Kareena Kapoor
(pronounced [kəˈriːnaː kəˈpuːr]; born on 21 September 1980),[1] often informally referred to as Bebo,[2] is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary romantic dramas to comedies, period films to major Bollywood productions, as well as less publicised independent films.[3][4]
Born into a family where her parents, Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and elder sister Karisma were actors, Kapoor faced the media spotlight from a very young age, but did not make her acting debut until the 2000 film Refugee. Her melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... became India's highest-grossing film in the overseas market in 2001, and is one of her biggest commercial successes to date.[5] After receiving negative reviews for a series of repetitive roles, Kapoor accepted more demanding parts in order to avoid being typecast,[6] and was consequently recognized by critics for displaying greater versatility as an actress.[7][8] Her portrayal of a sex worker in Chameli (2004) proved to be the turning point in her career and she was later noted for her performances in the critically acclaimed projects Dev (2004) and Omkara (2006).[6] She went on to play the lead female role in the Imtiaz Ali-directed romantic comedy Jab We Met (2007), for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, and the drama 3 Idiots (2009), which became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time.[9]
Inspired by Bollywood actresses like Nargis and Meena Kumari, as well as her sister Karisma, Kapoor is well-recognized for her fashion style and her film roles, both of which have contributed in making her a style icon for young girls and women.[10] Her contributions to the film industry have garnered her numerous achievements including six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations,[11] making her a leading actress of Hindi cinema.[3][8] In addition to movie acting, Kapoor is a regular stage performer and has launched her own clothing line in association with being the former brand ambassador for the retail chain Globus. Her off-screen life, including her relationship with actor Saif Ali Khan, is the subject of wide media coverage in India.[7][12]Contents [hide]
1 Life and career
1.1 Early life and background
1.2 2000–03: Debut and breakthrough
1.3 2004–06: Critical acclaim
1.4 2007–present: Jab We Met and other works
2 Off-screen work
2.1 Stage performances
2.2 Humanitarian work
2.3 Clothing line
3 In the media
4 Filmography
5 See also
6 Notes
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Life and career
Early life and background
See also: Kapoor family
Born in Mumbai, India, on 21 September 1980, into the Kapoor film family, Kapoor is the younger daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita (née Shivdasani); her elder sister Karisma Kapoor, is also an actress. She is the granddaughter of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor, great-granddaughter of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, and niece of actor Rishi Kapoor.[1] According to Kapoor, the name "Kareena" was derived from the book Anna Karenina, which her mother read while she was pregnant with her.[13] Often informally referred to as Bebo,[2] she is of Punjabi descent from her father's side,[14] and on her mother's side she is Sindhi.[15]
In an interview with Vir Sanghvi, Kapoor stated that growing up with her mom (left) and sister (centre) helped her become strong and independent.[16]
As a child, she had strong aspirations to become an actress, and was particularly inspired by watching the films of Bollywood actresses Nargis and Meena Kumari.[17] Kapoor, who describes herself as a "very naughty [and] spoilt child", would regularly dress up in her mother's clothes and perform in front of the mirror.[16] Despite her family background, her father disapproved of women entering the acting profession because he believed it conflicted with the traditional maternal duties and responsibility of women in the family.[10] This led to a conflict between her parents and resulted in Kapoor's mother leaving the house with her daughters.[18] After her parents' separation, she was raised in Lokhandwala by her mother, who worked several jobs to support her daughters until Karisma debuted as an actress in 1991.[19] Following her parents' reconciliation in October 2007,[18] Kapoor explained that they "were never officially divorced ... [but] ... liv[ed] separately."[19] Asked about the relationship she shared with her father, Kapoor remarked, "My father is ... an important factor in my life. [Al]though we did not see him often in our initial years, we are a family now."[19]
Kapoor attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai before progressing to Welham Girls Boarding School in Dehradun.[17] She later recalled, "I learnt so much from being at Welham", and described her experience there as "one of the finest parts of my life".[16] According to Kapoor, she was a good student and received first-class honours in all subjects except mathematics.[16] Upon graduating from the boarding school, she studied commerce for two years at Mithibai College in Vile Parle, Mumbai, but later confessed that she only studied there because she was close to her family.[17] Kapoor then registered for a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard University in the United States.[17] She later developed an interest in law and enrolled at the Government Law College in Churchgate; during this period she became immersed in law books and developed a long-lasting passion for reading.[17] However, after completing one year at Churchgate, Kapoor realized that she was not inclined towards academics and returned to her initial plan to become an actress.[16][20] She began training at an acting institute in Andheri, mentored by Kishore Namit Kapoor, a member of the Film and Television Institute of Indi
