Boney Kapoor, a prominent Bollywood film producer, is celebrated for his ability to translate directors’ visions into reality, rather than just focusing on budgetary aspects. His boldness in providing opportunities to newcomers—actors, directors, and musicians—is noteworthy. He possesses a keen eye for talent, yet remains surprisingly better known for his association with the late Sridevi than his prolific production career.

Biography/Wiki

Boney Kapoor, a 69-year-old Bollywood film producer (born November 11, 1955), comes from a Punjabi family of filmmakers who migrated to India from Peshawar, Pakistan. Their early days in Mumbai were marked by financial hardship; they initially resided in Raj Kapoor’s car garage and later in a Mumbai chawl.

His production skills are a legacy inherited from his father, a renowned film producer. While his brothers, Anil and Sanjay Kapoor, became actors, Boney chose to continue his father’s legacy in production.

Family, Caste & Wife

Boney Kapoor’s heritage is rooted in a Punjabi-Khatri family tracing its origins back to Pakistan. His father, the late Surinder Kapoor, was a well-known producer, and his mother, Nirmal Kapoor, was a homemaker. He has three younger brothers—Anil, Sanjay, and a sister, Reena Kapoor.

His first marriage was to TV producer Mona Kapoor in 1983. Their relationship ended after Sridevi, initially considered a friend of the family, became romantically involved with Boney. This resulted in the breakdown of his first marriage. He subsequently married Sridevi in 1996, after leaving Mona and their children, Arjun and Anshula.

With Sridevi, he had two daughters, Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor. Rumors about Janhvi’s birth preceding the marriage were denied by Boney Kapoor himself. Boney later clarified that their marriage in Shirdi, though legally binding, wasn’t publicly known until after Janhvi’s birth, leading to the misconceptions.

Tragically, his marriage to Sridevi ended with her untimely death from a cardiac arrest in Dubai on February 24, 2018.

Career

Following in his father’s footsteps, Boney’s career began as an assistant editor in the 1970s, later working as an assistant director under Shakti Samanta. His debut production, Hum Paanch (1980), a multilingual remake, set a trend in Bollywood.

His career soared with the sci-fi classic Mr. India, starring his brother Anil Kapoor and his future wife Sridevi. The film’s enduring popularity is attributed to Sridevi’s iconic song “Hawa Hawai,” Amrish Puri’s memorable line “Mogambo khush hua,” and the innovative concept of an invisible man.

Other notable successes include Judaai, Pukar, Company, No Entry, and Wanted.

Controversies

In April 2023, 66 kg of silverware worth Rs 39 lakhs, allegedly belonging to Boney Kapoor, was seized by the Election Commission of India. The silverware was being transported without proper documentation in a car registered to a company owned by Kapoor.

Following Sridevi’s death, Boney Kapoor faced intense scrutiny and was briefly considered a suspect. He underwent a thorough investigation, including a lie detector test, ultimately being cleared of any wrongdoing. The death was ruled accidental.

Facts

• He enjoys watching Raj Kapoor’s films.
• He is a food enthusiast, particularly fond of Chicken Tikka and South Indian cuisine.
• He served as a body double for Amitabh Bachchan in The Great Gambler (1979).
• Both his wives passed away before the debut films of their respective children: Arjun Kapoor’s Ishqzaade (2012) and Janhvi Kapoor’s Dhadak (2018).
• He served on the board of directors of the Asian Academy of Film & TV (AAFT).
• He was also a member of the AAFT film city’s governing council in Noida.
• He faced financial difficulties in the early 2000s but his fortunes turned around with the success of No Entry (2005).