Shahid Kapoor was born in New Delhi on 25 February 1981 to actor Pankaj Kapur and actor-dancer Neelima Azeem. His parents divorced when he was three years old; his father shifted to Mumbai (and married the actress Supriya Pathak) and Kapoor continued living in Delhi with his mother and maternal grandparents. His grandparents were journalists for the Russian magazine Sputnik, and Kapoor was particularly fond of his grandfather: "He would walk me to school every single day. He would talk to me about dad, with whom he shared a great relationship, and read out his letters to me." His father, who was then a struggling actor in Mumbai, would visit Kapoor only once a year on his birthday. When Kapoor was 10, his mother, who was working as a dancer, moved to Mumbai to work as an actress.

Kapoor was interested in dance from an early age, and at the age of 15, he joined Shiamak Davar's dance institute. As a student there, Kapoor appeared as a background dancer in the films Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) and Taal (1999), in which Davar served as choreographer. During a stage show at the institute, Kapoor performed in the songs "Vogue" and "GoldenEye" to a positive response from the audience; he described the experience as the first time that he "felt like a star". He later became an instructor at the institute. During this time, Kapoor accompanied a friend to an audition for a Pepsi commercial featuring the stars Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji, but wound up with the part himself. He appeared in television commercials for the brands Kit Kat and Close-Up, among others, and featured in music videos for several performers, including the band Aryans and the singer Kumar Sanu. Kapoor also took on the job of an assistant director to his father on the 1998 television series Mohandas B.A.L.L.B.

2019 Kabir Singh

2018 Batti Gul Meter Chalu, Padmaavat (3D)

2017 Rangoon

2016 Udta Punjab

2015 Shaandaar

2014 Haider

2013 R... Rajkumar, Phata Poster Nikla Hero, Bombay Talkies

2012 Teri Meri Kahaani

2010 Milenge Milenge, Badmaash Company, Paathshaala,Chance Pe Dance

2009 Dil Bole Hadippa

2008 Kismat Konnection

2007 Jab We Met, Fool & Final, Kya Love Story Hai

2006 Vivah, Chup Chup Ke, 36 China Town

2005 Shikhar, Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!, Deewane Huye Paagal

2004 Dil Maange More, Fida

2003 Ishq Vishk

Filmfare Awards

2017
Critics Award Best Actor

Udta Punjab

2015
Best Actor

Haider

2004
Best Newcomer

Ishq Vishk

IIFA 

2017
Best Performance In A Leading Role (Male)

Udta Punjab

2015
Best Performance In A Leading Role (Male)

Haider

2004
Best Male Debutant Star

Ishq Vishk

2004
Sony Face Of The Year – Male

In the past 13 years, he has acted in a variety of films, and has created a niche for himself in Bollywood. Still, Shahid Kapoor says, regardless of the length of his role, he won’t hesitate to sign a film as long as it is “different”.

“For instance, the length of my role in Udta Punjab wasn’t as long as in Haider (2014),” he says, adding that he still took up the movie because it gave him an opportunity to play a “great character”.

“I feel proud as playing Tommy Singh was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My instincts, as an actor, are driving my choices. I jump at anything that allows me to do something different. I am not thinking about too many other things,” says Shahid.

He says he wouldn’t mind taking up even a “stupid” part if he loves it, and if it challenges him. Having said that, the 35-year-old admits that besides the good choices he has made, there were a few that “were bad”. “Certain other choices, which could have been great, didn’t turn out that way,” he adds.

“It is a learning (process) and a part of my life. It is the result of a larger design, which one can’t understand, so I don’t want to analyse it too much. Sometimes, when we look back too often, saamne se jo aa raha hai woh dikhta nahi hai (You are unable to see what’s in front of you). So, I just like to focus and look forward,” says Shahid.

He reveals that even though he is veteran actor Pankaj Kapur’s son, life wasn’t a cakewalk for him. “Everyone thinks that he is Pankaj Kapur’s son, so isko toh break mil gaya hoga (He must have got a break). But I have been rejected from 100 auditions. Sometimes, I didn’t have money to eat food or to even go to the auditions. I have lived that life, and I don’t like talking about it. But that is my reality,” he says.

Mira Rajput is the wife of Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor. Rajput came into the limelight when she tied the knot with Shahid Kapoor in 2015. She is often seen on various chat shows and TV commercials.

The couple married at a private ceremony in Gurgaon on 7 July 2015, and Rajput gave birth to their daughter Misha in August 2016 and their son Zain in September 2018.

• Shahid was a background dancer in the films Dil To Pagal Hai & Taal.
• Shahid accompanied his friend to an audition for Pepsi advt eventually, he became a part of it which feature SRK, Kajol & Rani Mukherjee.
• Shahid Kapoor’s real name is Shahid Khattar.
• Shahid is the first Indian actor to fly the American F-16 aircraft.
• Shahid Kapoor turned vegetarian after reading the book “Life is Fair”
• He loves bikes and owned a Bajaj Caliber when he was 18. Now he has got a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and Yamaha MT-01.
• His favourite Actor is his father Pankaj Kapoor and favourite actress is Julia Roberts
• He has been linked with many actresses in his career, starting from his first co-star Hrishita Bhatt, Amrita Rao, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Vidya Balan, Anushka Sharma, Sonakshi Sinha and Kareena Kapoor.
• Shahid Kapoor’s favorite holiday destination is Goa.
• Trained at the Shiamak Davar's dance academy, Shahid initially wanted to be a professional dancer.

The actor said, “ A girl Climbed into my house at 2 am in the morning. And I wouldn’t call that fan, ‘a fan’. It was more like a stalker. And I was literally crazy. I was very afraid and it wasn’t cool.”