Home / Arts and Entertainment / Anil Kapoor Rejects Dev Anand Comparisons, Owns His Stardom
Anil Kapoor Rejects Dev Anand Comparisons, Owns His Stardom
13 Mar
Summary
- Kapoor rejects Dev Anand comparisons, emphasizing individual stardom.
- His signature stubble helped him appear older for early roles.
- He noted filmmakers' initial hesitations about moustached stars.
At the India Today Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, veteran actor Anil Kapoor discussed his enduring career and rejected comparisons with the iconic Dev Anand. Kapoor, aged 69, expressed deep admiration for Anand but stressed the importance of individual identity in stardom. He asserted, "Nobody can be Dev Anand. He is the greatest. He is an ultimate. I am not Dev Anand... I am Anil Kapoor."
Kapoor humorously attributed his success partly to his stubble, which he adopted early in his career to appear more mature for film roles. He recalled initial industry perceptions that he looked too young, a contrast to contemporary stars like Dharmendra and Vinod Khanna. This facial hair choice eventually became synonymous with his on-screen persona.
He further elaborated on specific instances, like his role in 'Woh Saat Din,' where some believed a more mature actor like Sanjeev Kumar would have been a better fit due to his youthful looks. Even in later films, including 'Mr. India,' the stubble remained a consistent element across various genres. Kapoor also challenged the notion that actors with moustaches couldn't achieve stardom, citing legends like Charlie Chaplin and Raj Kapoor as counterexamples.
