# Goga Kapoor (रविंदर कपूर)
**Goga Kapoor** (birth name Ravinder Kapoor, रविंदर कपूर; December 15, 1940 – March 3, 2011) was an Indian actor who worked mainly in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema), known for villainous and authoritative supporting roles across a long career and for playing Kans Mama in B.R. Chopra's television series *Mahabharat* (1988)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) • [3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | December 15, 1940, Gujranwala, British India (now in Pakistan)[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502) |
| Died | March 3, 2011, Malad, Maharashtra, after a lengthy illness; one database gives March 2, 2011[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) • [4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/goga-kapoor) |
| Screen persona | Villains and character roles; famous negative roles in *Mard*, *Agneepath*, *Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa*, and *Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak*[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/goga-kapoor-passes-away-129668-2011-03-03) |
| Debut | *Jwala*, planned in the 1950s but delayed almost a decade and released in 1971[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) |
| Best-known TV role | Kans Mama in B.R. Chopra's *Mahabharat* (1988)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) |
| Bachchan connection | Gave Amitabh Bachchan his first acting break in his 1960s production of *Othello*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) |
| Final film | *Darwaaza Bandh Rakho* (2006)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) |
## Early life and Partition
Kapoor was born on December 15, 1940 in [Gujranwala](https://www.edgepedia.org/gujranwala), in what is now Pakistan, into a wealthy family[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502). After Partition, Gujranwala came under Pakistani control and his family moved to India, leaving substantial property behind[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502). During the migration his father became separated from the family in the crowds and could not be traced despite sustained efforts; his mother raised the children alone for several years before finding her husband again by chance at a coffee shop, as the Anandabazar account describes it[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502).
His interest in acting grew out of theater. He came into contact with drama groups from a young age and acted in English theater while in college[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502).
## Film career
**A delayed debut.** Kapoor's first film, *Jwala*, was planned in the 1950s but was delayed by almost a decade and finally released in 1971, still standing as his debut[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/). His entry into mainstream Hindi cinema came with *Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara* (1973), in which he played a negative role[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/goga-kapoor). Also in 1973 he appeared in *Zanjeer* alongside [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan) and Pran, after which his work was noticed and further roles followed[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/goga-kapoor).
Through the 1970s and 1980s he became a regular villain in commercial Hindi films, with credits including *Hera Pheri* (1976), *[Khoon Pasina](https://www.edgepedia.org/khoon-pasina)* (1977), *Muqaddar Ka Sikandar* (1978), *Dostana* (1980), *[Shaan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shaan-1980-film)* (1980), *Laawaris* (1981), *Coolie* (1983), *Mard* (1985), *Agneepath* (1990), *Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak* (1988), *Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa* (1994), and *Run* (2004)[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/goga-kapoor) • [5](https://watch.rdd.media/p/goga-kapoor-1013138/). He appeared in more than a dozen films with Amitabh Bachchan, including *Mr. Natwarlal*, *Shaan*, *Dostana*, *Laawaris*, *Satte Pe Satta*, *Coolie*, *[Betaab](https://www.edgepedia.org/betaab)*, *Mard*, *Toofan*, and *Agneepath*[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/goga-kapoor). His stated ambition of becoming a leading man never materialized, and he remained fixed in negative and character parts for the length of his career[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502).
Database counts of his films differ: the BollywoodMDB filmography lists 80 films[6](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/goga-kapoor-nm-239/movies), while the Anandabazar profile writes of more than 150 films over his long career[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502). The 1980s were his busiest stretch, with dozens of releases each year as a supporting villain[6](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/goga-kapoor-nm-239/movies).
## Television
Kapoor's best-remembered television role came in B.R. Chopra's epic series *Mahabharat* (1988), in which he played Kans Mama[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/). The casting had a backstory: Chopra had planned to launch Kapoor as a lead in a film in the 1960s, and when that project was shelved, the *Mahabharat* role was his way of compensating[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/). In his later years he appeared in the television shows *The Zee Horror Show* and *Aahat*[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/goga-kapoor-passes-away-129668-2011-03-03).
## Connection with Amitabh Bachchan
Kapoor and Bachchan's association predated their film work. In the 1960s, Kapoor gave Bachchan his first acting break in his stage production of *Othello*, and the two later arrived in Bombay around the same time seeking film careers[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) • [3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502). As Bachchan rose to major stardom, Kapoor continued appearing in smaller and negative roles, sometimes in the same films[3](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502).
## Death
Kapoor died on March 3, 2011 in Malad, Maharashtra, after a lengthy illness; India Today reported that he had been bedridden for many days and had stopped working[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/) • [2](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/goga-kapoor-passes-away-129668-2011-03-03). He was 70 years old[7](https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/name.php?name-id=460210898). Most film databases record the date as March 3, 2011, while the Nettv4u profile gives March 2, 2011[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/goga-kapoor). His final film, *Darwaaza Bandh Rakho*, had been released in 2006[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/).
## References
1. [Goga Kapoor – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438474/bio/)
2. [Goga Kapoor passes away, India Today (March 2011)](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/goga-kapoor-passes-away-129668-2011-03-03)
3. [Unknown facts about ace Bollywood actor Goga Kapoor, Anandabazar Patrika (September 2020)](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/unknown-facts-about-ace-bollywood-actor-goga-kapoor-dgtl-1.1199502)
4. [Hindi Movie Actor Goga Kapoor Biography, Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actor/goga-kapoor)
5. [Goga Kapoor – movies and shows, rdd.media](https://watch.rdd.media/p/goga-kapoor-1013138/)
6. [Goga Kapoor – Complete Movie List & Filmography, BollywoodMDB](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/goga-kapoor-nm-239/movies)
7. [Goga Kapoor, Filmaffinity](https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/name.php?name-id=460210898)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 1970s–1980s › Surnames symbols to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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