1 week ago
Anil Kapoor’s Journey From Set Jobs To Rs 330-Crore Fortune
Anil Kapoor grew up in a family that had difficult financial times.
His father, Surinder Kapoor, came to Mumbai from Peshawar and worked in films.
The family once lived in a small room and faced heavy debt.
When Anil’s father became ill, Anil started working while he was still very young.
He helped actors, picked them up, arranged snacks and worked on film locations.
He also danced in the background and acted in small roles.
His first reported payment was Rs 250 for a Doordarshan performance in 1976.
Later, successful films made him a major star, and reports now estimate his fortune at Rs 330 crore.
Anil Kapoor began working young, taking on set duties after his father developed heart problems.
His early work included airport pickups, actor assistance, location scouting, casting and background dancing.
He earned his first reported income of Rs 250 from a 1976 Doordarshan performance.
Films including Mr. India, Tezaab, Ram Lakhan and Beta established him as a leading Bollywood star.
Reports cited by the article estimate Kapoor’s net worth at Rs 330 crore, with income from films, endorsements and property.
- Who
- Actor Anil Kapoor, his brother Boney Kapoor and their father Surinder Kapoor are central to the story.
- What
- The article traces Anil Kapoor’s rise from low-paid film-set work and background dancing to Bollywood stardom and a reported Rs 330-crore fortune.
- Where
- The family’s story unfolded mainly in Mumbai, while the article also mentions Kapoor properties in London, San Francisco and Dubai.
- When
- His first reported earnings came in 1976; he worked as a background dancer in 1979-80, acted in bit roles from 1977 to 1982, and reached peak stardom from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s.
- Why
- Anil Kapoor began working after his father developed heart problems, amid the family’s financial difficulties and debt.
Key facts
- Reported net worth
- Rs 330 crore, according to reports cited from the Financial Express
- First reported income
- Rs 250 from a 1976 Doordarshan performance
- Early background work
- He worked as a background dancer in 1979-80 and reportedly earned 15 pounds per show
- Family debt
- The Kapoor family faced debt of Rs 22 lakh in the mid-1970s
- Breakthrough film
- Woh Saat Din helped launch Kapoor as a full-time actor
- Reported acting fees
- Between Rs 2 crore and Rs 7 crore, depending on the project
- Reported brand-deal income
- Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore per campaign
Quotes
Anil Kapoor
Actor describing the production and support work he performed before becoming established.
“I wouldn't call them odd jobs because I loved doing them, like waking up the actors, picking them up, fetching them from the airport, dropping them to the location, looking after them, getting them the right snacks and then the tea breaks. So, all these kinds of odd jobs I did.”
NDTV
“And there's an anecdote I would like to share. My first earnings were in 1976. It was from Doordarshan. There was a Doordarshan studio in Worli, and I performed there on television, for which I was paid INR 250.”
NDTV











