The Unforced And Natural Performer Gautam Kapur Brings Bigda-Hua-Beta To Life In Instant Insaaf

With Instant Insaaf drawing attention and an international festival acclaim already behind him, Gautam Kapur’s rise may look sudden. It hasn’t been.

Before acting took centre stage, Kapur, also known as Gomzi, built his identity as a supermodel. He spent years watching the industry from close quarters, learning its rhythms before stepping into it fully. That long preparation is now paying off.

In the Hindi courtroom drama Instant Insaaf, Kapur plays Raviraj, a wealthy and entitled heir whose actions set much of the conflict in motion. The character could have easily been reduced to a caricature. Instead, Kapur approaches him with control. Raviraj is arrogant and unapologetic, but never loud for the sake of it. The performance feels measured, not forced.

“Playing a bigda-hua-beta was refreshing,” Kapur says. “I enjoyed every bit of bringing Raviraj to life. He’s wealthy, entitled and unapologetic. That kind of character lets you explore a completely different energy.”

Produced by Vikram Razdan and Kranti Shanbagh and directed by Rayan Razdan, Instant Insaaf brings Kapur face-to-face with Rahul Dev in a charged, confrontational pairing that powers the courtroom drama. Their scenes are tense and gripping, with Kapur’s antagonist standing out in particular. Adding to that intensity is his dynamic with Lekha Prajapati, which injects the story with a fresh turn and keeps the narrative engaging.

The role marks a clear shift from some of his earlier screen work. In the Hollywood short film How Much Do You Want to Know, Kapur played a traumatised MMA fighter navigating emotional collapse. The performance earned him a Best Actor award at the Accolade Film Festival USA and a standing ovation at its screening. The film also received a Best Actor nomination at the Milan Shorts Film Festival in Italy and went on to be selected at 15 international festivals.

“Going from a broken fighter to a spoiled rich kid showed me my own range,” he says. “As an actor, versatility matters more than staying comfortable.”

Kapur’s foundation in cinema goes back to his early work in Bollywood. He appeared in Life in a Metro, directed by Anurag Basu, alongside Konkona Sen Sharma. He worked opposite Juhi Chawla in My Brother Nikhil, directed by Onir, and starred with Mandira Bedi in 42 Kms. These projects helped shape his discipline as a performer, teaching him restraint and an understanding of ensemble storytelling.

Parallel to acting, Kapur built a successful modelling career. As one of India’s prominent male supermodels, he walked for leading designers and featured in campaigns for Panasonic, Wrangler, Raymond and Titan. A music video with Alisha Chinai crossed 1.5 million views, adding to his mainstream visibility.

Entrepreneurship runs alongside his creative pursuits. Coming from an established business family, Gautam Kapur founded Be Conscious Wellness, a dietary supplements company that also operates global wellness retreats. He previously launched Gomzi Activewear, a denim label that expanded across 75 retail stores and exported to markets in France and the Middle East. He is also the author of Don’t Be Fooled, a book on wellness and nutrition that was featured at the Miami Book Festival.

“I don’t want to be predictable,” he says. “The craft is about finding truth in every character, whether they’re sympathetic or not.”

With Instant Insaaf gaining momentum and his international work steadily expanding, Kapur appears less focused on noise and more on longevity. His turn as Raviraj is not simply a departure from type. It reflects an actor who understands timing, range and patience.