Kareena Kapoor made her Bollywood debut with Refugee alongside Abhishek Bachchan. The film, directed by JP Dutta, tells the story of two young people caught in the complex world of human trafficking along the India-Pakistan border. The actress played Nazneen, a spirited and determined young woman who falls in love with Abhishek’s character, known as ‘Refugee’. He helps illegal refugees from India and Pakistan cross the border through the Great Rann of Kutch. Even as a debutant, her performance was confident and graceful, and the actress won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Chameli was a turning point in Kareena Kapoor’s career, where she took on a much darker and unconventional role. She played Chameli, a street-smart sex worker, opposite Rahul Bose in a rain-soaked, single-night narrative. Her performance was intense and emotionally grounded, showcasing a depth rarely seen in her earlier work. The actress won the Special Award for Best Performance at the Filmfare Awards.
Omkara is Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. Kareena played Dolly, a loyal and innocent woman caught in a story of jealousy, betrayal, and tragedy. She starred alongside Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi and Konkona Sen Sharma. Kareena delivered a nuanced performance that suited the dark and complex narrative. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for Omkara.
Chup Chup Ke is a comedy-drama directed by Priyadarshan, in which Kareena Kapoor plays Shruti Singh Chauhan, a young woman who is mute and becomes central to the film’s twists and comic moments. The story follows Jeetu (Shahid Kapoor), a debt‑ridden young man who, overwhelmed by financial pressure, decides to fake his own death to help his family claim insurance money. Rescued by two fishermen who mistakenly believe he is mute and wealthy, Jeetu begins pretending not to speak or hear to maintain the misunderstanding. This leads him to the household of Shruti and her affluent family. The film also stars Suniel Shetty, Neha Dhupia, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav and Om Puri among others.
Jab We Met (2007)
Jab We Met remains one of Kareena’s most beloved films. In the Imtiaz Ali directorial, she played Geet, a lively, talkative, and spirited young woman who meets a heartbroken businessman, Aditya (played by Shahid Kapoor), on a train journey. Their interaction changes the course of both their lives. Her charm, energy, and comic timing were effortless, and the character became iconic in Bollywood cinema. Kareena’s dialogues and looks from the film have become a part of the pop culture.
In Udta Punjab, Kareena Kapoor took on a socially relevant role as Dr Preet Sahni, a compassionate doctor working to combat drug abuse in Punjab. The film, also starring Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Diljit Dosanjh, addressed a pressing societal issue.
Crew (2023)
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