This Bollywood star became an overnight sensation with his very first film at just 21

It's not a rare occurrence in Bollywood for an actor's debut film to be a hit. However, it's most definitely rare for an actor to have a blockbuster debut, and whenever this has happened, it has often led to box office history. In 2025, actor Ahan Pandey and Aneet Padda's debut film, Saiyaara, was released, and it was a blockbuster. One actor achieved this accomplishment at just 21 years old.

Who is the actor?

That actor was Rishi Kapoor, who at the age of 21 had a blockbuster hit debut. Rishi Kapoor, who is from the Kapoor family, began his acting career as a child actor at a young age, and his first film made him an overnight star.

Remembering Rishi Kapoor on birth anniversary pic.twitter.com/Frens3Tz8Y

— Film History Pics (@FilmHistoryPic) September 4, 2020

Rishi Kapoor's debut film

At just three or four years old, Rishi Kapoor appeared in the song Pyaar Hua Ikraar Hua from his father Raj Kapoor and Nargis's film Shri 420. At 17, he played Raj Kapoor's childhood character in his father's film Mera Naam Joker, for which he won a National Film Award. At the age of 21, he finally starred as the lead in the movie Bobby alongside Dimple Kapadia, which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. The film became a blockbuster, securing the position of highest-grossing Indian film of 1973 and the second-highest-grossing film of the 1970s at the Indian box office. It also became an overseas blockbuster in the Soviet Union, where it drew an audience of 62.6 million viewers, making it one of the top 20 biggest box office hits of all time in the Soviet Union.

Rishi Kapoor's Filmography

Rishi Kapoor starred in several successful films from the mid-1970s to the 1990s, such as Kabhi Kabhie, Laila Majnu, Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, Coolie, Nagina, Chandni, Henna, Deewana, Bol Radha Bol and many more. He also received acclaim for his performances in Khel Khel Mein, Rafoo Chakkar, Barood, Naya Daur, Jhoota Kahin Ka, Karz, and more.

Since the 2000s, Kapoor played character roles to critical acclaim in films such as Hum Tum, Fanaa, Namastey London, Love Aaj Kal, Agneepath, Housefull 2, Aurangzeb, Shuddh Desi Romance, 102 Not Out and Mulk. For his performance in Do Dooni Chaar, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics), and for his role in the ensemble family drama Kapoor & Sons, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.