Career
Ekta Kapoor started her career at the age of 17, interning with advertisement and feature filmmaker Kailash Surendranath. After obtaining financing from her father, she was a producer under her banner, Balaji Telefilms. Her initial projects were failures, with six of her pilot episodes being rejected, leading to a total loss of ₹50 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.0 crore or US$210,000 in 2023). In 1995, Mano Ya Na Mano was selected by Zee TV, and her music-based show Dhun Dhamaka was chosen by Doordarshan. Her 1995 sitcom, Hum Paanch was her first success.
In the 2000s, the letter 'K' became her lucky alphabet, and she launched many shows with the first word of every title starting with the same letter, including Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which broke all records to become the series to attract the highest TRPs in 2000. Other shows beginning with 'K' include Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, Kabhii Sautan Kabhii Sahelii, Kohi Apna Sa, Kaahin Kissii Roz, Kalash, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kahiin To Hoga, and Kasamh Se. In 2001, she was awarded the title of Best Entrepreneur of the Year.
By July 2001, Kapoor was producing more than 30 hours of television shows per week. 20 of her 34 serials were listed as the most popular serials across all major TV channels like Zee TV, Sony, Star Plus, and Metro. Her projected turnover for 2000–2001 was listed as ₹35 crore (equivalent to ₹139 crore or US$14 million in 2023).
After establishing herself in Hindi TV serials, she began venturing into other regional languages, starting with the Tamil series, Kudumbum. The series became very popular, and she then had it dubbed into Telugu and launched it in Hindi as Ghar Ek Mandir. She then ventured into Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali languages. As of 2001, Kapoor wrote her own scripts despite having writers working for her, taking an active interest in all stages of production, while her mother, Shobha, handled the accounts.
Kapoor has thus created and produced more than 130 Indian soap operas. Some of her other popular shows include Pavitra Rishta, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Jodha Akbar, Naagin, Kumkum Bhagya, Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki, Kundali Bhagya, Yeh Hai Chahatein, and several others that were credited with starting a new wave on Indian television, leading to her being known as the "Czarina of Television" and "the Queen of Indian Television".
She ventured into Bollywood movie production in 2001, beginning with Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta, starring Sushmita Sen and Govinda. Kucch To Hai and Krishna Cottage, based on supernatural themes, followed in 2003 and 2004. The 2005 Kyaa Kool Hai Hum featured her brother Tusshar Kapoor. She then went on to co-produce Shootout at Lokhandwala with Sanjay Gupta. This was followed by Mission Istanbul and EMI – Liya Hai Toh Chukana Padhega in collaboration with Sunil Shetty. None of these films were commercial or critical successes.
Between 2010 and 2014, she produced many successful films, including Love Sex aur Dhokha, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, and Shor in the City.
In 2012, Ekta Kapoor started the Institute of Creative Excellence, a media training school, through her production house, Balaji Telefilms.
In 2026, Kapoor produced Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa, the second season of the reality television series Lock Upp. The season streamed on Netflix and was hosted by Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh as jailers. Shreya Kalra emerged as the winner of the season, receiving a cash prize of ₹1 crore.
