Kareena Kapoor
From Top Celebrity News
Kareena Kapoor | |
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Kapoor at an event for Channel V in 2013
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Born | 21 September 1980 Bombay, Maharashtra, India |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2000–present |
Spouse(s) | Saif Ali Khan (2012–present) |
Parent(s) | |
Relatives | See Kapoor family |
After making her acting debut in the 2000 war drama Refugee, Kapoor established herself as a leading actress of Hindi cinema in 2001 with roles in the historical drama Aśoka and the blockbuster melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.... This initial success was followed by a series of commercial failures and repetitive roles, which garnered her negative reviews. The year 2004 marked a turning point for her when she played against type in the role of a sex worker in the drama Chameli. She subsequently earned wide critical recognition for her portrayal of a riot victim in the 2004 drama Dev and a character based on William Shakespeare's heroine Desdemona in the 2006 crime film Omkara, following which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 2007 romantic comedy Jab We Met. Kapoor achieved further success by featuring as the female lead in four of India's top-grossing productions—the 2009 dramedy 3 Idiots, the 2010 comedy Golmaal 3, the 2011 romantic drama Bodyguard, and the 2011 science fiction Ra.One—and received praise for her roles in the 2009 thriller Kurbaan and the 2012 drama Heroine.
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.
Contents
Early life and background
See also: Kapoor family
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 actresses Nargis and Meena Kumari.[10] 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.[11] This led to a conflict between her parents, and they separated.[12] She was then raised by her mother, who worked several jobs to support her daughters until Karisma debuted as an actress in 1991.[13] After living separately for several years, her parents reconciled in October 2007.[12] 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."[13]
Kapoor attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai, followed by Welham Girls' School in Dehradun.[10] She attended the institution primarily to satisfy her mother, though later admitted to liking the experience.[3] According to Kapoor, she wasn't inclined towards academics though received good grades in all her classes except mathematics.[3] After graduating from Welham she studied commerce for two years at Mithibai College in Vile Parle (Mumbai).[10] Kapoor then registered for a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard University in the United States.[10] 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.[10] However, after completing her first year, Kapoor decided to pursue her interest to become an actress.[14] 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).[15]
Acting career
2000–03: Debut, breakthrough and setback
While training at the institute, Kapoor was cast as the female lead in Rakesh Roshan's Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) opposite his son, Hrithik Roshan.[10] Several days into the filming, however, she abandoned the project; Kapoor later explained that she had benefited by not doing the film since more prominence was given to the director's son.[10] She debuted later that year alongside Abhishek Bachchan in J. P. Dutta's war drama Refugee. Set during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, the film centers on a man who illegally transports civilians back and forth across the border. Kapoor portrayed Naaz, a Bangladeshi girl who falls in love with Bachchan's character while illegally migrating to Pakistan with her family. Her performance was acclaimed by critics; Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama described her as "a natural performer" and noted "the ease with which she emotes the most difficult of scenes",[16] while India Today reported that Kapoor belonged to a new breed of Hindi film actors that breaks away from character stereotypes.[17] On the experience of acting in her first film, Kapoor described it as "tough ... [but] also a great learning experience".[10] Refugee was a moderate box-office success in India[18] and Kapoor's performance earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.[19]A key point in Kapoor's career came when she was cast by Karan Johar as Pooja ("Poo", a good-natured, superficial girl) in the 2001 melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... alongside an ensemble cast. Filming the big-budget production was a new experience for Kapoor, and she recalls it fondly: "[I]t was great fun doing [the film and] we had a blast. [W]orking with the unit and the six mega star set was a dream come true."[27] Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... was an immensely popular release, finishing as India's second highest-grossing film of the year and Kapoor's highest-grossing film to that point.[28] It also became one of the biggest Bollywood success of all time in the overseas market, earning over 1 billion (US$16 million) worldwide.[29] Taran Adarsh described Kapoor as "one of the main highlights of the film",[30] and she received her second Filmfare nomination for the role—her first for Best Supporting Actress—as well as nominations at the International Indian Academy (IIFA) and Screen Awards.[19]
Box Office India reported that the success of Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... established Kapoor as a leading actress of Hindi cinema,[31] and Rediff.com published that with Aśoka she had become the highest-paid Indian actress to that point earning 15 million (US$240,000) per film.[32] During 2002 and 2003, Kapoor continued to work in a number of projects but experienced a setback. All six films in which she starred—Mujhse Dosti Karoge!, Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, Talaash: The Hunt Begins..., Khushi, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, and the four-hour war epic LOC Kargil—were critically and commercially unsuccessful.[18] Critics described her performances in these films as "variations of the same character" she played in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., and expressed concern that she was becoming typecast.[33]
2004–06: Professional expansion
By 2004, Kapoor was keen on broadening her range as an actress and thus decided to portray more challenging roles.[33][34] Under the direction of Sudhir Mishra, Kapoor played the role of a golden-hearted prostitute in Chameli, a film relating the story of a young prostitute who meets with a widowed investment banker (played by Rahul Bose). When Kapoor was initially offered the film she refused it, explaining that she would be uncomfortable in the role.[33] She relented when Mishra approached her for the second time, and in preparation for the role, visited several of Mumbai's red-light districts at night to study the mannerisms of sex workers and the way they dressed.[33] Chameli was well received by critics and the film marked a significant turning point in her career,[34] earning Kapoor a special jury recognition at the 49th Filmfare Awards.[35] Indiatimes praised her "intuitive brilliance" and stated that she had exceeded all expectations.[36] Rediff.com, however, found her portrayal unconvincing and excessively stereotypical, describing her as "sounding more like a teenager playacting than a brash, hardened streetwalker" and comparing her mannerisms to a caricature.[37]Kapoor next co-starred in Mani Ratnam's bilingual project Yuva alongside Ajay Devgan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Rani Mukerji and Esha Deol. The film, consisting of three chapters, tells the story of six individuals linked by a car accident. Kapoor is featured in the third chapter as Oberoi's love interest (Mira, a witty young woman). In a Times of India review film critic Subhash K Jha described her role as "fey and insubstantial", but further stated that "she turns these character traits to her own advantage to create a girl who is at once enigmatic and all-there".[38] She then appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Fardeen Khan in Govind Nihalani's critically acclaimed film Dev, which revolved around the 2002 Hindu-Muslim riots in the Indian state of Gujarat.[39] Kapoor's role was that of a Muslim victim named Aaliya, modelled after Zaheera Sheikh (a key witness in Vadodara's Best Bakery case).[39] It earned her a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress and nominations for Best Actress at various award ceremonies.[19] Taran Adarsh described her as "first-rate" and in particular noted her scene with Bachchan's character.[40]
In 2006, Kapoor appeared in three films. She first starred in the thriller 36 China Town, followed by the comedy Chup Chup Ke; both were moderately successful.[18] She next portrayed the character of Desdemona in Omkara—the Hindi adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello. The film (directed by Vishal Bhardwaj) is a tragedy of sexual jealousy set against the backdrop of the political system in Uttar Pradesh.[45] Describing Bhardwaj as a "world-class director [with] a unique style", Kapoor was cast in the project after the director had seen her performance in Yuva, and was subsequently required to attend script-reading sessions along with the entire cast.[46][47] The feature premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and was screened at the Cairo International Film Festival.[45][48] Omkara was received positively by critics, and Kapoor's portrayal earned her a fourth Filmfare Award and first Screen Award.[19] In a 2010 retrospective of the "Top 80 Iconic Performances" of Hindi cinema, Filmfare wrote that she was "brilliant" and praised her ability to "effortless[ly]" convey the various emotions her character went through.[49] Kapoor considered her role in Omkara as a "new benchmark" in her career, and compared her portrayal of Dolly with her own evolving maturity as a woman.[50]
Following Omkara, Kapoor took a short break from acting, as she felt that "nothing [was] challenging enough for me to say yes".[50] In an interview with The Times of India Kapoor commented, "In my initial years in the industry, I pushed myself to do a lot of work because I was greedy. I did some films—which I now regret—purely for the money. Today, I want to do selective films."[51]
2007–11: Jab We Met and commercial success
Kapoor returned to film as the female protagonist Geet Dhillon, a vivacious Sikh girl with a zest for life, in the romantic comedy Jab We Met (2007). Director Imtiaz Ali was not a well-known figure before its production, with only one feature credit to his name, but Kapoor agreed to the film after being impressed with his "mind-blowing" script.[27][52] Featured opposite Shahid Kapoor, the film relates the story of two people with contrasting personalities who meet on a train and eventually fall in love. The film was received favourably by critics and became successful at the box office with gross earnings of 303 million (US$4.8 million).[53] Kapoor won several awards for her performance, including her second Screen Award and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[19] Jaspreet Pandohar of the BBC commented that the role required a mixture of naivety and spontaneity, and was impressed with Kapoor's effort.[54] The critic Rajeev Masand labelled her the film's "biggest strength, as she brings alive her character with not just those smart lines, but with the kind of candor actors seldom invest in their work."[55] While shooting for Jab We Met, Kapoor and Shahid ended their three-year relationship.[56] When asked by Mumbai Mirror, she stated "I hold him in utmost regard, and I hope one day we could be good friends. He is a great guy."[13]In 2009, Kapoor was cast as Simrita Rai (opposite Akshay Kumar) in Sabbir Khan's battle-of-the-sexes comedy Kambakkht Ishq. Set in Los Angeles, it was the first Indian film to be shot at Universal Studios and featured cameo appearances by Hollywood actors.[60] The film was poorly received by critics but became an economic success, earning over 840 million (US$13 million) worldwide;[29] a review in The Times of India described Kapoor's performance as "a complete let-down" and "unconvincing".[61] The box-office flop Main Aurr Mrs Khanna came next, following which she played the leading lady in the dramatic thriller Kurbaan, alongside Saif Ali Khan and Vivek Oberoi. The film (which marked the directorial debut of Rensil D'Silva) featured Kapoor as Avantika Ahuja, a woman who is confined to house arrest after discovering that her husband is a terrorist. Describing the film as "an emotionally draining experience", Kapoor explained that it was difficult to disconnect from her character.[62] The film was critically praised, and Kapoor received her fourth Filmfare Best Actress nomination.[19] Gaurav Malani of The Economic Times commented that after a long time the actress was given "a role of substance that brings her performing potential to the fore",[63] while Subhash K Jha described it as her "most consistently pitched performance to date" played "with splendid sensitivity" and "credib[ility]".[64]
Kapoor's second Filmfare nomination that year came for Rajkumar Hirani's National Film Award-winning 3 Idiots, a film loosely based on the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat.[65] Co-starring alongside Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi, Kapoor played Pia (a medical student and Khan's love interest). Several actresses were considered for the role, though Kapoor was eventually cast under the recommendation of Khan.[65] The film received critical acclaim and emerged as the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time up until then, grossing 2026 million (US$32 million) in India.[66] It also did well internationally, earning over 1.08 billion (US$17 million), the second biggest Bollywood success ever in the overseas market.[67] The Deccan Herald opined that Kapoor "brings a dollop of sunshine and feminine grace to an otherwise masculine tale. She is so spunky and spontaneous you wish there was room for more of her."[68] 3 Idiots received several Best Movie recognitions at major Indian award functions, and Kapoor was awarded the IIFA Award for Best Actress, among others.[19]
In 2010, Kapoor appeared in the romantic comedy Milenge Milenge, a production delayed since 2005.[69] The feature garnered negative reviews and poor box-office returns. Kapoor's role was small, and not well received.[69] She next took a supporting role as career-oriented Shreya Arora in We Are Family, adapted from the 1998 Hollywood film Stepmom. Reaction to the film was lukewarm, but Kapoor's performance drew positive reviews and ultimately won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.[70] Priyanka Roy of The Telegraph praised Kapoor for "breath[ing] life and a new-found maturity into what is largely a uni-dimensional character".[71] At the end of the year, she reunited with director Rohit Shetty for Golmaal 3, a sequel to Golmaal Returns. Like its predecessor, the film received mixed reviews though emerged as the most successful entry in the Golmaal series, earning more than 1 billion (US$16 million) domestically.[72] For her portrayal of the tomboy Daboo, Kapoor received Best Actress nominations at various award ceremonies including Filmfare.[70]
Kapoor had further success in 2011 as the love interest of Salman Khan's character in the romantic drama Bodyguard, a remake of the 2010 Malayalam film of the same name. The film was not well received by critics, though became a financial success, with a domestic total of 1409.5 million (US$22 million)—India's highest-earning film of the year.[73] A review in Mint dismissed Kapoor's role as the "sacrificial, ornamental [and] submissive female";[74] Mid Day referred to her as "bright", arguing that she "actually manages to bring her caricature of a role alive".[75] She next appeared in Anubhav Sinha's science fiction film Ra.One with Shahrukh Khan. The film, employing special effects previously unused in Bollywood, became the most expensive Hindi film ever produced at the time.[76] Despite garnering mixed reviews, Ra.One became one of the biggest earners of the year with a worldwide total of over 2 billion (US$32 million), and Kapoor's fourth major commercial success in two consecutive years.[77]
2012–present: Marriage and recent work
For her next feature, Kapoor was cast as the protagonist of Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine, a drama revolving around the Bollywood film industry. Originally the first choice for the role, Kapoor was hesitant to take on the project when Bhandarkar approached her with the film's initial concept.[84] With reservations about the criticism her character might evoke, she was replaced by Aishwarya Rai.[84] Days after production began, Rai left the film (due to her pregnancy) and Bhandarkar re-approached Kapoor with the film. When the director reinforced his faith in her, she agreed to do the film after having read the completed script.[84] Kapoor (who described her character of Mahi Arora—a fading star—as "bipolar and schizophrenic") refrained from taking on any other projects, since she found Heroine "very aggressive and tiring".[85] Bollywood Hungama observed it as her best work to date noting that "[t]hough her character is inconsistent [...] Kareena furnishes the heroine's character with a rare vulnerability and an exceptional inner life."[86] Alongside her Filmfare nomination for Best Actress, Kapoor was nominated at the annual IIFA, Screen, Star Guild and Stardust award ceremonies.[70]
Following the release of Heroine, Kapoor married actor Saif Ali Khan on 16 October 2012. Described as India's "wedding and social event of the year" in Rupa Subramanya's blog at The Wall Street Journal,[87] the wedding consisted of a five-day celebration period beginning with a pre-wedding bash at Kapoor's residence followed by a registered marriage in the presence of family and close friends.[9] A reception was later held at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel in Mumbai and the Lutyens Bungalow Zone in Delhi.[9] In an interview with Zee News, Kapoor stated that despite adding Khan to her name, she would continue practising Hinduism after her marriage.[88] At the end of the year, she co-starred alongside Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji as the "tantalisingly seductive prostitute" Rosie, in Reema Kagti's crime mystery Talaash: The Answer Lies Within.[89] Set against the backdrop of Mumbai's red-light districts, it follows the travails of its personnel and principal, Inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat (Khan) who is assigned the duty of solving a mysterious car accident. With global revenues of 1.74 billion (US$28 million),[90] the film generated predominantly positive reviews and Kapoor was praised in particular. The Telegraph described her performance as "naughty [and] nonchalan[t]," played with "an unseen mix of oomph and emotion that becomes the [film's] centrepiece".[91]
Kapoor's next appearance was a supporting role in Prakash Jha's political drama Satyagraha (2013), a film loosely inspired by social activist Anna Hazare's fight against corruption in 2011.[92] The film featured an ensemble cast and was highly anticipated by trade journalists due to its release coinciding with the Mumbai and Delhi gang rape public protests.[93] Kapoor was cast as reporter Yasmin Ahmed and hoped that the film would help inspire people to stop violence against women in India.[94] Satyagraha received little praise from critics, though proved to be a modest success grossing over 675 million (US$11 million) domestically.[95] A review in the Daily News and Analysis noted that Kapoor was "limited to mouthing a few 'important' dialogues and being present in crucial scenes like any leading lady".[92] For her next project, Kapoor actively looked for a film that would be "good fun and carrie[d] a light hearted feel."[96] She had a starring role opposite Imran Khan in the romantic comedy Gori Tere Pyaar Mein, but the feature was poorly received and earned little at the box office.[18] In 2014, Kapoor collaborated with Ajay Devgan in Singham Returns, an action drama that served as a sequel to the 2011 film Singham.[97] The role was written specifically for her by Rohit Shetty—the third time the pair collaborated—and Kapoor was cast as Avni, Devgan's loquacious love interest.[98] Reviews for the film were generally mixed with Kapoor being criticized for taking a role of minimal importance,[99] but with a revenue of over 1.45 billion (US$23 million), the film was a success.[97]
As of March 2015, Kapoor is filming Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a romance between a Muslim man and a Brahmin woman, co-starring Salman Khan.[100][101] She is also filming Abhishek Chaubey's Udta Punjab, a thriller on drug abuse, co-starring Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt,[102] and has committed to an untitled film from director Raj Kumar Gupta in which she will play a woman suffering from schizophrenia.[103]
Other ventures
Clothing line and publication
Alongside her acting work, Kapoor has established a career as a designer and an author. During her five-year association as spokesperson for the retail chain Globus, Kapoor became the first Indian actress to launch her own line of clothing for women; she described the collaboration as being "special" and "reflective of my personal sense of style".[104] Her collection made its debut several months later in stores across India, and was well received.[105] Following the end of her contract with Globus, she expressed a desire to work with a design house to release her clothing line internationally,[106] but later explained that those plans were on hold.[107]In 2009, Kapoor collaborated with nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar on Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight, a book which focused on the principles of healthy eating habits.[108] Published by Random House Publications, the book was well received by critics, and sold 10,000 copies within its first twenty days.[108] A follow-up titled, Women and The Weight Loss Tamasha, was released two years later. It addressed the weight loss concerns and eating habits of women in various parts of their life, and featured Kapoor in a voice-over for the audiobook.[109] In February 2013, Kapoor released her autobiographical memoir: The Style Diary of a Bollywood Diva. Co-authored alongside Rochelle Pinto, it became the first book to be launched under the Shobhaa De imprint of Penguin Books—a set of series that included celebrity memoirs, guides and biographies.[110] In a review published by Mint, Shefalee Vasudev criticised the writing style as "too-breezy" but further stated that it is "a well-produced book, reproducing chirpy little post-it notes and diet charts, punctuated with Bebo's stunning pictures from her private albums to fashion magazine covers."[111] Later that year, she collaborated with Diwekar for the third time on The Indian Food Wisdom and The Art of Eating Right, a documentary film about nutrition.[112]
Stage performances
Four years later, Kapoor returned to the stage with six other Bollywood celebrities in the successful Rockstars Concert world tour. The concert was originally scheduled to commence in April 2006, but was postponed due to the arrest of Salman Khan.[115] It later began the following month and was staged in 19 cities across the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. In 2008 Kapoor performed in Shahrukh Khan's Temptation Reloaded 2008, a series of concerts in a number of countries. The show (which also featured Arjun Rampal, Katrina Kaif, Ganesh Hegde, Javed Ali and Anusha Dandekar) debuted at the Ahoy Rotterdam venue in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.[116] Several months later she again joined Khan, Rampal and Kaif to perform for an audience of 15,000 at Dubai's Festival City Arena.[117]
Philanthropy
During her years in the film industry, Kapoor has made public appearances to support various philanthropic endeavours, and has been actively involved in promoting children's education and the safety of women.[118][119] In November 2003, she performed at a fundraiser for the World Youth Peace Summit[120] whilst in 2005, she and other Bollywood actors participated in a concert to raise money for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.[121] Later that year, she visited Indian jawans (troops) in Rajasthan, for a special Holi weekend episode of NDTV's reality show Jai Jawaan.[122] In 2010, Kapoor adopted the village of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh as part of NDTV's Greenathon Campaign, to provide the village with a regular supply of electricity,[123] and later took part in the international campaign, 1GOAL Education for All.[124]The following year, Kapoor was appointed ambassador for the Shakti Campaign—a project launched by the NDTV television network to combat violence against women—in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.[125] In December 2013, Kapoor launched Channel V's anti-rape mobile app 'VithU'; she stated that due to the increase in violence against women in India, "[i]t [was] important for actors to stand up for issues because they can reach out to a lot of people."[126] Kapoor later attended a gala dinner at the Taj Mahal Hotel (hosted by Valérie Trierweiler) where she participated in a campaign to raise awareness on hunger and malnutrition in the world.[118] In 2014, Kapoor joined UNICEF's campaign to launch a higher-quality learning environment in Indian schools.[127] Also that year, while filming Bajrangi Bhaijaan in Kashmir, Kapoor made donations to the Kashmir flood relief.[128]
Public image and character
Known for her nonchalant relationship with the media, Kapoor has gained a reputation for discussing her private life with no reservations.[129][130] As a child she regularly attended award ceremonies and events with her family, and would also accompany Karisma on-set during filming.[4] In an interview with Filmfare, she explained that growing up in a film family helped her develop a sense of professionalism and dedication towards her craft.[131] Kapoor's private life has been the subject of media attention in India, with frequent press coverage of her weight and relationship with actor Saif Ali Khan.[129] The couple—dubbed "Saifeena" by the entertainment media—has been one of the country's most-reported celebrity stories since 2007.[132]Kapoor is also known for her assertive and moody nature,[135][136] and her outspoken views and independence have been singled out for making major contributions to her career; they "add to her superstar aura".[137] In an early interview, she confessed to being an "introvert, yet [...] extremely candid and blunt", reasoning: "Total faith and complete belief in myself is my attitude towards life, films and virtually everything else. I am all about doing what I feel is right. It is not easy to pin me down as I can be a bundle of contradictions."[135] Journalist Subhash K Jha explained that while this approach has sometimes been at the cost of professional opportunities, it "makes her such a favourite among the generation that believes in self regard being the highest form of creativity [...] She lives for the moment and crams all her intensity into it, not sparing a single thought for what is gone and what is waiting around the corner."[138] Meanwhile, Anu Ahuja suggested that Kapoor's demeanour is an act; she is "cold and unapproachable so that no one will act funny with her".[139]
Today, Kapoor is considered as one of the most popular Bollywood celebrities in India.[140] Her look and performances have established her as a style icon for young women.[11][141] In a 2009 poll conducted by the newspaper Daily News and Analysis Kapoor was voted one of India's most popular icons;[142] with her partner Saif Ali Khan, she was listed amongst the top celebrity endorsers for brands and products worldwide.[143] She became the only Indian actress to be featured on CNNGo's list of "Who Mattered Most in India",[2] and was later selected by Verve for its list of the country's most powerful women from 2008 to 2013.[137][144][145] In June 2010 Kapoor was described as "India's Most Beautiful Woman" by People;[2] Eastern Eye and Maxim named her as "Asia's Sexiest Woman" and "India's Hottest Woman" in 2011 and 2012 respectively.[146] The following year, she ranked seventh on Forbes ' list of India's biggest entertainers[147] and was later selected by India Today for its list of the country's most influential women.[148]
Performances: technique and analysis
While discussing her career highlights in a 2010 article, Rediff.com noted: "[E]ven though a lot of her starring roles have been forgettable, [a] look at her filmography now, however, would show a more thoughtful selection of roles [...] playing to her strengths."[130] Her portrayal of a series of superficial characters at the start of her career were criticized; film historian Gyan Prakash explained that these roles "tended to infantilise her, packaging her as daddy's little girl, all bubble and no fizz".[33] Critics noted Chameli (2004) as her coming of age, claiming that "a new actor in her was discovered".[34] Following her portrayal of a variety of character types in Chameli, Dev (2004), Omkara (2006) and Jab We Met (2007), Kapoor was noted for her versatility.[1][129] In 2010, Filmfare Magazine included two of her performances—from Omkara and Jab We Met—in its list of "80 Iconic Performances". India Today labelled her "the most versatile female lead in the industry", noting that she "play[s] her roles with trademark spunk".[152]
Manjula Sen of The Telegraph wrote that although she has "the worst success ratio among her contemporaries", it does not affect her marketability.[129] Sen further explained that Kapoor's strength lies in her being versatile; she is "effortlessly honest in her performances. It is a candour that spills over in her personal conduct."[129] Writing for CNN-IBN, Rituparna Chatterjee spoke of her transformation to date: "[A]fter 40 films and 10 years of fighting off competition from some of the most versatile actors of her generation, Kareena has matured into a bankable actor reinventing herself with surprising ease."[153] In 2004, Kapoor placed third on Rediff's list of "Top Bollywood Female Stars".[154] She was later ranked seventh and fifth in 2005 and 2006, respectively, and returned to third place in 2007.[155][156][157] In January 2011, Kapoor placed fourth on Rediff's list of "Top 10 Actresses of 2000–2010".[158]
Filmography and awards
Selected filmography
Main article: Kareena Kapoor Khan filmography
- Refugee (2000)
- Aśoka (2001)
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)
- Chameli (2003)
- Dev (2004)
- Omkara (2006)
- Jab We Met (2007)
- Kurbaan (2009)
- 3 Idiots (2009)
- We Are Family (2010)
- Golmaal 3 (2010)
- Heroine (2012)
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