8 Outstanding Performances By Pankaj Kapoor That Blew The Critics' Mind Away

His movie, Toba Tek Singh; premiered at the 6th London Indian Film Festival last year to rave reviews and audience back home are eagerly waiting to yet again get mesmerized by Pankaj Kapoor's acting skills.

We have loved him since the days of Jaane Bhi Do Yaro, and he gave us a reason to be glued to our TV sets with Karamchand, Zabaan Sambhaal Ke and Office Office. As the veteran actor, director and theater personality celebrates his 63rd birthday; we take a short trip down the memory lane to some of his most phenomenal performances. 

Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro: The movie that taught us the meaning of cult cinema brought out the best performance in all its leading actors. This laugh riot was an intelligently written satire and still holds relevance to the present situation in the society. Pankaj Kapor played the role of a devious builder called Tarneja who with his trademark smile and creepiness, believes he is above every rule and law and even manages to avoid the gallows. The movie showcased what a vicious circle corruption is, and Pankaj Kapoor gave us a performance in which we just love to hate him.  

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Maqbool: To be honest no one ever thought that a play by Shakespeare could be adapted to an Indian setting but it was, and the movie blew us away. Maqbool stood out for its director’s storytelling ability and its performances. It is hard to stand out when you share acting space with the likes of Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, but Pankaj Kapoor’s performance electrified audiences despite not getting a lot of screen time.   

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Ek Doctor Ki Maut: This award winning movie was every critic's delight, and despite not being his most widely watched performance, it is still one of his best. The actor portrayed the role of a doctor, who has discovered a cure for leprosy; Kapoor displayed an immense zeal in his role as a researcher and then as a dejected doctor who is striving hard to get his due for his work. His performance was subtle and yet displayed the emotions that the character underwent through his entire journey that had great highs and greater lows. In case you haven’t seen this performance, we firmly suggest you do.   

Roja: This classic by Mani Ratnam gave us numerous reasons to fall in love with it. As we continue to hum its evergreen tunes, we certainly can’t forget the passion that each actor brought to its characters. Pankaj Kapoor as Liaqat, a good-hearted terrorist, charmed his way into our hearts. It is the mark of such a great artist that he conveyed a lot to his audience without uttering anything.  The subtle shift in his expression and the astute way in which he delivered his lines brought out the dilemma that he was facing while his conscious was at war with his mission. 

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola: Surprise! Surprise! We admit that the movie in itself might not make a lot of best lists, but it surely made ours. It is based on an interesting subject and has some good, if not brilliant performances but one man just simply steals the entire show and he is none other than Pankaj Kapoor. The black comedy has the master actor at his eccentric best, and we eagerly waited for him to step onto the screen and give us a reason to laugh and rejoice. His jests and slurs keep us entertained and it won’t be an exaggeration to say that he pretty much carried the movie on his strong acting shoulders. 

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Office Office: All living rooms have witnessed the war for the remote control that breaks out among family members every evening, but this one show singlehandedly put an end to that, at least for a few years. Office Office was a cleverly written and wonderfully performed comedy and the man who again managed to steal the thunder, was our very own Pankaj Kapoor. Mussaddi Lal Tripathi showed the suffering of a common man as he battles corruption, which he encounters at every step of the way in his life.
 

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The Blue Umbrella: I think you would agree if we say that that the combined talent of Vishal Bhardwaj and Pankaj Kapoor makes for some gripping and moving cinema. This charming adaption of Ruskin Bond’s classic may seem like a movie for kids but all thanks to Mr. Kapoor, it is anything but that. From the accent to every little distinct trait that Pankaj Kapoor put into his character will leave you marveling at the refinement that he brings to each and every role he portrays. 

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Dharm: To many, this 2007 release is shrouded in obscurity but it makes for a must watch for those who admire Pankaj Kapoor. His portrayal of a Brahmin, who is tied down by his ideal and traditions and somehow copes with self-imposed rules and those made by the society, is impeccable. If you ever wondered that Pankaj Kapoor is perhaps one of best actor our industry has to offer, this movie will put all your doubts to rest.

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His roles have been varied and his performances a joy to watch. We as an audience would always wait in anticipation for any movie that has the name Pankaj Kapoor attached to it. 

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