Showing posts with label Kareena Kapoor interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kareena Kapoor interview. Show all posts
It’s heartbreaking, but the revival of RK Studios isn’t happening-Kareena Kapoor
9:42 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; March 23, 2026)
Twenty-six years into her career, Kareena Kapoor Khan continues to reinvent herself with ease. At a recent event in Mumbai, the actress spoke to us about evolving with the times, balancing food and fitness, how her characters become pop culture icons, and why the revival of Raj Kapoor Studios is not on the cards at this point. Excerpts:
‘Perhaps Lolo and Ranbir should think about RK studios’ revival’
Rumours of cousins Ranbir Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor reviving the iconic Raj Kapoor Studios have been rife, but Kareena sets the record straight.
She clarifies, “That’s just not true. It was even being discussed in our family group, and everyone was like, ‘This isn’t happening.’ I feel people really want it to happen. I feel like Ranbir is focused on acting. He loves acting. I think he’s the best actor in India we have today. So, his focus is on that. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s not happening. Maybe Lolo and Ranbir should think about it because I don’t think I can think like a director or a producer.”
‘I’ve always wanted to do a mini series’
As the conversation flows, the actress, who made her Bollywood debut with Refugee in 2000, talks about reinventing herself.
“There is no sketch, but reinvention is trying to do something different every year. I had never worked with Meghna Gulzar. She’s a wonderful director. Our film (Daayra) is topical, and I’m really looking forward to it. My reinvention will come with my character. I am hoping to do something really different this year, maybe a good show, maybe a miniseries. In fact, I’ve always wanted to do a mini series,” she shares.
‘You have to have your own identity, that’s very important’
Many of the characters she played – like Geet (from Jab We Met) and Poo (from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham) – are pop culture icons, leading to many younger-generation women enacting them.
She says, “I don’t see people intentionally trying to do that, but I feel like Poo and Geet have become such pop culture benchmarks that, in 2026, you’re kind of associating with them. But no one really intentionally wants to (ape them), because you have to have your own identity, and that’s very important.”
Bring up the topic of fashion, and Bebo admits there is pressure every time she steps out. “Of course, there is pressure, but I enjoy fashion, so I enjoy it to my comfort. I don’t like doing things or being fashionable because I will still be uncomfortable. I won’t follow a trend or do something just because it’s cool or looks cool. I’ll first see what I want to do. So, there’s never really any plan to make a fashion statement. I feel when you wear outfits that are wearable, fashion becomes a statement,” she explains.
‘I can feel my body transforming again’
Kareena, who started the size-zero trend in Bollywood, is passionate about her food. She confesses that she still loves her parathas.
“I have a great relationship with food and fitness because I like to eat. I had two parathas today. I have to have my parathas. I like to try different workouts and experiment with them, but my heart crawls back to yoga, because that’s where it lies. In fact, in 2026, I restarted my yoga journey, which I started in 2007 with Tashan. I can feel my body transforming again. I’ve tried a thousand workouts, but I always go back there. So, I’m always going to eat my parathas and continue doing my yoga,” she signs off.
It’s very romantic to wake up with a woman this beautiful every day-Saif Ali Khan
10:29 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; February 14, 2026)
For close to two decades, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan have defined – and defied – what it means to be a Bollywood power couple. Long before social media turned celebrity romance into a spectacle, they wore their love unapologetically, from choosing each other at the peak of their careers to building a family while remaining fiercely individual stars. Popularly christened Saifeena, they became Bollywood’s original ‘it’ couple. Kareena and Saif, who recently visited the Tiffany & Co. boutique in Mumbai, talk to us about quiet celebrations over grand gestures, friendship as the foundation of romance, raising children while protecting their individuality, and why – in a world full of responsibilities – love should never feel like just another mundane thing. Excerpts from the Valentine's Day special interview as followed...
‘If we’re together, unhurried, that’s celebration enough'
To start off, we ask them how they spend their Valentine’s Day. “We don’t plan grand gestures. We watch a movie, stay at home, lounge on the couch, and have a night in with pizza and some great wine or Chinese food,” says Saif. Kareena adds, “If we’re together and unhurried, that’s celebration enough.”
So, is there any Valentine's Day gift that Saif is planning to give Kareena? He replies, “I like to gift her when it feels right. Not just because the calendar says so.” She quickly agrees and adds, “It’s nicer when it comes with a thought behind it.”
‘We didn’t fall in love trying to impress anyone’
Next year marks two decades of them being together. They met on the sets of Tashan - the movie may not have been a success, but it led to a very successful union between the two. “We didn’t fall in love trying to impress anyone. We were working, talking, arguing, laughing and one day it just became obvious. That honesty is still the base of everything,” Saif reminisces. Kareena says, “We chose each other as people first. Everything else came later.”
‘It’s very romantic to wake up with a woman this beautiful every day’
Saif and Kareena have been an inspiration to many when it comes to love. Ask them how they feel about their love story being romanticized by many, and Kareena, in her trademark spunky style, declares, “I’d say the love story is far better in real life.”
Saif, on the other hand, elaborates, “It’s very romantic to wake up with a woman this beautiful every day. But the story has required a lot more than what meets the eye. Relationships are about romance but also about intent. And mostly friendship.”
How does their relationship look to them today? Kareena feels “settled and anchored, in the best way.” To that, Saif says, “I feel chosen every day by a wonderful woman, who is brilliant, beautiful and kind.”
‘Kareena is more romantic’
As Shah Rukh Khan once famously said, ‘Pyaar dosti hai’, for both Saif and Kareena, friendship came before romance, and it continues to define their relationship.
Kareena couldn’t agree more. “Completely! He’s still the person I want to gossip with at the end of the day.”
Saif chimes in, “And she’s the first person I want to share things with, good or bad.” Quiz them on who is more romantic, and Saif promptly responds, “She is!” She laughs and adds, “We both have different styles, but I will take that, I am.”
‘We just get each other without words’
From friends to partners to parents (to Taimur and Jeh), has anything changed? Kareena quickly explains, “What’s changed is perspective. What hasn’t changed is comfort. He is home!” Saif adds, “There’s no pretending. That’s a luxury in itself. The ease of being around someone is the best leisure.”
The two continue to live life on their own terms, in matters of family and love, too. “More than ever. Especially after children. Having Saifu by my side... is my favourite part of everyday life,” Kareena confesses.
Saif explains, “When you’re free with each other, everything else becomes easier. Life is full of chores, love can’t be one of them. We don’t have to explain anything to each other. We just get each other without words.”
Every five years, I ask myself, what new can I do now?-Kareena Kapoor
8:03 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; October 9, 2024)
Kareena Kapoor Khan will complete 25 years in the movie business next year. Her filmography boasts of an eclectic mix of memorable characters and no-nonsense, courageous leads. From Refugee (2000) to Crew and The Buckingham Murders this year, Bebo has had quite a journey. However, despite delivering some fine performances over the years, she is often in the focus for her trendsetting style and glamorous avatars.
The actress talks about her longevity in the industry and how she believes she has a long way to go.
‘It took many films for people to take me seriously as an actor’
When we asked her about glamour overshadowing acting talent at a recent event, the actress said, “People tend to overlook an actor’s gravitas if you are glamourous. If you see my choice of films, it proves this perception wrong. I have had a glamorous image, but I’ve never looked at myself like that. I prefer to keep my ear to the ground because it’s important for an actor to know the reality of a situation. I am focused on my performance. It took many films for people to take me seriously as an actor.”
She further added, “Today, when a film like Buckingham Murders releases, people take notice because I have constantly been at it, proving myself. That’s also one of the reasons behind the longevity I have been able to achieve as an actor. I have constantly tried to prove myself as an actor for the past 25 years. And I don’t want people to say you have done it all, now what? I have a long way to go.”
‘Perhaps, people like to see me in roles like Geet or Poo because the masses can connect to it more’
While Poo and Geet often walk away with all the glory, Kareena’s comic timing in films like 3 Idiots, Good Newwz and Crew have won a lot of appreciation, along with much critical acclaim for films like Omkara, Udta Punjab, Talaash, Jaane Jaan and The Buckingham Murders.
She elaborated, “In the last 25 years, the first decade went in people assuming that I was Poo, and the other went in people thinking I am Bhatinda ki sikhni Geet. Maybe I am a mix of both. I want people to know that I am an actor who is very passionate about her job.”
Talking about staying connected to the audience, she said, “People like to see me in roles like Geet or Poo more, perhaps because they are more connected to the masses. In the next 25 years, I will try to play more different roles. While I have done films with superstars, which have been hits, I have also had a career that I have simultaneously built to prove myself as an actor. The X factor combined with talent and, of course, 30 per cent of luck is what takes you places.”
‘Sustaining yourself in the industry is tougher, so I like to make varied choices’
Speaking of longevity in her career, the actress reminisced, “At 17-18, it was all about wanting to be in every film. If you sustain for a decade, it’s about reinvention, which is scary in an industry which is male-dominated. Over the years, apart from me, there have been other brave actresses too who have taken big strides. Every five years, I ask myself, what new can I do now? It’s not just about being a part of successful films but leaving behind a legacy. I come from a family (the Kapoors) where I have been challenged because they all are such amazing actors, but I want to leave my mark somewhere. Every 10 years, there is someone new, so how am I going to last? Sustaining yourself is tougher, so I like to make varied choices, be it The Buckingham Murders, Singham Again, Crew or Jaane Jaan, which dropped on a streaming platform. I feel it would have done great on the big screen, too.”
Salman Khan is sharp as a knife; Shah Rukh is made of special cloth; Aamir is too focused on himself-Kareena Kapoor
9:03 AM
Kareena Kapoor Khan on her cinema, clan, and version 2.0
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; October 14, 2023)
I think it works for actor Kareena Kapoor Khan to not come across as way too interesting, during interviews—scratching merely the surface, without engaging too hard during a conversation. One, it keeps the mystique alive, for a star-actor, who’s been under the Bollywood spotlight for 23 years, straight.
Also, forget an overpowering intellect, for a second—there is rarely a correlation between an incredibly interesting conversationalist, and an equally fine actor, on screen. In fact, the reverse might often be truer.
Take Kareena, when she’s out with roles far too different from her public image—seamlessly slipping into lives of distant others. She inevitably surprises.
She says, “I have always tried to balance out the stardom/persona, with character-driven films, all through. I was 22, when I did Chameli [2003; that shines a light on a sex-worker’s life, over a night]. Back then, there weren’t mainstream actors attempting such a role. Likewise, Dev [2004], Yuva [2004], Omkara [2006]…”
At one point, Kareena, 43, reiterates, “Of course, the big-ticket films will be there. But I don’t wanna do stardom anymore. Would rather dig deep into challenging parts.”
This is in context of Jaane Jaan (2023), that she debuted on OTT with, starring alongside Jaideep Ahlawat, Vijay Varma—equally stars in their own right, although from another sky, namely, streaming.
This choice for Kareena was personal: “I binge-watch crime thrillers at home—I’ve watched all of Harlan Coben’s books that have been made into shows on Netflix. So, I always thought that if I come on a streaming platform—it should be in a genre that I would like to see, myself!”
As she also points out, she’s seen Mare Of Easttown six times already—and that kinda explains her next release, The Buckingham Murders, that premièred at the British Film Institute festival.
Over three weeks since Jaane Jaan dropped on Netflix—based on the crime thriller, The Devotion Of Suspect X—it’s been on the world top 10 chart, for non-English films, on the global platform. Kareena paints a picture of sheer vulnerability in the movie—single-parenting a teenaged girl, while they grapple with an accidental murder.
It’s a whole new world for her, she admits. And the process remains the same. Which is? Mainly to learn your lines, yes: “Because that’s how you can manoeuvre a moment on a set. I’m a prepared actor. But I like to leave room thereafter for the director, co-stars, and the collective energy, that makes a scene and film work. I’m not set in my head.”
She essentially rubs off the energy in the room, she says. And that, of course, changes from room to room, doesn’t it? With Jaideep as co-star, and the role of Maya, for instance, Kareena says, “You have to be more focused. The [co-stars’] modus operandi is different.”
Which is diametrically different from, say, a Salman Khan film—whether Bodyguard (2011), or Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)? “With Salman, you have an actor playing on his confidence, and his super-duper stardom. He is confident to another level. And while it may seem so on the set, it’s not like he is unaware, or that he’s not listening, or is kinda sleeping… He’s listening to everything, and is sharp as a knife. Whereas Jaideep is sincere, constantly thinking about his character.”
Over two decades in Bollywood that’s been dominated by the Khan trio, it might be fair to suggest that the female co-star who’s been by their side all along might well be Kareena. Sometimes even picking parts more for the size of the film, than her role. She’s obviously in the best position to define that pop-culture phenomenon more closely.
I ask her to explain the three Khans, ideally through anecdotes, for how they roll, separately. With Shah Rukh Khan, she says, “He’s all those things you hear about him, and more—truly the Shah, or Emperor, or Conqueror, as they say. For him, the film is about everybody, who’s on the set—from the co-star, to the light boy on the tarp. You sense none of his stardom, once he’s in front of you, and how he multi-tasks, while making everyone feel special. He’s made of a special cloth.”
Kareena was 21, when she starred opposite SRK in Asoka (2001): “That was a truly brave film for his maiden home production. He took it all the way to the Venice Film Festival. It’s incredible, the vision for 20 years ahead, that’s he’s had. Back then, he knew that cinema was going to change, and he invested hugely in a VFX studio.”
The super-hero film, Ra.One (2011), with SRK and Kareena, was a result of that. As we speak, with Jawan (2023), SRK has made an astounding comeback for himself, and Bollywood itself.
It’s also not far away from the unexpected debacle of Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), which was Kareena’s last release in theatres—a hard labour of love: “With several years of production gone into it.”
Kareena had her second child shortly after the film came out. And she barely had the time or mental space to mull over its commercial failure: “Recently, Aamir and I were at the inauguration of NMACC [Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre]. That’s when we first met after Laal. Well, I saw his face, and I could see how he was looking at me, apologetic and sad, at the same time: ‘What happened?’ Together, we’ve delivered big films, 3 Idiots [2009], Talaash [2012]. But you know what? It doesn’t matter. I wrote a long letter [on WhatsApp] to both Aamir and the director [Advait Chandan], telling them that our relationships and talent don’t depend on the outcome of a film.”
I wonder if she’s personally analyzed what went strikingly south with a movie so sincere and sweet, that the audiences simply stayed away?
“I think it was the post-COVID times. People were looking for some more fun in their entertainment. And Laal Singh Chaddha is dark. Even while we were making it, Aamir discussed with me if we were going too dark with my character, Rupa. I said, no, let it be—that’s what it is.”
As a Khan co-star, of course, Kareena has the same things to say about Aamir that’s earned him the title, Mr Perfectionist: “He’s too focused on himself; obsessed. Sometimes I’d tell him, ‘Bahut ho gaya yaar’. You can’t do anything else while working on the film—all the conversations and people are centred on one thing. But that’s Aamir for you. And we’ve loved him for that.”
It’s not that I say this because Kareena is before us. The fact is, my favourite Khan for a star-actor is, in fact, her husband, Saif. He’s defined urbane cool in unmatched ways, over a career as long as his Khan
contemporaries.
Also, taking creative risks with subjects that were so OTT, before there were streamers—take the English film, Being Cyrus (2005), for instance. She obviously agrees, “He’s the finest artiste, doing his own thing, a Laal Kaptaan (2019)…”
It must be mildly upsetting, though, that their own pairing wasn’t to the mainstream delight—whether that be Kurbaan (2009): “Hey, Tashan [2008] was a cool flick! It’s got the songs, and characters, and a cult value! So was Agent Vinod [2012], with a cool yet desi intelligent kinda James Bond.” Fair enough.
While Kareena would love to pair opposite Saif, he tells her something rather keenly observant: “Saif says that he wants to be the best in a film. But he loves me so much that he would want me to be the best.” This is a conflict of interest, alright!
Kareena’s own filmic story actually begins with her sister, Karisma, who got into the movies, first. Also, the first female from the Kapoor family to show up on screen. She’s a fourth generation actor, from what’s widely considered the first family in Bollywood—her great grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor, onwards.
Still, the fact is, it’s actually her mother, Babita, who raised her, almost single-handedly—the reason she’s in the movies!
Kareena says, “I’ve got my confidence and an independent streak from watching my mom. She’s the lioness, who raised the cubs, that is my sister and I. The fire in me comes from her, and she has the same fire for her children even now, when we discuss work. Three women under one roof can do anything! That’s how she took on the world and pushed Karisma’s career. She personally took her down South, to meet Rama Naidu.”
Ah, that’s how Prem Qaidi (1991) happened! Remember, Harish? Also, Anari (1993)! With Telugu superstar, Venkatesh, who’s also found a new audience, you would’ve noticed, with the recent Netflix series, Rana Naidu.
Babita was the ‘Bollywood mom’, as was the prevalent practice in the ’90s: “She would always be with my sister. By the time, I made my debut, times had changed. She wouldn’t come on the set with me. She adapted with the new generation. Also, cinema changed from the ’90s.”
Kinda crappy decade the ’90s were, for mainstream female actors, no? I prod Kareena. She says, “Well, everybody still dances to Lolo’s songs at parties!”
Either way, it’s worth noting that up until the end of that decade, while producers and stars in Bollywood were only too happy to introduce their male children into films, they resolutely chose to keep their female progeny at a safe distance.
Clearly, something was amiss? That they didn’t think the film industry was a great place to work for women? Kareena is decidedly non-committal: “I think these were personal decisions. [With the Kapoor family], it could well be that light-eyed actresses don’t make it! In the ’60s and ’70s, it was simply a choice they made. My mom-in-law [Sharmila Tagore], for instance, continued to work after marriage, and even after Saif was born. She was a game changer of sorts.”
Even with Karisma, Kareena recalls her father, Randhir, “an open-minded cosmopolitan”, was clear: “Lolo would have to find her own way, and that he can’t help her [vis-Ã -vis a debut/launch vehicle].”
Lolo, being Karisma’s popular nickname. It’s derived from Italian actor-model, Gina Lollobrigida, Kareena confirms: “Now, I don’t know where Bebo [Kareena’s own nickname] comes from!”
She’s however named after Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, the novel Babita was reading, when she was pregnant with Kareena. Okay, another legend confirmed then. Has she read the book she’s named after?
“Have you seen the size of the book? Mere baal safed ho jayenge [I’ll grey, before I finish it!]. It’s lying at home. Guess who’s obviously read it!” Meaning, her husband, Saif, who’s more of a reader.
“Well, I may give off the vibe that I’m not a reader, which is not true. I do read, but more [in the crime fiction space] Scady [Scandivanian] stuff, like Joe Nesbo. Saif has a different taste, having been an art history student.”
Speaking of names, her new title, Jaane Jaan, is actually named after a film, starring her father, Randhir—who, I tell her, and not because she’s around, that he’s one of my favourite Kapoors, definitely underrated. Her own favourite Randhir films are the same as mine—on top, the crazy comedy, Biwi-o-Biwi (1981), then Chacha Bhatija (1977), which is before Kareena was born.
And that would be true for Randhir’s own stardom, that was quite something in the ’70s, and but it faded by the ’80s: “I was too young, when my dad had stopped working, as such. That’s why my mom had to step in to bring us up, and figure out the odds and ends, until Lolo started working. He did direct two-three films [Heena was one of them]. But he’s had a sporadic kinda career.
“He’s actually loved living life, a lot more—he’s a funny and warm man, with a large social circle, meeting close friends... There are a hundred of them. And they would have not one thing wrong to say about him. He gave more time to that side of his life. It’s something I’ve learnt to do with my circle as well. He’s given us a lot of love.”
The other thing that’s seeped into her personality is a middle-class upbringing, therefore: “My mother came from a humble background. Her father was a character actor, Hari Shivdasani. My grandmother was British. They met on a tour in the 1940s. Growing up, it was clear, that we would be provided the bare necessities. I could buy [expensive] clothes and other stuff, once I got a job.”
Karisma debuted at 15; Kareena, at 20: “My 20s weren’t about partying, shots, nightclubs... They got spent at Mehboob Studios. And I loved that! And it’s been my life since—early to bed, by 9.30 pm, up early. You’ll hardly find me at film parties, although I can have a late-night, once in a while.”
Once you start checking boxes, you realize, Kareena actually has a new-age doppelgänger. An actor who met and clicked with her husband (later), similarly, on a film set, having known him for years before that.
With a maternal grandmother, who’s British, while her paternal family is from the films. She broke out with a Karan Johar film. As did Kareena, in many ways. And now, they’re also related. That’s Alia Bhatt, who confesses to being Kareena’s biggest fan. It may appear she has modelled herself on her as well.
Kareena smiles, “She’s tried to keep that artistic balance. I’m a huge admirer of her choices. And that’s what ultimately makes an actor. I didn’t know her as a child. But of course, now Alia’s part of the family [married to Kareena’s cousin, Ranbir]. Recently we had a picture together that got everyone talking about how we must work together. And then Karan [Johar] started getting the same messages. The onus is on him to cast us then!”
Easily, the role that got Kareena pop-culture cred was as Poo, short for Pooja (as all Sidharths are Sids, and Adityas, Adys). It’s the snobbish fashionista’s role from Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) that got her all the teenage love: “I think the lingo and the language of the character is even more relevant today! The reason it worked was because I had so much fun playing the part—a rare mainstream, female role [that stands out] in a film full of [male] stars.”
As you can tell, it was inspired by Alicia Silverstone from Clueless (1995). Kareena had obviously seen that teen-com: “But, no, I was totally inspired by Karan. He just knew the part really well.” Looping back to the Alia-Kareena potential casting by Karan—if that does happen, I joke, it’ll fire up online trolls screaming, nepotism all over again!
Kareena sighs, “Now, what nepotism, yaar! I’ve been around for 23 years. People have seen my fair share of debacles. And I’ve proven myself. I keep coming back.”
What can’t be denied, however, is the edge, in any profession, for that matter, that one enjoys, by observing it from a close distance, being raised around it. As with films too.
She agrees, “For me, that happened with being on Karisma’s sets, growing up. I was lucky, yes. But the first time you face the camera is still the first time. And there is an X factor that you can’t take that away from someone. So, what you’re referring to is just a one percent advantage.”
Kareena debuted with a relatively broody/artsy, Refugee (2000), with Abhishek Bachchan, after dropping out of Hrithik Roshan’s debut, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000). K3G cemented her stardom of sorts. Refugee was a fair starting point for her displaying her chops as a sensitive/sensible lead.
What followed was a series of films that would baffle the moviegoer—take the forgettable Yaadein (2001), or Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003), among many that you rightly can’t recall.
Both the movies mentioned, she points out, were by the star-filmmakers of the time—Subhash Ghai, Sooraj Barjatya. Was she picking directors over scripts? “I was too young then. You can’t say no [to such big films]!”
An actor, of course, only acts. There is much else at play for her to take full responsibility for a role, let alone an entire film. At some point, given the offers, she had decided on a sabbatical, refusing to sign up any: “I was saying no to some of the biggest movies.” She’s quite well-known for that too. Take Queen (2014), I remember. She’d passed on that as well.
“Oh, no, that’s much later,” Kareena says, talking of the late noughties. How did she plan on reviving her career then? “With a ripped, six-pack, planning to blow up with the world, walking on high speed [shot], on to the big screen! I hadn’t worked for a year and half.”
The film? Tashan! The goal? Size zero! As goes the old John Lennon cliché (which like all clichés, being true)—life is what happens, when you’re busy making other plans.
Actor Shahid Kapoor sent over director Imtiaz Ali for a script narration. Imtiaz had only debuted with Socha Na Tha (2005). She hadn’t seen that film. Shahid had. She was happy with his script. Jab We Met was born. Rest is history, and chemistry, of course. But all through the making of Jab We Met, Kareena says, she wouldn’t stop talking about Tashan!
“Imtiaz just kept saying, ‘I don’t think you’re getting it!’” In terms of the impact her character is likely to have. It did. Kareena as Geeta remains her most prized picture yet.
Although my personal favourite, in terms of performance alone, is Kareena as Aaliya, in Govind Nihalani’s Dev, based on the 2002 Gujarat riots. It’s the role with immeasurable depth you wouldn’t expect Kareena (or any other commercial/mainstream star) to pull off, so effortlessly. That’s the visceral, surprise element she brings to the screen, that’s hard to decode about her, least of all in a press interview.
Beyond movies, her hugest production is obviously her son, Taimur, a media blockbuster ever since he was born. And which also explains nepotism more realistically—it starts with intense public interest in star-children, in general.
Something that social media and paparazzi feed on. Taimur’s been India’s most famous child, way before he’s likely to even contemplate his profession.
There’s little Kareena could do about it: “If he’s with me, he will be photographed.” I wonder how other celebrity couples manage their child’s privacy. Nobody, for instance, knows what Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra’s kid looks like. There must some method to it.
It can backfire too, Kareena reasons, “I could cover his face. That would be more scarring.” Infant Taimur even had a weekly column with his name for a pseudonym in a popular Mumbai daily. I wonder if he’s seen it?
“He hasn’t. But I’m sure he will, if he googles himself.” His growing up could be a curious case study on fame, while his mother claims he’s been totally unaffected by the unwanted attention: “He’s a smart boy. He knows that he has famous parents. And that’s what this is about.”
None of which Kareena had to face, through school/college (Jamnabai, Welhams, Mithibai), while being a celebrity child herself. And she’s been a Bollywood star since teenage. All through which she’s seen the media landscape evolve, equally. Back in the noughties, the reporting around film stars were inevitably about catfights in fanzines and gossip rags!
She was then in her 20s, a decade she regrets a little for “saying and doing foolish things, in order to prove oneself.” These would make it to the press, covering movies, that was still aimed at a niche readership—“Kareena, Priyanka in a catfight in Antwerp!” Okay, that’s not a true story, apparently.
The smart phone and social media turned everyone into a semi-paparazzi and gossip writer. It gets to Kareena, at times: “Everyone wants your time, and a piece of you, which wasn’t there before. It’s tough to balance this out—to not have a bad day, or be tired, being under the spotlight 36 out of the 24 hours of your day!”
An old, 2019 video, featuring N Narayanmurthy, for instance, randomly went viral recently. Wherein the Infosys founder talks about Kareena as his co-passenger on a flight once. And that he wasn’t pleased with her fobbing off unnecessary attention from the public around her. Narayanmurthy’s wife, Sudha Murthy, is a voice of reason in that video. She tries to explain Kareena’s POV. Something Kareena does well herself.
Only, that since everything becomes controversial for a day, online—I can see Kareena’s entourage dancing behind her to cut short the interview, while I wonder if she’s opened up enough?
They’re unhappy with the questions, they complain to my colleague, during the interview. Which is strange, and it’s never happened during our conversation series, Sit with Hitlist, over five years.
The same thing occurred during Kareena’s The Guardian profile, more recently (as noted in the piece). She is actually eloquent enough to take her questions, with absolute ease, and reasonable charm. It’s hard to figure why her own/personal team would unusually attempt bad press towards the employer/client!
Jab We Met is ghar ki khichdi, you want to see it again and again. It doesn’t get old-Kareena Kapoor
8:27 AM
Kareena Kapoor Khan is at a zen stage in her career and all she wants to focus on is doing quality work. In a chat with us, the actor talks about defying the age-old notion of female actors not getting along, her ‘other’ films and more
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 6, 2023)
‘EXCITED TO WORK WITH TABU’
“Lolo (sister, actor Karisma Kapoor) and Tabu have done some stellar films together. So, I am super excited because I have never worked with her,” says Khan, who will star with actors Tabu and Kriti Sanon in The Crew soon. “All of us working on the film are women, including our producers (Rhea Kapoor and Ektaa Kapoor). These two have always been cool enough to break the mould and do something different. It’s a big screen film and I am pretty sure the audience will love it,” she adds.
NO FRICTION
Dismissing the notion that female actors don’t get along, Khan says, “I have worked in many women-centric films and alongside many female actors. I think today, it’s about doing a good film, not about who or what’s in it. Everybody just wants to do a good film.”
‘JAB WE MET DOESN’T GET OLD’
“Of course, Jab We Met (2007) is ghar ki khichdi, you want to see it again and again. It doesn’t get old. That’s a rarity; every time you watch it, it’s like you are watching it for the first time. It’s just the character,” says Khan, referring to the vivacious Geet.
‘TALK ABOUT MY OTHER FILMS TOO!’
Every film Khan does is compared to her iconic performances in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Jab We Met (2007). “They are iconic, I understand. But, I feel like people should talk about [my other films like] Chameli (2003), Yuva (2004), Omkara (2006) and Heroine (2012), too. They are underrated in terms of my performance. Why don’t people talk about that? I am also doing The Devotion Of Suspect X; that’s a very different kind of spectrum for me,” she asserts.
23 years in this industry taught me that nothing lasts forever-Kareena Kapoor
8:02 AM
Debarati S Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; March 24, 2023)
Whatever it is that Kareena Kapoor Khan does, she dives right into it with spontaneity, spunk and confidence. Whether it is a challenging role on screen, hosting a show, or playing super mom to her kids — she gives it all she’s got. In an interview with Bombay Times for What Women Want — Season 4, which streams new episodes on the Mirchi Plus App every Wednesday and on Mirchi Plus’ YouTube channel every Friday at 11 am, the actress talks about what’s new and exciting about this season of the show, completing 23 years in the industry, and how her passion drives her. Excerpts:
This is the fourth season of the show. Tell us about it...
This is the fourth season of What Women Want and it’s an honour and pleasure to be doing this for another season. The audience’s love has made us come back and do this once again.
This time we are looking forward to having a lot of interesting men on our show because we have always had women come and talk about what they want. In this season, we have a lot of men who have come forward and are ready to share their thoughts on different fields. I am looking forward to interviewing all of them.
So, is that what will set this season apart from the rest?
This season will be different. We always choose personalities who have left an impact. The fact is that the digital world has grown and is creating so much content. So, we have influencers and interesting personalities who have made a mark in different industries coming as guests.
After 23 years in the industry, you are choosing different kinds of roles, doing a podcast, trying out newer things and still going strong. What has been your biggest takeaway?
My biggest takeaway is that nothing lasts forever, whether it is success or failure. What really lasts is your goodwill, dedication, the characters to play on screen and the films that you have chosen to do. Basically, what you will be remembered for is whether you were a good artiste or not. It is ultimately all about that. People talk about you in a certain way; I would always want that when people talk about me, they say that I am a lovely person. That should be the primary feeling. That is the feeling you get when you watch my characters like Geet, (Jab We Met) and Poo (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham) because they were loveable characters. So, the key is to give the world lovable characters.
Over the last two decades, your stardom and fan following haven’t relied on the movies you did or how they fared at the box office. You have remained the quintessential Bollywood star. What do you think made the difference?
I think, most importantly, I am honest to my work, to myself, my loved ones and I am honest to the characters that I portray on screen. Somehow, I feel that when we are not being true to our profession and are doing things for the sake of it, people can tell. So, for me it is always like that – whether I am talking to someone, whether I love someone, or I am performing on screen, I do it all very passionately. So, I think that somehow does set me apart, because I am extremely passionate about whatever I do.
Do you think that you have reached a point in your career where box office numbers don’t perturb you?
The box office will always matter, but obviously, I am not competing with anyone. I am in a happy space because I have always chosen to do what I want to do, and I am lucky with that. When I wanted to get married, I did, and it was when no actress was getting married. Today, so many actresses are getting married! It is suddenly cool to be married and working. Earlier, it was about not having children. Then suddenly, it was like…okay you can have a child as well and still be working. I have always done things that I love and believe in.
You are a hands-on mother to Taimur and Jeh, and you are managing your career really well. Do you plan your work around your kids’ schedule?
I think I am very good at time management, and when I know this is what I have to do, then I come to work early so that I can leave early. I like to be at home when my kids are eating their dinner, and that time is my time, and nobody can take that away. Whatever happens, I don’t waver from that, like I will not pick up any calls or be accessible for work because that is not my time for work, it is my time with my family and that is of utmost priority to me always.
Karisma Kapoor is the most shy. Malaika Arora is the most adventurous-Kareena Kapoor
8:21 AM
Kareena Kapoor Khan and her squad are all things #pyar&dosti. On Friendship Day, she talks about her 20-year bond with the gals
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 7, 2022)
It’s been 20 years since actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora and her sister, Amrita Arora, have been friends. The girl gang’s trips to exotic destinations never fail to grab attention, and Khan laughs when we start talking to her about her squad, whose WhatsApp group is famously named Guts.
“We are similar, like-minded people. I am passionate about food, my work, my family and my friends. Whenever I am doing something, I am there in that moment. It is so important to do that. I can’t think about what can be, what should be, or what is going to happen. I want to make the most of this moment,” shares the 41-year-old.
WHO’S THE MOST SHY, MOST ADVENTUROUS?
“Lolo (Karisma) is the most shy. I’d say Malaika (nicknamed Malla) is the most adventurous. She’s fearless,” reveals Khan, adding, “Ammu (Amrita) and I are only interested in wine and pasta! (laughs).”
‘I FORGET EVERYTHING WHEN I’M WITH THEM’
Maintaining friendships when everyone in the gang has hectic professional commitments must be a task. What has it been like for them to keep it going the same way for two decades now? She says, “Everything is difficult, but you have to make your own decisions. You have to decide, ‘This is what I am going to do’. It’s not like I have to have a commitment every day. Like, if I am not shooting for an ad, what am I doing? I am very happy to take an afternoon nap! I am that person, and Ammu and I connect on that. She messages me, ‘Are you napping?’ and I reply, ‘Yes, I am going now!’ When we are together, it is only about us in that moment. That’s why people also follow us as a gang!”
All this banter rejuvenates Khan. “It gives me perspective towards my life and future. I have never chased success alone. That’s also what sets me apart,” she signs off.
I think it’s the bravest and coolest decision for Alia Bhatt-Kareena Kapoor
8:18 AM
Slamming those who trolled Alia’s choice to start a family, Bebo says young actress stood up for personal desire and will take on ‘best of films’ after motherhood
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 4, 2022)
Like the rest of the Kapoor family, Kareena Kapoor Khan is eagerly awaiting the arrival of cousin Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s first child. When Bhatt announced her pregnancy in June, what should have been a personal milestone for the couple quickly turned into an opinion-fest. The actor was unfortunately trolled by a section of social media users who questioned her move of embracing motherhood at the peak of her career. Bhatt recently addressed the uncalled-for criticism, questioning why “the eyeballs are always on women’s choices.”
Kareena, no stranger to detractors in her 22-year career, rallies behind Bhatt, stating that the actor should not be answerable to anyone for her personal decision. “I think it’s the bravest and coolest decision for Alia. She is promoting her film, looking ravishing as ever. There is no bigger star than her today, and I am not being biased because she is a part of my family. I am saying this because she is a spectacular actor. After delivery, she will go on to do the best of films. She has stood up for the most beautiful [feeling], which is, ‘I want to have a child with the man I love.’ She wants to experience the most beautiful thing in life, and I love her more for that. I am her fan,” she says.
In many ways, Kareena too has lived life on her own terms — she was candid about her love life when her peers liked to play coy. She got married at the peak of stardom, shattering the industry’s archaic notion that leading ladies didn’t have a fruitful career after marriage. The actor admits that her individualistic streak, coupled with her talent, has made her stay relevant.
“I never chased success, not even in my 20s. I am very happy with what I have. I have said no to directors with whom I didn’t want to work, I have chosen [to work with] a bad filmmaker [over] a good one,” she laughs, before adding that these instinctive decisions have made her what she is today. “I value my family life — whether it’s [spending time with] my parents, my husband or children. I don’t want to only chase a box-office hit, or prove myself as the number one actress. That has never been my dream. That’s the reason I have sustained for so long.”
Like in the original, my role in Laal Singh Chaddha is layered-Kareena Kapoor
8:48 AM
Joining hands with Aamir Khan after their acclaimed 2009 offering, 3 Idiots, Laal Singh Chaddha actor Kareena on taking inspiration from Forrest Gump
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; July 30, 2022)
Following their successful 2009 collaboration, 3 Idiots, and the 2012 release Talaash, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aamir Khan join hands again. As his love interest in the upcoming drama, Laal Singh Chaddha, Kapoor revisits a role played by American actor Robin Wright in Forrest Gump (1994) of which this film is an official adaptation.
Ask her if Wright’s act as Jenny in the original served as a template for her, and Kapoor shares, “We have adapted it [to replicate] her character, which was deep and layered. We’ve brought that in this film as well. She keeps returning to [the protagonist’s life] during different stages. It is an emotional journey, and is the kind of film that will have you rooting for the lovers, Laal and Rupa, to eventually be together. That’s the special aspect of the [original], and we have retained that.”
Based on the life of a slow-witted man who goes on to achieve exemplary feats with childlike optimism, the film will see Laal and Rupa’s characters interact across different phases, right from their childhood to well into their 50s. While Khan has always reiterated that Kapoor holds a special place in his films, Kapoor shares that she looks forward to joining hands with an actor who has as much “gumption, bravery, and strength” as Khan does. “He will never play himself in any film. It is a special film, and you expect nothing less from Aamir. If you look at his 40 year-long career, you’ll see that it is such a prolific one. He is close to [being] a Thespian; he has worked with everybody. He is clear about what he wants, and his passion and dedication towards his craft is unparalleled.”
If Khan has had a lasting impact in Bollywood, Kapoor too has often marched to her own tunes. In an industry where the professional life of female actors could be rather short-lived, Kapoor became rather irreplaceable. Ask her what enabled her to enjoy a lasting career, and she points to her tendency to not dissociate her personality from her craft.
“Today, we have wonderful actors doing amazing work, but I don’t need to be on a magazine cover or do a brand show to establish that I am successful. I know what I bring to the table, and I choose to not do certain things. I would choose a holiday over a 20-day filming schedule, but that’s the kind of person that I am. Obviously, when I am on day 20 of the holiday, I will think about returning to sign a movie, or do something. Sometimes, I feel I shouldn’t be unemployed and should return to reading scripts and hosting meetings, because I am very lazy and will get into a slumber and not respond to [filmmakers]. I may think that I don’t want to do meetings, because I want to take my afternoon naps instead. So, it’s a fine line; you have to catch me on a good day.”
Having my kids hasn’t changed the way that I analyze scripts-Kareena Kapoor
7:45 AM
Kareena Kapoor Khan says she has always been selective about projects
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 14, 2022)
Kareena Kapoor Khan believes that her real-life roles as “daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend” are just as essential as the characters she plays on screen, and she is grateful that she has “found a way to balance them all”. “I’ve worked hard over the last 20 years, and today, what’s most important to me is how my family, friends, fans and the audience see me,” Khan tells us.
In 2021, the actor had her second child, Jehangir, aka Jeh. Her last full-fledged role was in Good Newwz (2019), which she did after giving birth to her first child, Taimur. She presently has a handful of projects in the works, including Laal Singh Chaddha, Hansal Mehta’s next and Sujoy Ghosh’s book adaptation.
Ask her if it is a conscious decision to take it easy so that she doesn’t lose out on her children’s growing up years, and she quickly responds, “Having my kids hasn’t changed the way that I analyze scripts.”
The 41-year-old goes on, “I have always been selective about the projects. If I genuinely find a script interesting, I am immediately on board. I am blessed to be in a position where I can pursue my career in the way I want to, while still being able to give my family the time and attention they need. For me, the right project is always about the story, character and also the people who will be with me throughout that project.”
She asserts that this shouldn’t be misjudged as “slowing down”. “It’s more about prioritization and time. We’ve all been through life-changing experiences in the past two years, and in many ways, it’s helped us all see what is most important,” says the Veere Di Wedding (2018) actor. And that’s also reflected in her career choices.
“The stories being told and the content being consumed have seen a huge change [now]. Also, what’s even more exciting is the fact that [I am being] offered interesting stories and even more interesting characters that I can take on,” she ends.
It’s unfathomable why somebody would troll children-Kareena Kapoor
8:25 AM
The actress talks about dealing with negativity, pay disparity in Bollywood & why she refused to ‘hide behind a curtain’ during pregnancy
PTI | DELHI TIMES (September 11, 2021)
Kareena Kapoor Khan has spoken about the negativity and trolling she had to endure for naming her sons Taimur and Jehangir in an interview with an international publication. “Honestly, these are names that we just liked; it’s nothing else. They are beautiful names and they’re beautiful boys. It’s unfathomable why somebody would troll children. I feel terrible about it, but I have to just focus and get through it. I can’t be looking at my life through the trolls,” the 40-year-old actress, who welcomed her second baby with Saif Ali Khan in February this year, was quoted as saying. While the pair had revealed the name of their first child Taimur, born in 2016, to the media, they refrained from doing so when it came to their newborn. The name of their second son Jehangir, however, surfaced on social media when her recent book was released. The actress also spoke about a host of other topics, like equal pay in Bollywood and embracing the changes in her body during pregnancy. Excerpts:
‘A FEW YEARS AGO, NO ONE WOULD TALK ABOUT EQUAL PAY’
Addressing the issue of equal pay, Kareena said there has been a shift in Bollywood as a lot of female actors have started being vocal about it. “Just a few years ago, no one would talk about a man or woman actually getting equal pay in a movie. Now there are a lot of us being very vocal about it,” she said. “I make it quite clear what I want and I think that respect should be given. It’s not about being demanding, it’s about being respectful towards women. And I think things are kind of changing,” she added.
Kareena, who hails from the iconic Kapoor film family of the Indian film industry, said she has got work purely on the basis of her hard work. “When Karisma joined the film industry, she was the only one in the family working. So it was us, the women, who took the dynasty forward,” she said.
‘PEOPLE TOLD ME MY CAREER WAS OVER WHEN I MARRIED SAIF’
Kareena was quite successful in 2012 when she decided to marry Saif Ali Khan, who was 10 years her senior and previously married with two children. At the time, the actress was warned against tying the knot, and told that it would derail her career.
“When I married Saif, so many people told me that my career would be over because no producer wants to work with a married actress. At that time, no other Bollywood actress got married and then continued to work. But I just thought: Okay, well, if it does end my career, then that’s fine, that’s my destiny. I’m not going to not marry the person that I love,” said the actress.
‘DON’T WANT PHOTOS AIRBRUSHED ’COZ I DON’T LOOK AS SKINNY AS KATE MOSS’
The actress also spoke about displaying her baby bump and refusing to have her postmaternity shoots airbrushed.
“Most Bollywood actresses, when they get pregnant, don’t leave the house because they are stressed about how they look, that they are no longer this glamorous diva, worried if they put on some weight that people will judge them. There’s still a lot of those taboos. But I just wanted to own it,” she said.
“Pregnancy is pretty common, so why are we trying to hide it behind the curtain?” she continued, adding, “I don’t want my photos airbrushed because I’m not looking as skinny as Kate Moss... I don’t want to look like that in my photos.”
Look at Anushka Sharma; she has come up with a great production slate-Kareena Kapoor
8:15 AM
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; December 27, 2020)
The actress says, “I think women now form half the crew on any film set. I feel happy to know that they are doing all the jobs and are doing them so well. They are excelling in every department, including being producers and directors. Look at Anushka Sharma; she has come up with a great production slate. I feel so proud to know that we have such a strong film producer in an actor. It feels amazing that all this is happening.”
Be it post marriage or motherhood, Kareena never went off the radar where work was concerned. She has had a great run at the movies and worked with acclaimed filmmakers and the biggest of stars. Over the years, she feels that the industry’s outlook towards actresses who are married or have children has changed for the better. Talking about it, she says, “Today, I think producers and directors are open to working with married actresses or actresses with children. In fact, we don’t even discuss that anymore. Like in Hollywood, who talks about it? Nobody gives it a thought.”
Kareena says, “Now, filmmakers look at you as an actor; they look at you as a personality that they want in their film.”
The actress has never been the sort who would want to give up her work. However, what she is particular about is the time that she devotes to her projects. She says, “I am doing what I want to do. This is something that comes naturally to me. But, of course, I am very particular about my timings, about how much time I can give for a movie or a shoot… definitely, that becomes a bit restricted, but we all try to adjust as much as possible. And the producers and directors are accepting of it.”
When has anyone ever said that pregnant women can’t work?-Kareena Kapoor
8:08 AM
Harshada Rege (BOMBAY TIMES; December 17, 2020)
There’s no doubt that Kareena Kapoor Khan is the quintessential Bollywood diva and an actress, who has made a firm place for herself in the film industry and the hearts of the audience. But she has never been one for playing by the book. In her career spanning two decades, she has written and followed her own rules. She continued to flourish during a phase that has often seen married actresses hanging up their boots. During her first pregnancy, she flaunted her baby bump in style, gave maternity wear a fashionable twist, and even stunned everyone when she walked the ramp. Going a step further, she took on a new challenge, she stepped into the shoes of an RJ and hosted the show What Women Want, which gave an insight into the lives and minds of women achievers.
Now, in its third season, the new episodes of the show are now streaming on Filmy Mirchi’s YouTube channel. The actress, who is pregnant with her second child, recently shot for it amid the pandemic. In a chat with Bombay Times, Kareena spoke about getting comfortable as an RJ, how multitasking comes naturally to her and whether husband Saif Ali Khan is the one who has the answer to the oft-asked question — what do women want? Read on…
You are at ease with getting interviewed as an actor. What is it like to switch places?
I think I have grown with every season. During the first season, I was very raw and nervous. Today, I can tell you that I honestly enjoy it. It’s the concept of the show that has been liked because people have related to the topic. It’s something that everyone wants to hear, be it a man or a woman. Someone may be driving their car or be in their kitchen, they find it easy to listen to a show like this. We have had a great run, and I hope it continues.
It’s often said that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, do you agree?
I don’t really think that’s true. Apart from that, I am not even that kind of a person who will say that women are superior to men. I just feel that women have a lot more understanding and maturity, and they handle crisis better than men. I think their empathy and emotional quotient make them unique.
Saif is surrounded by strong, independent women in his close circle — his mother Sharmila Tagore, sisters Soha and Saba and you. Do you think he has an understanding of what women want?
I think that he does understand in a way, especially when it comes to working women — be it a mother, sister, wife or daughter. He understands and respects working women a lot. He gives us the space to do exactly what we want. I think a happy woman is the one who is doing what she loves the most. I am glad that he understands that, and I believe that it comes from his mother.
A lot of actresses have preferred to stay away from the spotlight during their pregnancy, but you chose to work during your first pregnancy, and this time around, you shot for the third season of What Women Want, which is now streaming on Filmy Mirchi’s YouTube channel. Was that by design?
No, there has never been any plan that I have to do this or that. It’s just that I have never been that kind of a person who would sit at home and say, ‘Now I want to put my feet up’. I am doing what I want to do. Working — whether it’s during my pregnancy or post-delivery — has been a point to just say that when has anyone ever said that pregnant women can’t work? In fact, the more active you are, the healthier the baby is and the happier the mother is. After delivery, too, once you feel fit enough, one should do what they feel like doing, and try to balance it out between giving time to the child as well as your work and yourself. I have always been very proud of being a working mother.
Talking about working women, recently there was a lot of debate about whether women should be granted ‘period leave’ when they are menstruating. What’s your take on it?
Every woman’s body is different, and their comfort levels are different. Some people have back pain or terrible cramps, and if a woman cannot come to work, every company should understand that. For instance, I might not get cramps, but I could not have possibly done certain songs when I had my periods, so I have managed my work around that. Companies or production houses should understand that. This is a natural thing, and women should do what’s best for them.
Women are said to be excellent at multitasking, do you find that your skills in that department have bettered as a working mother?
I definitely know the art of time management, and I have always multitasked. It is something that I have been very clear about — this is the time I have, and this is what I can do in it. In fact, that’s something I discuss before every project, whether it’s a film, a show or a brand. Also, I am a Virgo and am very practical and organised, and that really helps, too.
Women have a lot of cravings during pregnancy, but I must eat for myself as opposed to eating for two-Kareena Kapoor
8:51 AM
Mom-to-be Kareena Kapoor Khan discusses striking a balance between physical and mental fitness, and her eternal love for ghee
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; October 28, 2020)
Connecting with this reporter to discuss her post-partum fitness routine in 2018, Kareena Kapoor Khan — who was then still to chart a major chunk of her weight-loss journey — spoke about being frazzled when turning up at her trainer's studio as a "90-kilo girl". Connecting with mid-day as part of her association with the dairy brand Pride of Cows, she says several lessons learnt from her first pregnancy are enabling her to approach her routine appropriately, this time around. The first one being...
Eating For Two? No, Thank You!
When I was expecting Taimur, [I] tended to believe the myth that an expecting mother [must] eat for two. I made choices that [made me] gain about 25 kilos. But, the most important thing that I learnt was that regardless of how you alter your diet, you should stick to the basics — the right amount of nutrition through grains and vegetables. Women have a lot of cravings when they are pregnant, but I realised that I must eat for myself as opposed to eating for two.
Training When Expecting?
I do follow my fitness regimen on a regular basis. It isn't particularly at odds with what I usually do. In fact, my fitness regimen and nutrition are the two constants in my life. I ensure that I get adequate nutrition from dairy. Ghee is referred to as an ancient super-food, and I swear by it. I add a teaspoon of it in my meals and have a bowl of curd at least once in a day. These are high sources of protein and Vitamin B12, and make the gut stronger, facilitating repair. I also include green leafy vegetables and stay hydrated at all times.
It's Not Always In The Genes
I [definitely] need to take care of my diet and follow simple methods to stay fit. Accepting your body type goes a long way in staying [happy]. As long as you are healthy, the shape or size that you are should not matter. I stay positive and train regularly. I am generally confident about myself, and my body. A fitness journey must be cathartic, as it is for me. [Treating it that way] is important for one's mental well-being as well. Striking the right balance between my personal and professional life has also helped me.
The Role Of Food
I consume simple Indian food and have been a vegetarian for a major part of my life. [Even today] I can keep from consuming meat for long periods of time. Excess of anything can have ill-effects. But depriving yourself is also not required. Striking the right balance, and sticking to the right proportion [is the trick]. I divide my meals into multiple [portions], and that helps me stay full and energised throughout the day. But, I ensure that I do not exceed my portion in each meal.
Friends With Benefits
I am blessed to have friends like Amrita [Arora Ladak] and Malaika [Arora] who constantly motivate me to stay fit. Amrita is extremely conscious about her health and works hard to stay fit. This is great, because we keep each other driven, and egg one another on to follow the routine together. We have our group workout sessions often, and that is fun.
Indian karigars don’t get the recognition they deserve-Kareena Kapoor
7:52 AM
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; August 9, 2020)
In a first, more than 100 Indian fashion designers have come together to support the weaver and embroiderer communities across the country with a fundraiser project that began this week and will go on till August 15. Reputed designers like Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, Manish Malhotra, Anamika Khanna, Rahul Mishra, Monisha Jaising and Masaba are among those who have donated their clothes for a sale online to raise money for their artisan brothers, their ‘baradari’, and to empower them to become entrepreneurs themselves. Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has been whole-heartedly supporting the project, talks to BT about how we need to support our karigars in these hard times and how sustainability in fashion is the need of the hour. Excerpts...
Kareena, what makes a fashion icon like you step up and talk about an initiative like this,which supports our karigars?
We are in unprecedented times, and millions of people have lost their livelihood. This initiative is not just about financially helping our karigars; we are also giving them the credit that they deserve, because generally, it’s the designer who is at the forefront. Indian karigars don’t get the recognition they deserve. No one really knows what goes on in the backend, how much time and energy they put into one sari, lehenga or choli.
Actors from our movie industry are seen wearing the most fashionable clothes and finest labels. How do you think they can support the fashion industry, which makes them look so glamorous on and off screen?
Fashion is all about sustainability now. It’s a global conversation, and people are becoming far more conscious. India has such beautiful handlooms, textiles and weavers, but I have always felt that there is a lot of pressure on actors to ape the West. Award function hai ya red carpet, gown pehenna zaroori hai... jiska sabse bada gown hoga, that will be the best outfit. That’s so not true. I love wearing saris, it’s our national outfit. When Vidya (Balan) decided to wear a sari at Cannes, that was such a beautiful choice. We should be proud of what we make in our country. Honestly, I do feel quite stupid wearing gowns to red-carpet events, but sometimes, we come under the pressure of stylists, who say that it is fab. We also wear clothes from big designers from New York and Paris. Hopefully, after this life-changing phase, we will support things that are homegrown.
There is huge pressure on actors to turn up in fabulous outfits every time they appear in public. What do you have to say about repeating clothes on the red carpet, at award shows, and other events?
That’s what I mean, either you fall under the pressure of ‘Oh! she’s worn this before and now she is repeating it’, or not. I think it is totally fine and a classic look should be repeated on the red carpet. I mean, an iconic look with a simple black dress or a black sari can never go wrong. You can style it in different ways. If you are buying an expensive Chanderi silk sari, why would you not want to repeat that? Now, you can wear saris also in different ways and it is quite cool to do that. Like I said, falling under the pressure of which designer label am I wearing on the red carpet, so and so is wearing this, and I should be one-up and get something from Paris — honestly, I find that very tiring. I completely believe in the idea of recycling clothes and wearing them again and again. Everything doesn’t have to have a price tag and be brand new.
There is a gap in what we pay the designer for a garment and what the karigar eventually gets for his skilled labour. How do you think we can support the karigars and mend the massive financial gap?
Yes, there is a huge gap. They probably get a few hundred rupees to do their jobs on it. They have to support their entire families with that. So, the focus of this initiative is to mend that gap, give them recognition and financial help, and bring about some level of equality. When a designer walks the ramp, he is doing that because he is displaying his craftsmanship. So, why not give the weaver, who has worked for hours on a lehenga, that kind of credit, too? Artisans should be empowered to become entrepreneurs like the designers.
I want to be as real as possible, I can’t sit dressed up all day-Kareena Kapoor
8:17 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; April 24, 2020)
Along with her acting prowess, Kareena Kapoor Khan is also known for her impeccable style and sense of fashion. Be it her reel avatars or her real-life appearances, the actress, like most of her peers, faces the pressure of always turning up looking her best. While she is on point on most occasions, being under the fashion scanner does get to her at times.In a conversation with BT, she had said, “I can’t be dressed in couture all the time. And, I do have days when my hair is out of place. The thing is, I want to be as real as possible and be dressed in what makes me comfortable. I can’t sit dressed up all day. It gets to me that people are looking at what I’m wearing all the time and scrutinising it. There are times when I just want to chill in a simple set of clothes and feel like myself, keep my hair tied or loose and just let things be.”
No wonder then, Kareena is offering fans a glimpse of her ‘real’ self on social media. She often posts her pictures with minimal or no make-up. In fact, the actress recently posted a picture on Instagram sans make-up and a zit on her face. And, she looked completely comfortable with it.
The close-up picture, which had her marvelling at some creative activity being pursued by husband Saif Ali Khan and their son Taimur, was captioned, “Meanwhile...I just sat there staring in wonder of what was being created. PS: The zit on my face didn’t get the memo of no personal visits and social distancing... #HugeMess (sic).”
Well, Kareena may be homebound due to the Coronavirus lockdown, but it looks like she is enjoying immense freedom — to be herself — on social media.
I have lived the last two decades by detaching myself-Kareena Kapoor
8:41 AM
As she completes 20 years in Bollywood, Kareena Kapoor Khan discusses surviving the industry and "the false haze" of social media
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 15, 2020)
"The last 20 years have passed in a jiffy," marvels Kareena Kapoor Khan, almost unbelieving that it has been two decades since she first faced the camera for Refugee (2000). Her career graph has been as envy-inducing as it has been incredible. With numerous blockbusters and several awards to her name, Kapoor, 39, is easily among the most sought-after actors in Bollywood.
Mention to her that she has held her own in an industry that was infamous for writing off heroines post marriage, and she analyses, "I am aware of the industry dynamics, and have adequately reinvented myself. People who don't have their head on their shoulders can't stand the pressures. Here, people around constantly boost your ego; having 40 million followers on Instagram and earning heaps of praise can create a false haze. But I have lived the last two decades by detaching myself. It's an art that I have mastered over the years."
She also credits husband Saif Ali Khan for helping her "see the big picture". "As actors, we meet the same people, talk about which film is being made, which brand endorsement you missed, which director you want to meet for the next big role. This loop gets toxic. For me, reinvention is getting the big picture right and [that is achieved] by knowing more about the world. I have had the privilege of taking a step back, travelling, reading, and meeting people who have nothing to do with this world. I owe that to Saif."
As she enters her 21st year, Kapoor has arguably the two biggest projects in tinsel town — Laal Singh Chaddha and Takht — in her kitty. The actor believes that she, along with her contemporaries, has actively worked towards changing the narrative for leading ladies in Bollywood. "Kangana [Ranaut], Vidya [Balan], Priyanka [Chopra Jonas] and I picked up films that moulded different narratives for women. There was a shift in audience mentality. Actors, who are in their 30s, are a lot more relaxed now; they chase stories before everything else."
You need to have a strong gut and be made of steel to survive for so long-Kareena Kapoor
8:39 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; March 5, 2020)
As she enters the third decade of her journey in Bollywood, she comes across as an actor who does not let success ride on her mind and failure sink her heart. Even when she’s not in couture, she’s the best-dressed woman in the room, who makes for a smart, on-point conversationalist. Kareena Kapoor Khan talks to BT about Angrezi Medium, what drives her movie choices today and how, over time, she has become a relaxed and calm actor. Excerpts:Although it’s a relatively smaller role, you gave the nod to Angrezi Medium while you were on holiday in London. Which boxes did this film tick for you?
I agree that it’s a small role, but I’d never played something like this before. I was in London for two months with Saif (Ali Khan, husband) while he was shooting for Jawaani Jaaneman when this came my way. They needed about a fortnight of my time. It sounded like a cool film to be a part of. Also, who wants to miss a chance to work with such a fantastic cast.
Most importantly, it was the greed to work with Irrfan that got me going instantly. The story draws parallels between Radhika Madan’s relationship with Irrfan, and the one I share with Dimple Kapadia in the film, who is my mother. It subtly talks about the kind of equation parents and kids share. In the brief screen time I have, my character has a brilliant arc. I couldn’t have turned this down. I loved working with Irrfan, he’s such a delight. Radhika is fantastic, and I’ve been a huge fan of Deepak Dobriyal’s work since Omkara (2006). He’s magical. These guys are on some other plane; you stop feeling like an actor when you see them work.
You’ve teamed up with Dimple Kapadia for the first time and she is someone you know personally. How does it play out when you have a close connect with a person with whom you share a complex equation on screen?
Dimple aunty is close to my family, and she’s actually seen me grow up. It was an honour to work with her and play her daughter. She was spectacular to work with. The way we did some of the emotionally challenging scenes — they turned out to be among my career’s best shots. There’s a portion where she confronts me which was quite tricky to get right, but it went off so well. It takes a performer like her to make it that much more convincing. I think a director also has a lot to do with how two people play out scenes. He pushes them in a particular direction, like Homi did in our case. He had lived with this script for longer than us, and he was so sure of what he wanted.
While doing scenes with your screen mom in the film, did you draw any comparisons with the relationship that you share with your mother (Babita)?
No, not really. Of course, we all invest a part of ourselves in the roles we play, but I would never compare my equation with Dimple aunty in the film with what I share with my mother. My mom is the centre of my sister Lolo’s (Karisma Kapoor) and my universe. Our world revolves around her. Today, being a mother, I know how important a mother is to a child’s being. Our role is not restricted to feeding and bathing the child. The effect a mother has on the mind of her child runs deep. If I don’t see Taimur for two days, I feel uneasy. Sometimes, I don’t take him along when I’m shooting outdoors in another city. When I come home, the way he hugs me says a lot. His father does a great job of looking after him when I’m away, but I can see it in his eyes that he has missed me. I know that it’s going to get difficult for me to stay away from him as he grows older and starts formal school. I still have a year before that happens. I’m happy that my next film Takht will be shot in Mumbai. Being able to be around Taimur plays a big part in the way I choose my work. I can’t leave him behind. I can’t be away from my kid for too long. Sometimes, even promotions for three to four days in other cities gets to me because he’s not around.
At one time, Dinesh Vijan (producer) and Saif had collaborated as producers (on films like Go Goa Gone, Love Aaj Kal, Agent Vinod, Cocktail) and they started a production house, too. Later, they split and went their own ways. Did that ever affect your equation with them?Not at all! Saif and I have our independent relationships with Homi and Dinesh. Saif didn’t even come on the set when I was shooting for this film. In fact, when I told him about the offer, he just said that I should do it and that it sounds like a good role and a cool film. Saif is not someone who believes in telling me what I should do and what I shouldn’t. As long as we have our time as a family, he’s not interested in what I’m doing because he trusts that I will do the right thing. To this day, Saif has not even asked me how it was to work on this film.
He just asked me, “Are you having fun? I said, ‘Yeah!” and he said, “Cool.” He does not get into the details, and we don’t talk about my career, anyway. Yes, we definitely discuss his career a lot. This has worked beautifully for us.
You started off with Refugee (2000), a love story, which was far from a glamourous role. But, very soon you went on to be hailed as a glamourous actor, and Bollywood’s diva, et al. While you have done a wide range of roles, you continue to be associated with the glam image…
It’s hard to believe, but there was no plan whatsoever to be seen as a glamourous woman, ever. It just happened! I started off with an unconventional love story and have always been that kind of an actress. Yes, now that it’s been 20 years, people are realising it. Early on in my career, I worked in films like Chameli (2003), Dev (2004) and Yuva (2004). Obviously, the commercial films were mounted bigger, and they registered better with the audience, so the image of a diva got associated with me. As an actor, I had always wanted to do different kinds of films and I chose the best of what was offered to me. Usually, no actress agrees or chooses to do the smaller part, but I was keen to do Angrezi Medium. A few months ago, I was also the central character in Good Newwz. It’s a conscious decision to find interesting things to do. Today, I’m a relaxed and calm actor. Experiences in this insular world of films teach you a lot. You need to have a strong gut and be made of steel to survive for so long and be able to take every bottle chucked at you. That is the reason I’ve lasted for 20 years, and hopefully, will last another 20.
Although Karan Johar and you have been very emotionally close, you have not worked together since Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). Both of you have also come a long way personally and professionally…
I’ve worked in many films that he has backed as a producer over these years, but not with him as a director. It’s been a huge gap. In these years, Karan has made such different kinds of films and has worked with so many different actors. Working together will be a rude shock for both of us. He has evolved as a filmmaker, and I’m a different actor from what I used to be when I had played Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Takht, which is being directed by Karan, will be a different and a special journey for us. Also, it’s a drama set in the Mughal era and we are entering into such a space for the first time. Neither of us has done this before. He will leave no stone unturned to make an absolute spectacle. We’ve locked certain looks for the initial part of the shoot. I’ll also go in for diction training. If I were to ask Karan what I should do as prep for the part, he will pull my leg and say, “Since when have you become this sort of an actor?”
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