Kareena Kapoor (
pronounced [kəˈriːnaː kəˈpuːr]; born 21 September 1980), also known as
Kareena Kapoor Khan, is an Indian actress who appears in
Bollywood films. She is the daughter of actors
Randhir Kapoor and
Babita, and the younger sister of actress
Karisma Kapoor. Noted for playing a variety of characters in a range of
film genres—from contemporary romantic dramas to comedies—Kapoor has received six
Filmfare Awards, and has established herself as a leading actress of Hindi cinema.
[1][2]
After making her acting debut in the 2000 war drama
Refugee, Kapoor's early years in the film industry were successful; she received a Filmfare nomination for
Asoka (2001) and appeared in the melodrama
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...
the same year, one of her biggest commercial successes to date. This
was followed by a series of commercial failures and repetitive roles,
which garnered her negative reviews. She portrayed a sex worker in
Chameli (2004), the turning point in her career, and starred in the critically acclaimed films
Dev (2004) and
Omkara (2006). Kapoor played the lead female role in the
romantic comedy Jab We Met (2007, which earned her the
Filmfare Award for Best Actress) and the
dramedy 3 Idiots (2009, the
highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time).
Married to actor
Saif Ali Khan,
Kapoor's off-screen life is the subject of widespread coverage in
India. She is known in the Indian media for being publicly outspoken and
assertive, and is recognised for her contributions to the film industry
through her fashion style and film roles. In addition to film acting,
Kapoor is a stage performer and has contributed as a co-author to three
books: an autobiographical memoir, and two nutrition guides. She has
also launched her own clothing line in association with the retail chain
Globus.
Early life and background
Born into a film family in
Mumbai on 21 September 1980, Kapoor (often informally referred to as 'Bebo')
[4] is the younger daughter of
Randhir Kapoor and
Babita (
née Shivdasani);
[5] her elder sister
Karisma is also an actress. She is the granddaughter of actor and filmmaker
Raj Kapoor and niece of actor
Rishi Kapoor. According to Kapoor, the name "Kareena" was derived from the book
Anna Karenina, which her mother read while she was pregnant with her.
[6] She is of
Punjabi descent on her father's side,
[7] and
Sindhi on her mother's side.
[8]
Describing herself as a "very naughty [and] spoilt child", Kapoor's
exposure to films from a young age kindled her interest in acting;
[3] she was particularly inspired by the work of actors
Nargis and
Meena Kumari.
[9]
Despite her family background, her father disapproved of women entering
films 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 they separated.
[11]
She was then raised by her mother, who worked several jobs to support
her daughters until Karisma debuted as an actress in 1991.
[12] After living separately for several years, her parents reconciled in October 2007.
[11]
Kapoor remarked "My father is also an important factor in my life [...]
[Al]though we did not see him often in our initial years, we are a
family now."
[12]
Kapoor attended
Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai, followed by
Welham Girls' School in Dehradun.
[9] She attended the institution primarily to satisfy her mother, though later admitted to liking the experience.
[3] According to Kapoor, she was a good student and received
first-class honours in all subjects except mathematics.
[3] After graduating from Welham she studied commerce for two years at
Mithibai College in
Vile Parle (Mumbai).
[9] Kapoor then registered for a three-month summer course in microcomputers at
Harvard University in the United States.
[9] She later developed an interest in law, and enrolled at the
Government Law College, Mumbai; during this period, she developed a long-lasting passion for reading.
[9] However, after completing her first year, Kapoor decided to pursue her interest to become an actress.
[13] She began training at an acting institute in Mumbai mentored by Kishore Namit Kapoor, a member of the
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
[14]
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