Annu Kapoor — the man who turned a singing game show into a national institution — celebrated his 70th birthday on February 20 not with fanfare, but with purpose. The veteran actor, director, and radio presenter marked the milestone with gratitude, reflection, and a creative announcement that underlines why, four decades into an extraordinary career, he remains impossible to ignore.
‘Triple A’: Art, Artists and Audience
The headline news from Kapoor’s birthday is the announcement of his upcoming theatrical production, Triple A — a title that stands for Art, Artists, and Audience. The play has been developed in collaboration with his creative associates Arunima Misra, Devendra Balsaraf, and Sufi Khan, and auditions are already underway, with two rounds completed. Kapoor confirmed the production is specifically seeking young performers who can dance.
“I never imitate anyone,” Kapoor said, signalling the creative philosophy that will drive the production. “Like always, this project will also be original, authentic, pure.”
The announcement arrives at a significant moment for Indian theatre. Across the country, veteran artists are pivoting back to the stage — drawn by its artistic integrity at a time when OTT platforms have flooded screens with content but left audiences craving something more immediate, more human. Kapoor’s return to theatre is not a retreat but a statement.
A Birthday Shared With a Legend
Kapoor also took a moment to acknowledge a connection he clearly treasures. He shares his February 20 birthday with the late Sidney Poitier — the Hollywood titan who broke racial barriers and won the Academy Award for Lilies of the Field in 1964, the first Black actor to claim the prize in a leading role. Kapoor recalled Poitier’s landmark film To Sir, With Love as a touchstone of world cinema, describing him as “a towering performer and a master artist.”
“I salute Sir Sidney Poitier,” Kapoor said. The reverence was unmistakable — one artist recognising the size of another’s shadow.
From Rural India to National Recognition
Kapoor’s own journey is the stuff of genuine Bollywood drama. Born into a family that ran a travelling Parsi theatre company, he grew up moving between villages and small towns across India. Financial hardship meant he left school early, taking odd jobs before eventually enrolling at the National School of Drama in New Delhi — where the trajectory of his life changed permanently.
His first opportunity as a director came through Jaya Bachchan, whom he credits as a guiding elder figure. He directed and produced Abhay, starring Nana Patekar, earning both the National Award and the V. Shantaram Special Contribution Award in the process. His acting credits span some of Hindi cinema’s most beloved titles — Mandi, Mr. India, Tezaab, Ram Lakhan, Hum, Darr, Sardar, Aitraaz, and 7 Khoon Maaf, among many others.
For over a decade, he hosted Antakshari on Zee TV, virtually inventing the musical reality format for Indian television. Today, he continues to present Suhaana Safar With Annu Kapoor on radio — and was most recently seen on screen in The Signature.
What 70 Means to Annu Kapoor
At 70, Kapoor is not slowing down — he is, if anything, becoming more selective and more deliberate. He says he now seeks “creative satisfaction” above all else, with plans to direct one or two additional projects in the coming period.
“Whatever I create will be genuine and pure,” he said. For an artist who describes himself as “a very ordinary, simple man,” those words carry the full weight of a life lived entirely on his own terms.
