Kareena Kapoor,nicknamed Bebo, is an Indian film actress appearing in Bollywood films. Born into the Kapoor film family, Kapoor is the youngest daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita. According to Kapoor, her first name was derived from the book Anna Karenina.She is the granddaughter of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor and the great granddaughter of Prithviraj Kapoor. Bebo, as she is fondly called, is also the sister of actress Karisma Kapoor and the niece of actor Rishi Kapoor.
Kapoor was educated at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai, and later Welham Girls Boarding School in Dehradun. After studying commerce at Mithibai College, Vile Parle for two years, she embarked upon a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard University.She later developed an interest in law and enrolled at the Governments Law College in Churchgate.After completing one year there, she returned to her initial plan to become an actress and commenced training under Kishore Namit Kapoors Acting Institute.
she made her acting debut with Refugee (2000), for which she won a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. In 2001, Kapoor received her first commercial success with her second release, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai.However, subsequent releases such as Yaadein and Ajnabee that followed for Kapoor did indifferent business at the box office. Later that year, she starred in Santosh Sivans period epic Asoka, a partly fictionalized account of the life of Ashoka the Great (304 BC–232 BC), one of the noted Indian emperors of the Maurya Empire. Featured opposite Shahrukh Khan who took centre stage as Ashoka, Kapoor portrayed the character of Kaurwaki, a princess of Kalinga with whom Ashoka falls deeply in love. While the film received generally positive reviews, Kapoors acting performance received a mixed reaction from some critics.Kapoors final release of 2001 was the drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which was released on December 14 of that year and was directed by Karan Johar. The film—which had a multi-starred cast that included Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol and Hrithik Roshan—emerged as the second-highest-grossing film of the year in India, as well as Kapoors highest-grossing movie to date. It also performed well internationally and became the years top-grossing Bollywood film overseas, earning over Rs 800 million worldwide. Her performance as "Poo" was well received by critics, and earned her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination.
After receiving negative reviews due to a series of unsuccessful films and repetitive roles between 2002 and 2003, Kapoor accepted more demanding parts to avoid being typecast. She later received two Critics Awards for Best Actress at the Filmfare ceremony for her performances in the critically acclaimed Dev (2004) and Omkara (2006). After taking on such a range of acting roles between 2004 and 2006, she was recognized for displaying versatility as an actress.
In 2007, Kapoor earned a Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in the commercially successful comedy-romance Jab We Met.
Following the success of Jab We Met, Kapoor featured opposite Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor in the action-thriller Tashan (2008). The film—which marked her comeback to the Yash Raj Films banner—was a critical and commercial failure at the box office.Kapoor next provided her voice for the Yash Raj Films & Walt Disney Pictures animated movie Roadside Romeo. Directed by Jugal Hansraj, the movie featured a street dog named Romeo and had Kapoor providing the voice of Laila, his love interest. In preparation for her role, Kapoor watched several Hollywood animated films to analyse how actors delivered their dialogues.
Rohit Shettys comedy Golmaal Returns, a sequel to the 2006 film Golmaal, followed. Featuring in part of an ensemble cast that included Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Amrita Arora, Celina Jaitley and Anjana Sukhani, Kapoor played the role of Devgans suspicious wife. The film received a lukewarm reception from critics and Kapoor received mixed reviews.
As of November 2008, Kapoor is currently filming for the romantic drama Kambakth Ishq, opposite Akshay Kumar as well as Rajkumar Hiranis drama Three Idiots. She was also cast as the lead in Prem Sonis drama Main Aur Mrs. Khanna, which wrapped up principal photography in July 2008.
During her years in the film industry, Kapoor has also devoted time to other commitments, from being involved with humanitarian causes to taking part in stage shows. In 2002, Kapoor set off on her first world tour, the Heartthrobs Concert, alongside Hrithik Roshan, Karisma Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Aftab Shivdasani. The show was performed throughout the US and Canada and went on to become a success. In November 2003, Kapoor performed at the Marco Ricci Each One Reach One Benefit Concert, a fundraiser for the World Youth Peace Summit, whilst in 2005, along with other Bollywood stars, she took part in the HELP! Telethon Concert to help raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.Later that year, she visited the desert heartland of Rajasthan to boost the morale of the jawans for a special Holi weekend episode on the NDTV show, Jai Jawan. The show consists of entertainers and stars visiting Indian troops in far-flung regions along with the NDTV team.
In 2006, Kapoor took part in the Rockstars Concert world tour, along with Salman Khan, Zayed Khan, John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, Esha Deol and Mallika Sherawat.The following year Kapoor, along with Priyanka Chopra, donated her half-share of 50 lakh rupees from her winnings on the season finale of Kaun Banega Crorepati to St. Anthonys Old Age Home and Mount Marys Bandra. In June 2008, Kapoor appeared on the television game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? alongside boyfriend Saif Ali Khan. Earning a total of 500,000 rupees, Kapoor again donated half of her winnings to St. Anthonys Old Age Home, Bandra.
Gossip columnists have linked Kapoor to a number of her co-stars, but she has strongly denied all these rumors. In 2004, she began dating actor Shahid Kapoor, the son of veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor.While dating, their relationship was often reported in the media, and was once in the center of a scandal when onlookers with mobile phone cameras filmed them kissing and released it to the media.The couple separated three years later while filming Jab We Met (2007). Though the media initially perceived it as a publicity stunt for the film, it was later confirmed that the couple had indeed broken up. According to her, they remained on good terms, and she said in an interview, "I have seen Shahid from his first film to Jab We Met and I can say that there is a marked difference. According to me he is a bundle of talent waiting to explode. I have that much of faith in him as an actor."
In September 2007, during her breakup with Kapoor, rumors began floating around that she was seeing actor Saif Ali Khan. On October 18, 2007, during Manish Malhotras grand finale show at the Lakme Fashion Week, Khan confirmed their relationship to the media saying, "Yes, we are not exactly shouting from the rooftops but yes, clearly we are together. And we are happy together!"Their relationship is frequently reported on in the media, and is often subject to press speculation of a possible engagement or marriage. However, both of them have denied these rumours.
|