Kareena Kapoor Khan | Bebo of Bollywood

Education

Kareena Kapoor's educational journey showcases her diverse interests and her eventual decision to pursue a career in acting. She attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai and later Welham Girls' School in Dehradun. Initially, she enrolled in Welham Girls' School to satisfy her mother's wishes, but she eventually grew to enjoy the experience. After completing her schooling at Welham, she returned to Mumbai and enrolled in Mithibai College to pursue a commerce degree. However, her time at college was short-lived as she decided to explore other educational opportunities. Her curiosity led her to register for a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard Summer School in the United States. This experience exposed her to the field of technology. Following her stint at Harvard, Kapoor's interests shifted towards law, prompting her to enrol at the Government Law College in Mumbai. It was during this period that she developed a strong passion for reading, which has remained with her.

Bollywood Career

From a young age, Kareena developed a passion for acting, fuelled by her exposure to films and the influence of actresses like Nargis and Meena Kumari. However, her decision to pursue a career in acting initially faced opposition from her father, who believed it conflicted with traditional maternal duties and responsibilities.

Successful Breakthrough

Kareena Kapoor's breakthrough in Bollywood came through her role in the 2001 film “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...” (K3G), directed by Karan Johar. Prior to this, she had already appeared in several films, including her debut in “Refugee”, but it was her portrayal of Pooja, fondly known as "Poo," that propelled her career to new heights. In K3G, Kareena played a vibrant and superficial character named Pooja. Although she found little resemblance between herself and the over-the-top Poo, she modelled the character's personality on the director Karan Johar himself. Being part of this big-budget production and working alongside an ensemble cast was a significant milestone for Kareena, and she considered it a dream come true. The film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... was a massive success, becoming India's second highest-grossing film of the year. It also became one of the biggest Bollywood successes in the overseas market, earning over ₹1 billion worldwide.

Early Struggle

In the early years of her career in Bollywood, Kareena Kapoor faced struggles and setbacks that ultimately shaped her growth as an actress. After establishing herself as a leading actress, Kareena encountered a challenging period from 2002 to 2003. During this time, all six films in which she starred, including “Mujhse Dosti Karoge!”, “Talaash: The Hunt Begins...”, “Jeena Sirf Merre Liye”, “Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon”, “Khushi”, and “LOC Kargil”, faced both critical and commercial failure. Critics expressed concerns that Kareena was being typecast and that her performances were becoming repetitive variations of her character in “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...”. This period proved to be a valuable lesson for Kareena, teaching her the importance of working harder and seeking more diverse roles.

In 2004, she made a conscious decision to broaden her range as an actress and take on more challenging roles. She took on the role of a golden-hearted prostitute in the film “Chameli”. Initially hesitant about the role, Kareena eventually accepted it after studying the mannerisms and characteristics of sex workers in Mumbai's red-light districts. “Chameli”, with its modest production budget, marked a departure from Kareena’s previous high-profile films. Her portrayal received mixed reviews, with some praising her for exceeding expectations while others found her performance stereotypical.

Great Recognition

Kareena Kapoor's recognition in Bollywood grew significantly during this period of her career. In 2004, she portrayed a villain for the first time in the thriller film “Fida”, which showcased her ability to take on diverse and challenging roles. That same year, she starred in two notable films. In Abbas-Mustan's thriller “Aitraaz”, she played the wife of a man accused of sexual harassment, choosing this role over the offer to play the antagonist, which was later played by Priyanka Chopra. Her portrayal was praised, particularly for her impactful performance in the courtroom sequence. Additionally, she appeared in Priyadarshan's comedy “Hulchul”, which became her first commercial success in three years.

Established Actress

Kareena Kapoor continued to rise in Bollywood during this period, showcasing her versatility and delivering notable performances in various films. In 2008, she starred in the film "Tashan," where she met her future husband, Saif Ali Khan. Although the film had high anticipation among the audience, it didn't perform well at the box office. However, Kareena’s personal life gained attention, adding to her popularity. She also lent her voice to the character of a street dog's love interest in the animated film "Roadside Romeo." Following that, she portrayed a mistrustful wife in "Golmaal Returns."

In 2009, Kareena played the role of a surgeon and model in the battle-of-the-sexes comedy "Kambakkht Ishq," which was set in Los Angeles and became the first Indian film to be shot at Universal Studios. Although the film received poor reviews from critics, it performed well at the box office, showcasing Kareena’s ability to attract audiences despite critical reception. Following that, she appeared in the dramatic thriller "Kurbaan," where she portrayed a woman confined to house arrest after discovering her husband's terrorist activities.

Balancing Family and Career

After the success of "Bodyguard" and "Ra.One," Kareena continued to showcase her talent in various roles. In "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" (2012), she portrayed a carefree and spirited character. She followed this with "Agent Vinod," an espionage thriller, where she took on a different kind of role, showcasing her willingness to explore diverse characters. One of her notable performances came in Madhur Bhandarkar's "Heroine" in 2012, where she played a fading movie star. Initially sceptical about the role, Kareena’s portrayal received acclaim for her nuanced performance. Despite mixed reviews for the film, critics praised her ability to bring depth and vulnerability to her character.

Kareena’s final release of 2012 was "Talaash: The Answer Lies Within," and her performance in the film garnered great praise. The film emerged as a box office hit, further cementing Kareena’s status as a versatile and accomplished actress.

Expanding Limits

Kareena Kapoor's Bollywood career has been marked by a mix of successful films, critical acclaim, and occasional controversies. After her marriage to Saif Ali Khan in 2012, Kareena Kapoor Khan continued to work in the industry, although with a reduced workload. In 2013, she starred alongside Ajay Devgn in "Satyagraha," inspired by social activist Anna Hazare's fight against corruption. Although the film received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, Kareena’s performance was appreciated by some critics. She followed this with a role in the romantic comedy "Gori Tere Pyaar Mein," which received a lukewarm response from audiences and critics alike.

In the subsequent years, Kareena took on smaller roles to focus on her personal life. She appeared opposite Ajay Devgn in the action film "Singham Returns" and with Salman Khan in the drama "Bajrangi Bhaijaan". While "Singham Returns" received mixed reviews, Kareena’s role was criticized for its minimal importance. Despite this, the film performed well at the box office. On the other hand, "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" became a massive success, earning critical acclaim and commercial success.

An Actress and a Mother

After becoming a mother, Kareena Kapoor Khan made a successful return to acting, balancing her professional commitments with her parental responsibilities. Her acting journey post-motherhood showcased her versatility and willingness to explore diverse roles.

In 2018, she starred in a female buddy film, "Veere Di Wedding." The makers accommodated her pregnancy by rewriting her role, and filming began after she gave birth. Kareena was drawn to the film's portrayal of friendship and love from a female perspective, which she believed was rare in Hindi cinema. Critics praised the film for its portrayal of women with agency and a sense of humour, and Kareena delivered a restrained performance that garnered positive attention. "Veere Di Wedding" emerged as one of the highest-grossing female-led Hindi films, solidifying Kareena’s successful comeback.

She reunited with Akshay Kumar in the comedy film "Good Newwz" in 2019, which explored the journey of two couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. The film was a commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year.