Shahid Kapoor born on 25 February 1981. He is also known as Shahid Khattar. He is the son of actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem. He was born in New Delhi. His parents separated when he was three.His father shifted to Mumbai and married the actress Supriya Pathak. In Mumbai, Neelima Azeem married the actor Rajesh Khattar. He moved to Mumbai when he was 10. His grandparents were journalists for the Russian magazine Sputnik. He has three step-siblings Ishan Khattar, Ruhan Kapoor and a sister named Sanah Kapoor. Shahid Kapoor was educated at the Gyan Bharati School in Delhi and Rajhans Vidyalaya in Mumbai. He later attended Mumbai's Mithibai College for three years.

As a student of Shiamak Davar's dance academy, he appeared as a background dancer in the films Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) and Taal (1999), in which Davar served as choreographer.He later became an instructor at the institute.

He appeared in television commercials for the brands Kit Kat and Close-Up, Pepsi. He also featured in music videos for performers, including the band Aryans and the singer Kumar Sanu. He was also assisting his father as assistant director on the 1998 television series Mohandas B.A.L.L.B.

He debuted in Bollywood with the movie Ishq Vishk in 2003. His Major breakthrough was Vivah and Jab We Met. In 2015 he judged a dance reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Reloaded. He has been the recipient of three Filmfare Awards: Best Male Debut for Ishq Vishk (2003), Best Actor for Haider (2014), and Critics Award for Best Actor for Udta Punjab(2016). He has received three more Best Actor nominations at the ceremony for Jab We Met (2007), Kaminey (2009) and Udta Punjab (2016).

On 7 July 2015 Shahid Kapoor married to Mira Rajput at a private ceremony in Gurgaon. Mira Rajput gave birth to their daughter, Misha, on 26 August 2016.

Kapoor practices vegetarianism. In 2010, he took part in a charity event named Superstars Ka Jalwa, which helped generate money for the employees of the Cine and Television Artists Association (CINTAA). Also that year, he lent his support to the NGO Swayamsiddh, which helps children with special needs. He had adopted three villages in support of NDTV's Greenathon. He also helped revive the Victory Arts Foundation NGO, founded by Shiamak Davar, which helps underprivileged children through dance therapy programs. He also appeared alongside other Bollywood celebrities in Because My World Is Not The Same, a short film by Zoya Akhtar, to generate awareness on breast cancer.He supports the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization through advertisement campaigns.