Ram Kapoor's journey to stardom: from TV to one of India's most loved actors

Ram Kapoor is one of those actors whose face you recognise before you remember his name.

Born on September 1, 1973, in Jalandhar, Punjab, he grew up in Mumbai and built a career in Indian television that has lasted over two and a half decades.

His journey from a young theatre actor to one of the most recognised faces on Indian television is one of quiet persistence, two defining roles, and a body of work that has stood the test of time.Before the fame, Ram Kapoor did something very few Indian television actors did at the time.

In an interview with Indian Television, he revealed that after deciding seriously to pursue acting as a career, he moved to America to study method acting at the Stanislavski School of Method Acting.

He told the publication, "All my inspiration in terms of actors has been method actors — right from Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino.

So when I decided that I really wanted to pursue this, I failed to get in on the first attempt, so I worked in America for a year and a half.

I finally managed admission, completed the two-year course, graduated, and entered the acting circuit." That kind of commitment before a single camera had even rolled said everything about the actor he was determined to become.Ram Kapoor made his on-screen debut with 'Nyaay' in 1999, followed by appearances in 'Heena', 'Sangharsh', and 'Kavita'.

In 2000, he landed a prominent role in the family drama 'Ghar Ek Mandir', playing Rahul, a character that gave him his first real taste of audience recognition.

The show did very well for him, and the unit became like a family, a connection he found hard to walk away from even when bigger opportunities came calling.Everything changed in 2006 when Ram Kapoor was cast as Jai Walia in 'Kasamh Se'.

This role propelled him to stardom and earned him recognition in households.

It was a turning point in his career.

He went on to win multiple awards for the role, establishing him as one of television's leading men.

Looking back at what the medium had given him, he said plainly, "Television always carried me, be it at my beginnings in small series and telefilms, or through my success in 'Kasamh Se' and 'Bade Achhe Lagte Hain'.

Thanks to TV, I saw an incredible dream come true."If 'Kasamh Se' made him famous, 'Bade Achhe Lagte Hain' made him iconic.

Reportedly in 2011, Ram Kapoor took on the role of Ram Amarnath Kapoor in the show, a wealthy, middle-aged businessman who falls in love with an ordinary woman played by Sakshi Tanwar.

The on-screen chemistry between the two became the talk of the industry, and the show became one of the most-watched programmes on Indian television.

The Indian Television Academy Awards recognised his performance with the Best Actor award.

Reflecting on what made their pairing work, Ram told Celebmantra, "Two things you need, whether it is Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol or anybody, is that they both should be good at their work and comfortable with each other.

I think, luckily, we have that.

As an actor, that gives you the power to expose your extremes, to let go."Ram Kapoor did not limit himself to the small screen.

He appeared in films including 'Monsoon Wedding', 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi', and later in 'Student of the Year'.

His web work has also been significant with compelling roles in 'Jubilee' and other acclaimed digital projects.

Speaking about never placing himself in a box, he told Celebmantra, "As an actor, you shouldn't differentiate between the mediums.

Jahaan accha chance mile, jahan acche logon ke saath kaam karne ko mile, whether it is film, web or theatre, I won't mind."