Interesting Facts and Figures: Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor (born on September 21, 1980) is an Indian film actress appearing in Bollywood films. Born into the Kapoor film family, she made her acting debut with Refugee (2000), for which she won a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. 

In 2001, Kapoor received her first commercial success with her second release, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai and later appeared in Karan Johar’s melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which became India’s top-grossing film in the overseas market that year and her biggest commercial success to date.

Her portrayal of a sex worker in Chameli (2004) proved to be the turning point in her career and garnered her Filmfare Special Performance Award. She later received two Critics Awards for Best Actress at the Filmfare ceremony for her performances in the critically acclaimed Dev (2004) and Omkara (2006). After taking on such a range of acting roles between 2004 and 2006, she was recognized for displaying versatility as an actress.

In 2007, Kapoor earned a Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in the commercially successful comedy-romance Jab We Met. 

Born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India into the Kapoor film family of Pathan origin, Kapoor is the youngest daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita (née Shivdasani). 

Younger sister of Karisma Kapoor

According to Kapoor, her first name was derived from the book Anna Karenina. 

She is the granddaughter of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor and the great granddaughter

of Prithviraj Kapoor. Bebo, as she is fondly called, is also the sister of actress Karisma Kapoor and the niece of actor Rishi Kapoor.

She was raised by her mother, who, with difficulty, worked several jobs to support the family, until Karisma began work as an actress in 1991.

Kapoor was educated at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai, and later Welham Girls Boarding School in Dehradun. 

After studying commerce at Mithibai College, Vile Parle for two years, she embarked upon a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard University.

She later developed an interest in law and enrolled at the Government’s Law College in Churchgate.

After completing one year there, she returned to her initial plan to become an actress and commenced training under Kishore Namit Kapoor’s Acting Institute.
 
Kapoor was initially scheduled to make her debut in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000), opposite his son, Hrithik Roshan.
 
During her years in the film industry, Kapoor has also devoted time to other commitments, from being involved with humanitarian causes to taking part in stage shows. 

In 2002, Kapoor set off on her first world tour, the Heartthrobs Concert, alongside Hrithik Roshan, Karisma Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Aftab Shivdasani. The show was performed throughout the US and Canada and went on to become a success.

She was recently invited to Pakistan’s prestigious Kara Film Festival alongside actors like Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, and Konkona Sen Sharma to represent her film Omkara as a Bollywood entry.

In 2004, she began dating actor Shahid Kapoor, the son of veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor.

While dating, their relationship was often reported in the media, and was once in the center of a scandal when onlookers with mobile phone cameras filmed them kissing and released it to the media.

The couple separated three years later while filming Jab We Met (2007).

Many of her films have done better at the overseas box office (the UK, Canada, and the US) than they did in the Indian domestic market

In 2006, Kapoor declared that she would turn vegetarian in order to keep her weight in check.

Loves horseback riding and cooking

Turned down a role in "Bride and Prejudice (2004)" .

Did not attend her cousin’s (Riddhima Kapoor) wedding with Bharat Sawhney that took place in Bombay on Wednesday January 25, 2006. Also absent was her sister, Karisma, and mom, Babita.

Listed as number 6 of ‘Top Bollywood Actresses’ of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25- 2006)

She befriended Konkona Sen Sharma on the sets of 2006 movie Omkara.

Good friends with actress Esha Deol.

Kapoor sang solo in the song "Jab Nahin Aye The Tum", for the movie Dev.

Kareena remains to be one of the top and highest paid actresses.

She recently starred in a video with the likes of Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and John Abraham as a kick start for the BLUE BILLION campaign that invited cricket fans all over the world to cheer for India.

A recent cricket tournament was named after her by one of her ardent fans.  - SAMPURN