Actor, producer and director Rajat Kapoor is primarily recognized as the face of the contemporary alternative film movement in India. Kapoor is best remembered for his films like Mixed Doubles (2006), Mithya (2008), and Ankhon Dekhi (2014).

With a focus on theatre, Kapoor joined the theatre group Chingari in Delhi in 1983. Later, he joined the Film And Television Institute of India (FTII) at Pune. For many years, Kapoor struggled as an actor. During these years, he focussed on theatre and directing and writing short films. His full film directorial debut was made with Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One (1994). His other films as a director include Tarana (1994), Hypothesis (1996), Tonight No Show (2000), Raghu Romeo (2003), Mixed Doubles (2006), Mithya (2008), Hamlet: The Clown Prince (2009), Fatso! (2012), and Ankhon Dekhi (2014). Raghu Romeo (2003) also won him the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

Kapoor made his acting debut in Khayal Gatha (1989), an experimental film that paved the path to his recognition as a skilled actor. This film also won the Filmfare Critics’ Choice Award for the Best Movie. National Award winning movie Dil Chahta Hai (2001), where he played Preity Zinta’s uncle. He then went on to do his next film directed by noted filmmaker Mira Nair, Monsoon Wedding (2002), which brought him much critical acclaim. Kapoor continues to work as an actor in various roles. One of his best known roles that shot him to instant fame was with fellow theatre artist, Vinay Pathak, in Bheja Fry (2007).

Rajat Kapoor has also been a prominent name in the theatre circuit. His plays Hamlet the Clown Prince and Nothing Like Lear have been received with high critical appreciation.

Besides acting and directing in theatre and film, Kapoor hosted a show named Lounge on NDTV Lifestyle as well as Lufthansa Nat Geo Genius, a competitive quiz show that aired on National Geographic Channel.

One of his latest films, Ankhon Dekhi (2014) is his sixth feature and is regarded as his best film so far. The film is a tribute to his mentors Mani Kaul and Kumar Shahani, whom he worked with after graduating from the FTII. In recent times, he has also played roles in Drishyam (2015), and the highly commended Kapoor and Sons (2016).