Kareena Kapoor Khan Once Again Becomes Everyone’s Favorite
25 Years of Kareena Kapoor Khan
It’s been 25 glorious years of Kareena Kapoor Khan in the Hindi film industry. Born into the family of Bollywood royalty, she’s one Kapoor who’s held her ground and steadfastly worked towards upholding the responsibility that comes with it.
Perhaps what truly has worked for the diva in these 25 years, is her tenacity for versatility. She mixes it up, and never really disappoints.
Even when films like Tashan bombed at the box-office, she was heartbroken sure, but the confidence to bounce back has always been alight within her.
Her blatant honesty is her greatest armour. You will hardly find actors who’ve been in the industry for so long, be so vocal about what the disastrous failure of a film did to them.
But Bebo is anything but ordinary.
In conversation with Anupama Chopra for Film Companion, she candidly confessed, “When Tashan bombed and Jab We Met became what it became, I was shattered, depressed for six months. I couldn’t believe this had happened. Then I chalked it out and put it in my head that this is the way it was meant to be.”
But that was 15 years ago, and today, we still have Kareena Kapoor Khan ruling our screens.
Celebrating 25 Years
2024 was a year of gifts and gratitude for the actress. Other than blockbusters like Crew and Singham Again, this year also marks 25 Years of Kareena Kapoor Khan.
In a never-seen-before celebration of sorts, multiplex chain PVR arranged a special tribute for her with a seven-day film festival. It’s a first for any Indian star.
Six of her biggest hits of all time were re-released, namely Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Asoka, Omkara, Chameli, Jab We Met, and Heroine.
Fans on social media turned it into a jolly celebration as they shared stills and dialogues from these iconic films, and what makes them so loved even today.
Theatrical Releases
Kapoor had three stellar theatrical releases this year. All characters are vastly different from each other.
Crew probably had more buzz about it because fans got to see the Bebo they love, the Bebo they cherish.
Kareena was in her element as a feisty and upfront air hostess, looking as gorgeous as ever. Her comic timing was right on fleek, as were the emotional sequences. It had been a while since she had been seen in a light-hearted comedy and this one fit the bill.
Singham Again was a Diwali blockbuster. A true-blue Rohit Shetty extravaganza, she reprised her role as Shivani Kamat, Singham’s (Ajay Devgn) wife. In her limited screen time, she essayed her role convincingly and was one of the biggest highlights of the film.
While her commercial successes took flight, she added films like Jaane Jaan and The Buckingham Murders to her repertoire. A stark contrast to what her big-budget films in the same timeline showcased.
In Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders, which was her third theatrical release this year, she plays the role of Jasmeet Bhamra, a cop. Despite the tragic death of her son at a shootout, she’s assigned to a case to unearth the mystery of a missing child.
She steals the show in a completely de-glam mode where her eyes speak volumes of every emotion felt.
OTT Debut
Cut to Jaane Jaan, the film released on OTT last year and brought in bountiful rewards this year. The film had smashed the record for the biggest opening weekend viewership for an Indian film on Netflix last year.
What piqued everyone’s interest was Kareena in a layered dark character, that too cast opposite talents like Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Verma.
Probably, what took the audience by surprise was how well her chemistry looked with these seasoned actors.
It has been raining accolades for her this year for the film. She bagged the Best Actress Award at several ceremonies, quite deservingly.
Film Festival
She was also invited to the Red Sea Film Festival this year, owing to the year that she’s had. She was one of the key speakers of the “Talent Market” panel discussions.
The hunger for more was palpable as she reiterated, “I would like not to repeat myself. I’d like to find out how many crazy people I have inside of me. I’m looking for ‘unique voices’ and ‘bold, wild ideas’ in scripts that allow for real world-building.”
Brand Endorsements
Kareena has raked in some incredible brands in her kitty this year as she was onboarded as the Brand Ambassador for renowned brands like UNICEF, Uniqlo, Fizzy Goblet, Tira, and Quench Botanics.
After the year that she’s had, the key to success is probably consistency.
Her devil-may-care attitude has always been her unique quality, one that she embraces wholeheartedly.
This year, she truly lived up to her iconic dialogue, “Main Apni Favourite Hoon”. Everyone else’s as well.