The actor had first appeared onscreen with a cameo when he was barely three years old in the song "Pyar Hua, Iqrar Hua Hai" in the movie starring his father Raj Kapoor as the lead in Shree 420.
Later in 1970, he made a debut in Raj Kapoor’s film Mera Naam Joker in which he essayed the role of a younger version of his father. In the movie, he played the role of a young Raju and his uncanny similarity with his father was quickly noticed by fans. He was since then destined to rule Bollywood.
For his role in Mera Naam Joker, he went to win accolades from across the world and received the National Award for Best Child Artist.
In January, the charming actor shared behind-the-scenes memories from the super hit movie that portrayed him as a teenager.
The first role as a lead actor came his way in 1973 in the film Bobby opposite Dimple Kapadia which was also directed by his father. The film was a super hit with the generation and still remains one of the most memorable films from the Kapoor clan.
Since then between 1974 and 1997 the veteran actor did scores of films with solo leads. Of the 11 films that were a huge success in the Box Office remain Bobby, Laila Majnu, Rafoo Chakkar, Sargam, Karz, Prem Rog, Nagina, Honeymoon, Banjaran, Heena and Bol Radha Bol.
The actor once again returned to the silver screen in 2000s, with character roles in movies like Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002), Hum Tum (2004), Fanaa (2006), Namastey London (2007), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Patiala House (2010) and Do Dooni Chaar (2010).
His last movie was a mystery thriller The Body, released in 2019 and was expected to work in a remake of Hollywood film The Intern with Deepika Padukone.