A Delhi girl with a degree in tourism studies and stints in hospitality and modelling, Vaani Kapoor was signed by Yash Raj Films and launched in the unconventional live-in romance Shuddh Desi Romance (2013), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. After a Tamil outing and a long gap, she returned as the free-spirited Parisian dancer of Befikre (2016), announcing herself as one of Bollywood's most striking screen presences.

Kapoor's biggest commercial successes have come alongside Hrithik Roshan in the spy blockbusters War (2019) and War 2 (2025), but her most praised work is Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021), where she played a transgender woman with rare sensitivity. Recent years have seen her stretch further, with the hit sequel Raid 2 (2025) and her streaming debut in Netflix's crime series Mandala Murders (2025).

Filmography Highlights

• Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) — Fresh, award-winning debut in YRF's live-in romance.
• Aaha Kalyanam (2014) — Tamil-Telugu remake of Band Baaja Baaraat; her southern outing.
• Befikre (2016) — Bold lead turn as a carefree dancer in Paris.
• War (2019) — Part of one of the year's biggest action blockbusters.
• Bell Bottom (2021) — Espionage thriller with Akshay Kumar, among the first big pandemic-era releases.
• Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021) — Acclaimed portrayal of a trans woman opposite Ayushmann Khurrana.
• Shamshera (2022) — Period action drama opposite Ranbir Kapoor.
• Raid 2 (2025) — Hit sequel to the tax-raid drama, with Ajay Devgn.

Image: Wikimedia Commons. Part of the Top 50 Bollywood Celebrities series. Ranking inspired by popular industry listings; profiles are original editorial content.