Siddharth Roy Kapur, an acclaimed producer and the driving force behind the Roy Kapur Films, holds a prominent position in the Hindi film industry. Throughout the years, he has presented remarkable films with compelling storylines, featuring celebrated movie stars and more. In 2023, Siddharth was invited to become a member of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). His contributions as a producer know no bounds, making him an integral part of India’s motion picture business for years.
A trailblazer in many respects, Siddharth Roy Kapur has brought forward stories that transcend the screen, captivating both makers and audiences alike. On the occasion of Siddharth Roy Kapur’s birthday today, let's explore some of his best productions that are a must-watch for all cinema lovers out there. Check them out here:
‘Barfi!’
Starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ranbir Kapoor, and Ileana D’Cruz in the lead, ‘Barfi!’ revolves around the life of a deaf and mute man who falls in love with an autistic girl. Touching sensitive subjects with a twist of a love triangle and comedic encounters, ‘Barfi!’ makes for a great watch. Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Ronnie Screwvala under the UTV Motion Pictures banner, the film is helmed by Anurag Basu. ‘Barfi!’ made over Rs 175 crore at the global box office and received several honours at Indian award ceremonies.
‘ABCD: Any Body Can Dance’
A 2013 dance drama, ‘ABCD: Any Body Can Dance’ was a huge hit and was co-produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Ronnie Screwvala under UTV Spotboy Motion Pictures. Starring Prabhudeva in the lead along with other dancing icons, the film takes us through a dance-off between two rival neighbourhood groups. The film received immense love from both critics and audiences and later came out with a sequel as well. ‘ABCD: Any Body Can Dance’ had an opening of Rs 45 million nett on the first day in India and collected approximately Rs 195 million nett at the domestic box office in the first weekend. By the end of its first week, the film had grossed over 312 million nett.
‘Kai Po Che!’
Directed by Abhishek Kapoor and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Ronnie Screwvala under UTV Motion Pictures banner, ‘Kai Po Che!’ is easily regarded as one of Indian cinema’s best works today. Adapted from Chetan Bhagat's 2008 novel ‘The 3 Mistakes of My Life’, the film stars Late Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkummar Rao, and Amit Sadh in the lead along with Amrita Puri playing pivotal roles. The film’s plot revolves around the life of three friends who want to start their own sports academy and how they struggle their way to it. Having received various awards, ‘Kai Po Che!’ met with immense critical and commercial acclaim. The film even won the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay and Best Background Score.
‘Chennai Express’
An action comedy film backed by Siddharth Roy Kapur under UTV Motion Pictures banner and Red Chillies Entertainment, ‘Chennai Express’ features Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead. Directed by Rohit Shetty, the film takes us through the life of a 40-year-old man who is on a mission to immerse his grandfather's ashes down South. On his journey, he meets a Tamilian girl who has eloped, and their lives get entwined as they set out on a new journey together. A perfect family entertainer, the film was loved by audiences globally and made over Rs 424 crore at the worldwide box-office.
‘Haider’
Starring Shahid Kapoor and Tabu in the lead along with Late Irrfan Khan, Kay Kay Menon, and Shraddha Kapoor, ‘Haider’ is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Co-produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Vishal Bhardwaj under UTV Motion Pictures and VB Pictures banners, the film tells the story of a young man who returns home to Kashmir after learning about his father’s disappearance and his mother’s marriage to another man. The film showcases how he deals with the trauma and if he becomes revengeful. ‘Haider’ won various accolades and is regarded as one of Indian cinema’s bravest films. The film earned nearly Rs 90 crore at the global box-office.
‘Dangal’
One of Indian cinema’s biggest hits, having earned more than Rs 2000 crores at the global box office, ‘Dangal’ is Nitesh Tiwari’s biographical sports drama. Featuring the incredible Aamir Khan along with Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Sakshi Tanwar, Aparshakti Khurana, Zaira Wasim, and Suhani Bhatnagar, ‘Dangal’ tells the story of Phogat sisters, who are hailed as India's first world-class female wrestlers. The blockbuster film is produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao under Aamir Khan Productions with Siddharth Roy Kapur under The Walt Disney Company India. Impressively, just in Japan, the film made over ¥50 million. ‘Dangal’ set various records globally and continues to be one of the finest Hindi cinema films ever made. Some of its big wins include being named the Best Asian Film at the 7th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards, becoming the first Bollywood film to top China’s box office and open debate on feminism, announced tax-free across various states in India, became the fourth biggest worldwide hit for Disney, and many more.
‘Yeh Ballet’
A Netflix Original Film written and directed by Sooni Taraporevala and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur, ‘Yeh Ballet’ stars Manish Chauhan and Achintya Bose in the lead. A coming-of-age film, the dance drama takes us through the life of two underdogs with a beautifully written story. ‘Yeh Ballet’ explores the passion and creativity hidden in the houses of Mumbai streets. ‘Yeh Ballet’ became the first Indian Film to be recommended by Netflix co-founder and executive Chairman Reed Hastings in his list of recommendations.
‘Aranyak’
A Netflix crime-thriller web series, ‘Aranyak’ stars Raveena Tandon, Parambrata Chatterjee, Ashutosh Rana, and more in key roles. Produced by Roy Kapur Films and Ramesh Sippy Entertainment, the series narrates the story of two cops with personal agendas and political ploys who navigate suspects of a puzzling murder. Being Roy Kapur Films’ first-ever web series, ‘Aranyak’ earned itself a spot in the Global Top 10 list of non-English Series on Netflix within the first week of its release.
‘The Last Film Show’
‘The Last Film Show’ is Roy Kapur’s masterpiece. India's official selection for Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Academy Awards,and made it to the official shortlist for the category, only the fourth Indian film to reach this stage, the Pan Nalin directorial stars Bhavin Rabari, Richa Meena, Bhavesh Shrimali, Dipen Raval, Rahul Koli, and Vikas Bata in pivotal roles. A must-watch, ‘The Last Film Show’ revolves around a young boy in rural India who experiences the joy of watching a film and further pursues his dream of making movies. The film is now available on Netflix.
‘Rocket Boys (1, 2)’
Streaming on SonyLIV, ‘Rocket Boys’ is a biographical web drama inspired by the lives of Homi J. Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, narrating Independent India's formative years in the field of science. Featuring Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh in the lead, the show is directed by Abhay Pannu and backed by Siddharth Roy Kapur, Nikhil Advani, Monisha Advani, and Madhu Bhojwani under the banners Roy Kapur Films and Emmay Entertainment. After the success of season one last year, makers came out with season two of the show in 2023, which was also received really well by the critics and viewers. The shows also won several awards in several categories.
Here’s once again wishing Siddharth Roy Kapur a very happy birthday.
