Biography
Who is Kapil Sharma?
Early life and background
Kapil was born Kapil Punj on April 2, 1981, in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India. He grew up in a household where his father, Jeetendra Kumar Punj, served as a head constable in the Punjab Police. His mother, Janak Rani, worked as a homemaker. The family included his brother, Ashok Kumar Sharma, who followed his father into police work, and a sister named Pooja Pawan Devgan.
Kapil attended the Shri Ram Ashram Senior Secondary School in Amritsar before continuing his education at Hindu College. He is also noted as a prominent alumnus of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts in Jalandhar. His father passed away in 2004 at the AIIMS hospital in Delhi after battling cancer.
Rise to fame in television
His path to national recognition began in 2007 when he competed in the third season of the reality show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. He won the competition, which provided a significant cash prize and served as a launching pad for his career. Before this breakthrough, he had experience working on a Punjabi show titled Hasde Hasaande Ravo.
Following his initial success, he became a frequent participant in the comedy competition show Comedy Circus, eventually winning six seasons. He also appeared as a contestant on other programs like Ustaadon Ka Ustaad in 2008 and the singing competition Star Ya Rockstar in 2011, where he placed as the runner-up.
Career highlights and film work
In 2013, Kapil launched his own production company, K9 Productions, to create Comedy Nights with Kapil for Colors TV. He took on the role of Bittu Sharma, the host of a fictional family program. The show became a platform for his brand of humor. Later, he moved to Sony Entertainment Television to start The Kapil Sharma Show, which premiered in 2016.
He expanded his career into acting with the film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon in 2015, followed by projects like Firangi and Zwigato. He also ventured into voice acting for the Hindi version of The Angry Birds Movie 2. In 2024, he began streaming The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix, continuing his long career as a television personality.
Controversies and professional challenges
His professional life has faced several challenges and public disputes. In 2016, he claimed on social media that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation requested a bribe for construction permits. However, authorities later alleged that he had engaged in illegal construction activities at his property, leading the municipal body to issue stop-work notices and demolish unauthorized extensions.
He also faced scrutiny regarding his health and professional conduct in 2017 after cancelling multiple show recordings. Reports emerged during this time regarding an altercation with fellow comedian Sunil Grover, which resulted in Grover leaving the program. Kapil later spoke about his struggles with high blood pressure and alcohol use, mentioning a brief stay at an Ayurvedic ashram in Karnataka. He has also faced criticism for performing shows in Dubai during periods of political tension between India and Pakistan.
Birthday and age
Kapil Sharma was born on April 2, 1981, which makes Kapil 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Kapil shares the date with 61 other famous people.
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