An illustrious film family. Acting in her genes. An enviable film career in Bollywood. Marriage to the Nawab of Pataudi. All this, and more, make Kareena Kapoor Khan God’s very own child. Here’s wishing the lovely lass a very happy birthday…
Born on 21 September, 1980, to Randhir Kapoor and Babita, Kareena was destined for superstardom. And why not- her family has been in the movie-making business since the early 1900’s! Her great grandfather is Prithviraj Kapoor, her grandfather is the inimitable Raj Kapoor and her uncles are Rishi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. Her older sister Karisma Kapoor ruled the roost in the early 1990’s, and Kareena has since then taken the family legacy forward.
Debuting in J.P. Dutta’s serious, enthralling 2000 war film ‘Refugee’, that too opposite a newcomer such as herself (Abhishek Bachchan) was probably an unconventional thing to do for a star kid, who usually arrive with a bang with romantic dramas. But Kareena has always been just that: unconventional.
Be it her choice of films, or her personal life, Kareena has always taken the road less traveled.
Unfazed by the subsequent duds after her failed first attempt at films (‘Refugee’, though critically acclaimed, saw limited box office success), Kareena nevertheless went on believing and acting like she was a star. A few false starts in films like ‘Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai’, ‘Yaadein’ and ‘Asoka’ (opposite Shah Rukh Khan) later, Kareena truly arrived when she was cast as ‘Poo’ in Karan Johar’s multi-hued family drama ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’.
Post that, Kareena went on to give memorable performances in films like ‘Chameli’ (where she played the role of a gold-hearted prostitute with elan), ‘Yuva’, ‘Aitraaz’ and ‘Omkara’. However, her breakthrough performance is considered by many to be her take on a feisty, impulsive, childlike young woman ‘Geet’ in Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Jab We Met’. This film catapulted Kareena into superstardom, and pole-vaulted her to the top of the game.
Since then, there’s been no looking back, with Kareena starring only in big-budget, lavishly mounted productions. Her biggest commercial success has been ‘3 Idiots’, opposite Aamir Khan. 2011 was Kareena’s golden year, with her films ‘Bodyguard’ and ‘Ra.One’ with Salman and SRK respectively being blockbusters.
In 2012, Kareena once again resurrected the sex worker character, in Reema Kagti’s ‘Talaash’ opposite Aamir Khan. The film was a box office hit, and Kareena was once again lauded for her performance.
In her personal life too, Kareena has been nothing short of revolutionary. She was among the first few heroines to publicly acknowledge a relationship, when she was dating her co-star Shahid Kapoor in the early 2000’s. Prior to that, she was rumoured to be in a relationship with the handsome (and much-married Hrithik Roshan), but these rumours were unconfirmed. Nevertheless, the two have not worked together in the last 11 years, a feat which will be reversed when they start filming for Karan Johar’s ‘Shuddhi’ next year.
Her live-in relationship with Saif Ali Khan too was the talk of the town. Kareena made no bones about the fact that the two were staying under the same roof, and this relationship culminated in marriage in October 2012. The two have lived happily ever since, with Kareena further assuming the title of ‘Begum of Pataudi’.
Her life is surely the stuff of dreams and fairytales, and Kareena is the shining beacon of light for all the young girls whose dreams are yet to be turned into reality. Here’s wishing the gorgeous, world-class powerhouse performer, fashion diva and newly married Mrs. Kareena Kapoor Khan the happiest of birthdays!
