|url-status=live}}
During the pandemic, Harsh worked closely with acting coaches Jeff Goldberg and Suraj Vyas to hone his craft. He has, on many occasions, spoken candidly about how implicitly he trusts his mentors to guide him on new projects.{{Cite web |title=Harshvardhan Kapoor |url=https://www.platform-mag.com/film/harshvardhan-kapoor.html |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=www.platform-mag.com}}
In 2020, he worked with Vikramaditya Motwane again in the Netflix film AK vs AK, in which he played a fictionalised version of himself and shared the screen with his father and sister.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spotboye.com/just-binge/binge-news/ak-vs-ak-harshvardhan-kapoor-s-performance-gets-a-thumbs-actor-elated-with-the-response/5fe7484990c45f1dda8ed57d|title=AK VS AK: Harshvardhan Kapoor's Performance Gets a Thumbs, Actor Elated with the Response}} Harsh had reportedly also signed on to play the lead in Sriram Raghavan’s Andhadhun but eventually had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts.{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=8 October 2021 |title=3 Years of Andhadhun: Director Sriram Raghavan reveals how Harshvardhan Kapoor lost the lead role to Ayushmann Khurrana : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |website=Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/3-years-andhadhun-director-sriram-raghavan-reveals-harshvardhan-kapoor-lost-lead-role-ayushmann-khurrana/ |access-date=24 February 2023 |language=en}}
In 2021, he appeared in one of the episodes of Netflix show Ray.{{cite news|url= https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/netflixs-ray-the-perks-and-perils-of-stardom/article60673688.ece|title= Netflix's 'Ray': The perks and perils of stardom|website=The Hindu|date= 21 June 2021|accessdate=19 December 2021}} While reviewing Hindustan Times's Rohan Naahar wrote "Manoj Bajpayee, Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor, Ali Fazal and Radhika Madan lead a handful of excellent performers in Netflix's irreverent but inconsistent anthology, based on Satyajit Ray's short stories."{{Cite web |date=25 June 2021 |title=Ray review: Manoj Bajpayee, Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor stand out in irreverent but inconsistent Netflix anthology |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/ray-review-manoj-bajpayee-harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-stand-out-in-irreverent-but-inconsistent-netflix-anthology-101624524741118.html |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
In 2022, he acted in and co-produced a film titled Thar which was released on Netflix on 6 May 2022. The film also starred his father, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Satish Kaushik in key roles.{{cite web|url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/anil-kapoor-harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-fatima-sana-shaikh-host-thar-screening-anupam-kher-lauds-unique-presentation-101651805146570.html|title=Anil Kapoor, Harshvardhan Kapoor and Fatima Sana Shaikh host Thar special screening|website=Hindustan Times|date=6 May 2022|accessdate=9 May 2022|author=HT Entertainment Desk}} It was directed and co-written by Raj Singh Chaudhary.{{cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/thar-director-raj-singh-chaudhary-opens-shooting-rugged-rajasthan-desert-1077126|title=Director Raj Singh Chaudhary opens up on shooting in the rugged Rajasthan desert|website=Pinkvilla|accessdate=11 May 2022|date=26 April 2022|author=IANS|archive-date=19 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019084116/https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/thar-director-raj-singh-chaudhary-opens-shooting-rugged-rajasthan-desert-1077126|url-status=dead}} In order to play a quiet character with many shades of grey, he worked hard on his physicality so that body language could speak louder than words. That released on Netflix in 2022 to rave reviews both domestically and internationally.{{Cite web |date=10 April 2022 |title=Anil Kapoor-Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor starrer Thar to release on Netflix on this day |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/anil-kapoor-harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-starrer-thar-to-release-on-netflix-on-this-day-7862225/ |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=6 May 2022 |title=Thar review – Anil Kapoor's violent cop thriller puts the punch in Rajasthan |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/may/06/thar-review-anil-kapoor-violent-cop-thriller-puts-the-punch-in-rajasthan |access-date=24 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=Thar review: Old wine in a rustic but beautiful bottle |url=https://www.theweek.in/review/movies/2022/05/06/thar-review-old-wine-in-a-rustic-but-beautiful-bottle.html |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=The Week |language=en}}
He is working on the biopic of the olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, in which he will act and is the producer of it.{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=9 February 2023 |title=Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor reveals details about his upcoming project; says, "I want the Abhinav Bindra biopic to be a theatrical" : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |website=Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-reveals-details-upcoming-project-says-want-abhinav-bindra-biopic-theatrical/ |access-date=27 February 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Kulkarni |first=Onkar |title=Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor shares an update on Abhinav Bindra biopic |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/harsh-varrdhan-kapoor-shares-an-update-on-abhinav-bindra-biopic/articleshow/94167431.cms |access-date=27 February 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}
Filmography
=Films=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col"|Notes |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2015
! scope="row"|Bombay Velvet | {{N/A}} | Assistant director |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2016
! scope="row" |Mirzya | Munish/Adil | |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2018
! scope="row" |Bhavesh Joshi Superhero | Sikandar "Siku" Khanna / Bhavesh Joshi / Insaaf-Man | |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2020
! scope="row" |AK vs AK | Himself | Cameo |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2022
! scope="row"|Thar | Siddharth Kumar | Also producer |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col"|Notes |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2021
! scope="row" |Ray | Vikram Arora | Episode: "Spotlight" |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders " |
| Award
!Year !Category !Nominated work !Result ! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Big Star Entertainment Awards
|style="text-align:center;" | 2016 | Most Entertaining Debut Actor |style="text-align:center;"|Mirzya | {{won}} |
| scope="row" | Indian Television Academy Awards
|style="text-align:center;" | 2022 | Best Actor - Original Film (OTT) | style="text-align:center;" | Thar | {{won}} |
| scope="row" | Filmfare Awards
|style="text-align:center;" | 2017 | Best Male Debut |style="text-align:center;"|Mirzya | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/standpoint/story/harshvardhan-kapoor-fight-filmfare-shah-rukh-rishi-kapoor-956147-2017-01-20|title=Harshvardhan Kapoor is fighting with Filmfare. But how credible are awards ANY way?|website=India Today|date=20 January 2017}} |
| scope="row" | Filmfare Glamour and Style Awards
|style="text-align:center;" | 2016 | Fashion Debut of the Year | {{N/A}} | {{won}} |
| scope="row" rowspan=2| Filmfare OTT Awards
|style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|2022 | Best Actor - {{no wrap|Web Original Film}} |rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | Thar | {{nom}} |
| Best Web Original Film
| {{nom}} |
| scope="row" |Screen Awards
|style="text-align:center;" |2016 |Best Male Debut | style="text-align:center;"|Mirzya |{{won}}{{efn|name=fn1|Shared with Jim Sarbh}} | style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/9544|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110170236/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/9544|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2016|title=Winners of 22nd Annual Star Screen Awards 2015|date=8 January 2016|website=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=8 January 2016}} |
| scope="row" |Stardust Award
|style="text-align:center;" | 2016 |Best Acting Debut (Male) | style="text-align:center;" | Mirzya |{{won}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|7561367}}
{{Screen Award for Best Male Debut}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kapoor, Harsh Vardhan}}
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Male actors from Mumbai