Anil Kapoor

Mumbai-born Anil Kapoor is one of the most recognizable stars of Indian cinema. Kapoor's father was a well-known film producer, and after attending St. Xavier's College in Mumbia, Kapoor landed a small role in the 1979 Hindi film "Hamare Tumhare."

In 1983 he garnered good reviews in his first Bollywood lead role as a singer faced with tough life choices in "Woh Saat Din," but his breakthrough came a year later in "Mashaal." As a criminal who learns education and respect, he held his own in a cast of legendary Bollywood actors and won a Filmfare Award for his supporting role.

1986 was a pivotal year, as he released a string of films that furthered his rising career. After another successful role in the 1987 cult Bollywood science-fiction film "Mr. India," Kapoor won a Best Actor Filmfare Award in 1989 for his role as a disillusioned veteran in the blockbuster film "Tezaab."

Kapoor spent much of the 1990s mired in commercially disappointing films but regained his appeal playing against type as a crooked pop star in 1999's "Taal." He earned rave reviews for his work in 2001's "Nayak," as a reporter who encounters widespread political corruption.

In 2008, Kapoor starred in his first English-language film, the internationally successful "Slumdog Millionaire," and parlayed that significant success into subsequent roles on the final season of the TV thriller series "24" and the 2011 Tom Cruise-starring franchise hit "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol."