Kareena Kapoor, also fondly known as 'Bebo', has been a dominant force in Bollywood. However, her cinematic journey hasn't been easy. Despite being the daughter of a famous actor like Randhir Kapoor, Kareena had to face her share of struggles. With several flops and hits under her belt, she has managed to carve her own niche in the film industry. On the occasion of her birthday, let’s take a look at Kareena Kapoor’s life and career.
### Kareena Kapoor’s Childhood
Kareena Kapoor was born on September 21, 1980, in Mumbai to actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita. She is the younger sister of Karisma Kapoor, another leading actress in Bollywood. According to media reports, Kareena's name was inspired by a book by Anna Karenina, which Babita was reading during her pregnancy.
Kareena was known to be mischievous from a young age, and she had a passion for acting early on. However, her father Randhir Kapoor was not in favor of women from the family working in the film industry, which led to several disagreements within the family. Due to these differences, Babita decided to separate from Randhir Kapoor in 2007 and raised both Karisma and Kareena on her own.
Despite the family struggles, Babita supported her daughters’ ambitions. Karisma first stepped into Bollywood, and soon after, Kareena followed suit. Interestingly, Kareena studied law for a year but eventually dropped out to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. In her early interviews, Kareena revealed that her financial situation wasn’t great at the time, and she often traveled by local transport, indicating that her entry into Bollywood wasn’t as easy as one might assume.
### Controversial Wedding and Public Reactions
Kareena Kapoor married Saif Ali Khan in October 2012, a marriage that stirred quite a bit of controversy. Only a select few were invited to the wedding, and the media frenzy around their relationship was relentless. The couple's marriage was often discussed due to the religious differences, with some sections of the public voicing their disapproval.
In addition to their wedding, the birth of their two sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jehangir Ali Khan, also generated controversy. The names of their children, particularly Taimur, became the center of debates on social media, with people criticizing their choice of names. Over time, these controversies settled down, but Kareena continued to face public scrutiny. For instance, during the release of her film *Laal Singh Chaddha*, Kareena was trolled for her previous remarks, which negatively impacted the film’s box office performance. Kareena has often been in the news for her outspoken nature and past statements.
### Cinematic Career: From Flops to Blockbusters
Kareena made her debut in Bollywood with the film *Refugee* in 2000, for which she received the Filmfare Best Female Debut award. Despite this early accolade, the movie was a flop. Following *Refugee*, Kareena appeared in several films like *Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai*, *Yaadein*, *Ajnabee*, and *Asoka*, but none of them performed well at the box office.
Kareena's breakthrough came in 2001 with Karan Johar's family drama *Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham*. Her portrayal of the character Pooja Sharma, also known as 'Poo', was well-received, and the film went on to become a huge success. Despite this, she continued to struggle in her career with several underwhelming performances in movies like *Mujhse Dosti Karoge!*, *Khushi*, *LOC Kargil*, *Fida*, and *36 China Town*. These films failed to make a mark at the box office, and Kareena's career was in a state of flux.
However, Kareena bounced back with several superhit films, cementing her place in Bollywood. Some of her most successful films include:
- *Jab We Met* – Her performance as the bubbly and carefree Geet won her immense praise.
- *Golmaal 3* – A comedy blockbuster.
- *3 Idiots* – One of Bollywood’s highest-grossing films, where she played the role of Pia.
- *Bodyguard* – Starring alongside Salman Khan, this was another commercial success.
- *Ra.One* – Though this sci-fi film received mixed reviews, it was a commercial success.
- *Singham Returns* – Kareena delivered a strong performance alongside Ajay Devgn.
- *Good Newwz* – This film was a massive success, with Kareena sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar.
- *Bajrangi Bhaijaan* – One of Kareena’s most successful films, starring opposite Salman Khan.
### Kareena Kapoor’s Net Worth
Kareena Kapoor Khan is known not only for her successful career but also for her luxurious lifestyle. According to a report by ABP, Kareena’s net worth exceeds ₹440 crores. She reportedly charges between ₹7-10 crores per film, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in Bollywood.
Apart from acting, Kareena earns through brand endorsements and appearances at various events. She has been the face of multiple high-end brands and is often seen endorsing beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products. Additionally, Kareena has an impressive collection of luxury cars, which includes a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi Q7, Range Rover SUV, and a Lexus LX 470.
### Iconic Dialogues by Kareena Kapoor
Kareena has delivered some iconic dialogues that have left a lasting impression on audiences. Some of her most famous lines include:
- "Tum Gujarati log itne cute hote ho, par tumhara khaana itna khatarnaak kyun hota hai, dhokla… fafda… handva… thepla, lagta hai koi missile hai!" (*3 Idiots*)
- "Chand jab aadha hota hai, toh bhi chand hi kehlata hai." (*Jab We Met*)
- "Ye kaun hai, jisne Poo ko mudke nahi dekha? Who is he?" (*Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham*)
- "Wife dil hai toh husband dhadkan, wife diya hai toh husband diwali, wife zubaan hai toh husband gaali." (*Golmaal Returns*)
- "Main apni favorite hoon." (*Jab We Met*)
### Box Office Hits and Strong Collections
Over the course of her career, Kareena has worked in several blockbuster films. She has shared screen space with big names like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar. Some of her highest-grossing films include:
- *Bajrangi Bhaijaan* – ₹320.24 crores
- *Good Newwz* – ₹205.14 crores
- *3 Idiots* – ₹202.95 crores
- *Bodyguard* – ₹148.86 crores
- *Singham Returns* – ₹140.62 crores
- *Ra.One* – ₹114.29 crores
- *Golmaal 3* – ₹106.24 crores
From her early struggles to becoming one of Bollywood’s top actresses, Kareena Kapoor Khan has proved her mettle time and again. Whether it’s her personal life, her controversies, or her superhit films, Kareena has always managed to stay in the limelight. As she continues to evolve as an actress and a mother, fans are eager to see what 'Bebo' has in store for them next.
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