during audio release of
Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum Prior to making his debut as an actor, Kapoor worked with film director
David Dhawan as an assistant. Following this, he trained as an actor with
Roshan Taneja and Mahendra Verma, in their acting school, and in dance with Nimesh Bhatt. He made his debut in 2001 under guidance of his Gujarat-based friend Dharmanshu Parmar alias Monty with the blockbuster
Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, a remake of the
Telugu super hit
Tholi Prema, along with
Kareena Kapoor. He received the
Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his work in the film. He then starred as Rahul in a coming of age film
Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa alongside
Esha Deol. Kapoor starred in two more Telugu remakes
Jeena Sirf Merre Liye (2002), and
Yeh Dil (2003), which fared poorly at the box office. He then appeared in
Ram Gopal Varma's production
Gayab (2004) and received appreciation for his work though the film was declared below average at the box office. Starting in 2004, Kapoor starred in commercial hits such as
Khakee (2004),
Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005),
Golmaal (2006),
Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007) in which he essayed the role of gangster
Dilip Buwa and received good reviews,
Golmaal Returns (2008),
Golmaal 3 (2010),
The Dirty Picture (2011),
Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum (2012), the critically acclaimed
Shor in the City (2012), and
Shootout at Wadala (2013). In 2012, Kapoor took part in the "Fashion for a Cause" event which raised money for homeless children. He has co-produced the film
Chaar Din Ki Chandni (2012), in which he also starred. He also starred as the lead actor in adult comedies
Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 (2016) and
Mastizaade (2016) both of which have done average business at the box office. In 2017 Kapoor once again starred as Lucky in
Golmaal Again and the comedy film was a blockbuster. In 2018 he was seen in a cameo in the superhit
Simmba, in the song
Aankh Marey a part of which he has also voiced. In 2019, he starred as Manav in the
ALT Balaji's web horror series
Boo Sabki Phategi alongside
Mallika Sherawat. In 2020 he produced
Laxmii which starred
Akshay Kumar,
Kiara Advani,
Sharad Kelkar and
Ashwini Kalsekar. The film is co-produced by his production house Tushar Entertainment. In 2021, he made his debut as an author with ‘Bachelor Dad’ published by
Penguin. The book chronicles his journey as a single parent and addresses some issues facing single fathers. In 2022, Kapoor starred and produced crime-thriller film
Maarrich. He played the role of Rajiv Dixit, a fearless cop who is on the hunt to find a murderer. == Filmography ==