Kareena Kapoor Khan (born on 21 September 1980) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi 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 romantic comedies to crime dramas—Kapoor is the recipient of several awards, including six Filmfare Awards, and is one of Bollywood’s highest-paid actresses.
After making her acting debut in 2000 in Refugee, Kapoor established herself with roles in the dramas Aśoka and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (both 2001). This was followed by a series of commercial failures and negative reviews for her repetitive roles. An against-type performance as a sex worker in the drama Chameli marked a turning point in her career. She earned 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. Further praise came for her performances in the romantic comedies Jab We Met (2007) and Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012), the thrillers Kurbaan (2009) and Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012), and the dramas We Are Family (2010), Heroine (2012) and Udta Punjab (2016). Her highest-grossing releases include the dramas 3 Idiots (2009), Bodyguard (2011) and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), the action film Singham Returns (2014), and the comedies Veere Di Wedding (2018) and Good Newwz (2019).
Kapoor is married to actor Saif Ali Khan, with whom she has two sons. Her off-screen life is the subject of widespread coverage in India. Known for being outspoken and assertive, she is recognised for her contributions to the film industry through her fashion style and film roles. Beside film acting, Kapoor participates in stage shows, hosts a radio show and has contributed as a co-writer to two autobiographical memoirs and two books of nutrition guides. She has started her own line of clothing and cosmetics for women, and has worked with UNICEF since 2014 to advocate for the education of girls and an increase in quality based education in India.
Early life and background
Born on 21 September 1980 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Kapoor (often informally referred to as ‘Bebo’) is the younger daughter of Randhir Kapoor and Babita (née Shivdasani); her elder sister Karisma is also an actress. She is the paternal granddaughter of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor, maternal granddaughter of actor Hari Shivdasani, and great-granddaughter of filmmaker Prithviraj Kapoor. The actor Rishi Kapoor is her uncle, and his son, actor Ranbir Kapoor, is her cousin. According to Kapoor, the name “Kareena” was derived from the book Anna Karenina, which her mother read while she was pregnant with her. She is of Punjabi Hindu descent on her father’s side, and on her mother’s side she is of Sindhi Hindu and British descent.
Read More: Saif Ali Khan | Shraddha Kapoor
Describing herself as a naughty, spoilt child, Kapoor’s exposure to films from a young age kindled her interest in acting; she was particularly inspired by the work of actresses Nargis and Meena Kumari. 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. This led to a conflict between her parents and they lived separately before reconciling in October 2007. She was raised by her mother, who worked several jobs to support her daughters until Karisma debuted as an actress in 1991. Although her father was not present for most her childhood, Kapoor remarked that he played an important role in her life.
Kapoor attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai, followed by Welham Girls’ School in Dehradun She attended the institution primarily to satisfy her mother, though later admitted to liking the experience. According to Kapoor, she wasn’t inclined towards academics though received good grades in all her classes except mathematics. Upon graduating from Welham, she returned to Mumbai and studied commerce for two years at Mithibai College. Kapoor then registered for a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard Summer School in the United States. 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. However, after completing her first year, she decided to pursue her interest in acting, though she later regretted not having completed her education. She began training at an acting institute in Mumbai mentored by Kishore Namit Kapoor, a member of the Film and Television Institute of India.
Personal Life
On 16 October 2012, Kapoor married actor Saif Ali Khan in a private ceremony in Bandra, Mumbai, and she gave birth to their sons in 2016 and 2021 respectively. Kapoor stated that despite adding Khan to her name she would continue practicing Hinduism after marriage.
Kareena Kapoor Khan Height Weight Age Bra Size Biography Family
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kareena Kapoor Khan |
| Nickname | Bebo |
| Profession | Actress |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 163 cm in meters– 1.63 m in feet inches– 5’ 4” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms– 55 kg in pounds– 121 lbs |
| Figure Measurements (approx.) | 36-26-34 |
| Eye Colour | Hazel Green |
| Hair Colour | Dark Brown |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 21 September 1980 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 43 Years |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Signature | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| School(s) | • Jamnabai Narsee School, Mumbai • Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun |
| College/University | Mithibai College, Mumbai |
| Educational Qualification | College Dropout |
| Debut | Film: Refugee (2000) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste/Ethnicity | Khatri/Punjabi |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
| Address | Fortune Heights in Bandra West, Mumbai |
| Hobbies | Reading, Swimming and Yoga |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | Filmfare Awards • Best Female Debut for Refugee (2001) • Special Award for Chameli (2004) • Best Actress (Critics) Award for Dev (2005) • Best Actress (Critics) Award for Omkara (2007) • Best Actress Award for Jab We Met (2008) • Best Supporting Actress Award for We Are Family (2011) International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) • Star Debut of the Year – Female for Refugee (2001) • Style Diva of the Year (2004) • Best Actress Award for Jab We Met (2008) • Best Actress Award for 3 Idiots (2010) Honours • Rajiv Gandhi Young Achiever Award (2005) |
| Controversies | • There had been her catfights with Bipasha Basu on the sets of the film Ajnabee, as she publicly took a dig at her skin tone by calling her a “kali billi.” • Her controversial MMS with Shahid Kapoor, having a steamy liplock went viral on social media. • She publicly made fun of Priyanka Chopra’s accent, after which Priyanka finally replied by saying that she got it from the same place that Saif got his from. |
| Boys, Affairs, and More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Boyfriends | • Hrithik Roshan (Actor) • Shahid Kapoor (Actor) • Saif Ali Khan (Actor) |
| Marriage Date | 16 October 2012 |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | Saif Ali Khan (Actor) |
| Children | Son– 2 • Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi (born on 20 December 2016) • Jeh (She gave birth to her 2nd son, Jeh, on 21 February 2021 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.) Daughter– None |
| Parents | Father– Randhir Kapoor (Actor) Mother– Babita (Actress) |
| Siblings | Brother– None Sister– Karisma Kapoor (Actress) |
| Favourites | |
| Food | Dal-Chawal, Pasta and Spaghetti |
| Actor(s) | Raj Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan |
| Actresses | Kajol, Nargis, Meena Kumari |
| Film(s) | Bollywood: Awaara, Sangam, Bobby, Kal Aaj Aur Kal, Hollywood: Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Love Story, Ben Hur |
| Cricketer | Virat Kohli |
| Colour(s) | Red and Black |
| Perfume | Jean Paul Gaultier’s Classique |
| Fashion Designer | Manish Malhotra |
| Travel Destination(s) | Switzerland and London |
| Style Quotient | |
| Cars Collection | • BMW 7 Series, • LX 470 SUV • Mercedes Benz S 350D (cost around Rs 1.90 Crore in India) |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary (approx.) | $1.47 million (Rs. 11 crore/film as of 2018) |
| Net Worth (approx.) | $60 million (INR 4.46 million as of 2018) |
Career Beginnings
While training at the institute, Kapoor was cast as the lead in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000), opposite Hrithik Roshan. Several days into the filming, however, she abandoned the project since more prominence was given to the director’s son than her. She debuted later that year alongside Abhishek Bachchan in J. P. Dutta’s Refugee. Set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Kapoor was introduced as Naaz, a Bangladeshi girl with whom Bachchan’s character falls in love. Dutta cast her for the combination of youthfulness and innocence he found in her, and Kapoor considered their collaboration to be a learning experience that helped her personally and professionally. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama noted “the ease with which she emotes the most difficult of scenes”, and India Today reported that she belonged to a new breed of Hindi film actors that breaks away from character stereotypes. Refugee was a moderate box-office success in India and Kapoor’s performance earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Fashion and publication
Alongside her acting work, Kapoor has established a career as a designer. During her five-year association with 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” Her collection made its debut several months later in stores across India, and was well received. Following the end of her contract with Globus, she expressed a desire to work with a design house to release her clothing line internationally, but later explained that those plans were on hold. In August 2018, Kapoor collaborated with Lakmé Cosmetics to launch her own line of cosmetics.
In 2009, Kapoor worked with nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar on Don’t Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight, a book on the principles of healthy eating habits. Published by Random House, the book was well received by critics, and sold 10,000 copies within its first twenty days. A follow-up, 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. In 2013, Kapoor released her autobiographical memoir, The Style Diary of a Bollywood Diva, which was criticised by Mint for its “too-breezy” writing. Co-written 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. 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. In 2021, she released Pregnancy Bible (co-authored with Aditi Shah Bhimjani), which became a commercial success.
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 As a child she regularly attended award ceremonies and events with her family, and would also accompany Karisma on-set during filming. 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. 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. The couple—dubbed “Saifeena” by the entertainment media—has been one of the country’s most-reported celebrity stories since 2007, and Kapoor gave birth to their sons in 2016 and 2021, respectively.
While a segment of the press has described Kapoor as friendly and extremely close to her family, others have criticised her for being arrogant and vain—an image she gained in the wake of her superficial character, Poo, in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001). She subsequently featured in films portraying similar characters, and this further established her off- and on-screen personae. Before the release of Chameli (2004), in which she played a sex worker, Kapoor stated that “there is a certain image that people identify you with always follows you whichever role you play. I am trying to transgress this image and become more screen-friendly than image-friendly.” Chameli helped Kapoor reinvent her on-screen persona, and she later explained that her honesty and openness was often perceived by the media as arrogance.
Kapoor is also known for her assertive and moody nature and her outspoken views and independence have been singled out for making major contributions to her career. In an early interview, she confessed to being an introvert yet 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.” 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.” 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”.
Accolades
Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards out of fifteen nominations. For her role in Refugee, Kapoor was awarded the Best Female Debut in 2000. She earned a special jury recognition for Chameli (2003), and two Critics Award for Best Actress for Dev (2004) and Omkara (2006). Kapoor later received the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for Jab We Met (2007) and We Are Family (2010) respectively.
Filmography
Kareena Kapoor is an Indian actress who has appeared in over 60 Hindi films. Kapoor made her acting debut opposite Abhishek Bachchan in the 2000 drama Refugee, for which she earned a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. The following year, she appeared in five films, including the romance Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, the thriller Ajnabee, and the ensemble melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…. The latter emerged as the highest-grossing Bollywood film in overseas market to that point, and the success of these films established her in Bollywood. However, she followed it with a series of critical and commercial failures.
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Refugee | Nazneen “Naaz” Ahmed |
| 2001 | Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai | Pooja Saxena |
| Yaadein | Isha Singh Puri | |
| Ajnabee | Priya Malhotra | |
| Aśoka | Kaurwaki | |
| Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… | Pooja Sharma | |
| 2002 | Mujhse Dosti Karoge! | Tina Kapoor |
| Jeena Sirf Merre Liye | Pinky/Pooja | |
| 2003 | Talaash: The Hunt Begins… | Tina |
| Khushi | Khushi “Lali” Singh | |
| Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon | Sanjana | |
| LOC Kargil | Simran | |
| 2004 | Chameli | Chameli |
| Yuva | Mira | |
| Dev | Aaliya | Also playback singer for song “Jab Nahin Aaye The Tum” |
| Fida | Neha Mehra | |
| Aitraaz | Priya Saxena | |
| Hulchul | Anjali Pathak | |
| 2005 | Bewafaa | Anjali |
| Kyon Ki | Dr. Tanvi Khurana | |
| Dosti: Friends Forever | Anjali | |
| 2006 | 36 China Town | Priya Singhania |
| Chup Chup Ke | Shruti Chauhan | |
| Omkara | Dolly Mishra | |
| Don | Kamini | Special appearance |
| 2007 | Kya Love Story Hai | Herself |
| Jab We Met | Geet Dhillon | |
| 2008 | Halla Bol | Herself |
| Tashan | Pooja Singh | Also playback singer for “Pooja Ka Tashan” |
| Roadside Romeo | Laila (voice) | Animated feature film |
| Golmaal Returns | Ekta | |
| 2009 | Luck by Chance | Herself |
| Billu | Herself | Special appearance in song “Marjaani” |
| Kambakkht Ishq | Simrita Rai | |
| Main Aurr Mrs Khanna | Raina Khanna | |
| Kurbaan | Avantika Ahuja | |
| 3 Idiots | Pia Sahastrabuddhe | |
| 2010 | Milenge Milenge | Priya |
| We Are Family | Shreya Arora | |
| Golmaal 3 | Daboo | |
| 2011 | Bodyguard | Divya |
| Ra.One | Sonia | |
| 2012 | Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu | Riana Braganza |
| Agent Vinod | Iram Parveen Bilal/Dr. Ruby Mendes | |
| Rowdy Rathore | — | Special appearance in song “Chinta Ta” |
| Heroine | Mahi Arora | |
| Talaash: The Answer Lies Within | Rosie/Simran | |
| Dabangg 2 | — | Special appearance in song “Fevicol Se” |
| 2013 | Bombay Talkies | Herself |
| Satyagraha | Yasmin Ahmed | |
| Gori Tere Pyaar Mein! | Dia Sharma | |
| 2014 | Singham Returns | Avni Kamat |
| The Shaukeens | Herself | Cameo |
| Happy Ending | June | Cameo |
| 2015 | Gabbar Is Back | Sunaina |
| Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Rasika Pandey | |
| Brothers | Mary | Special appearance in song “Mera Naam Mary Hai” |
| 2016 | Ki & Ka | Kia |
| Udta Punjab | Dr. Preet Sahni | |
| 2018 | Veere Di Wedding | Kalindi Puri |
| 2019 | Good Newwz | Deepti Kashyap |
| 2020 | Angrezi Medium | Naina Kohli |
| 2022 | Laal Singh Chaddha | Rupa D’Souza |
| TBA | The Buckingham Murders  | TBA |
| The Devotion of Suspect X | TBA | Post-production |
| The Crew | TBA | Filming |
Documentary
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Bollywood im Alpenrausch | Herself | Uncredited role |
| 2013 | The Indian Food Wisdom and The Art of Eating Right | Herself | |
| 2015 | Bollywood And Beyond: A Century Of Indian Cinema | Herself | |
| Girl Rising India – Woh Padhegi, Woh Udegi | Wadley | Hindi version of Richard E. Robbins‘s film. |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah | Mahi Arora/Herself | To promote Heroine |
| 2012 | Punar Vivah | Mahi Arora | Episode 154 |
| 2012 | C.I.D. | Herself | Episode “Heroine Ka Khatra” |
| 2018 | Naagin 3 | Kaalindi | Special appearance |
| 2019 | Dance India Dance Battle Of The Champions | Judge | |
| 2022 | Spy Bahu | Narrator (voiceover) | For first episode and promos |