Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor Khan has completed 25 years in the film industry. To celebrate her milestone, PVR Cinemas announced a film festival in her name. And well, it means that Bebo will become the first Indian woman to have a multi-city film festival dedicated to her by the multiplex chain.
The only actors honoured with film festivals dedicated to them are Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and Shah Rukh Khan.
25 Years Of Kareena Kapoor Khan
Credits: Instagram/kareenakapoorkhan
Without a doubt, Bebo is one of the biggest stars in the Hindi film industry. She made her debut in 2000 alongside Abhishek Bachchan with Refugee. Its song Panchi Nadiyaan Pawan is still one of the best songs that Bollywood has ever produced.
Even though her debut film failed to make an impact on the big screens, she went forward with big dreams in her eyes and gave us films like Chameli, Jab We Met, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Omkara, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, Heroine, Udta Punjab, and many more.
As Kareena completes 25 years in Bollywood, celebration to banta hai! Let’s look at 12 iconic roles of the diva that live in our hearts rent-free.
12 Iconic roles of Kareena Kapoor Khan
Credits: Instagram/kareenakapoorkhan
Over the past two decades, she has starred in over 50 films and delivered critically acclaimed performances. Who can forget her iconic characters like Poo, Geet, and Chameli, right? So, let’s rewind and look at all the iconic characters played by Kareena Kapoor Khan.
1. Nazneen Naaz Ahmed – ‘Refugee’
Credits: JP Films
It is the story of a man who smuggles illegal weapons and people back and forth over the borders between India and Pakistan. He falls in love with a woman named Nazneen, whose family he helped. Let us tell you that Kareena started the ‘no makeup’ makeup trend 25 years ago with her first film!
2. Isha Singh Puri – ‘Yaadein’
Credits: Mukta Arts
The film is made on a unique theme and tells the story of a father’s bonds with his daughters. Kareena has outdone herself as Isha in the film. This beautiful film has songs like Yaadein Yaad Aati Hai and Eli Re Eli.
3. Kaurwaki – ‘Asoka’
Credits: Red Chillies Entertainment
This was Bebo’s first film with Shah Rukh Khan. She played the role of Kaurwaki, the Princess of Kalinga. Although the film did not work well at the box office, her and SRK’s chemistry became the talk of the town back then.
4. Poo – ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…’
Credits: Dharma Productions
This film was a game changer for Kareena and who can forget Poo, right? She single-handedly was the flagbearer of fashion in the film. Her dialogues are still fresh, even after two decades. Her iconic dialogues – “Kaun hai yeh jisne dobara mudh ke mujhe nahi dekha? Who is he?“, “Good looks, good looks, and good looks!” and “Tum he koi haq nahi banta ki tum itni khoobsurat lago.. Not fair!” – are still famous.
5. Chameli – ‘Chameli’
Credits: Pritish Nandy Communications
Chameli was a turning point in Kareena’s career. Her character as a prostitute remains iconic even today. Her dialogue “Yeh bolta hai haat mat lagao, duniya haath lagane ke liye paisa deti hai” is a powerful and thought-provoking statement. And the song Bhage Re Mann is one of the best songs Bollywood has ever given to us!
6. Aaliya – ‘Dev’
Credits: Applause Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
Bebo plays the role of Aaliya, a young woman who gets caught in a situation that transforms her life and dares to stand up for the truth. Her dialogue, “Kisi ek insaan ki jaan lena … matlab puri insaaniyat ko maar dalna hai” will give you goosebumps.
7. Dolly Mishra – ‘Omkara’
Credits: Shemaroo Films
This cult film was adapted from William Shakespeare’s Othello. Kareena delivered a memorable dialogue, “Chaand jab aadha ho jaave hai na, toh bhi chaand hi kehlave hai.”
8. Isha Singh Puri – ‘Yaadein’
Credits: Mukta Arts
The film is made on a unique theme and tells the story of a father’s bonds with his daughters. Kareena has out done with her performance as Isha in the film. This beautiful film has songs like Yaadein Yaad Aati Hai and Eli Re Eli.
9. Geet Dihillon – ‘Jab We Met’
Credits: Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision
Another cult film given by Kareena Kapoor Khan! The story, the dialogues, the songs – everything about this movie screams epic. Her dialogues – “Main apni favourite hoon” and “Aap jo ye bol rahe hai uske paise charge karte hai ya ye muft ka gyaan hai?” among others continue to remain everyone’s favourite.
10. Rosie/Simran – ‘Talaash: The Answer Lies Within’
Credits: Aamir Khan Productions
Kareena once again played the role of a sex worker and NGL, she nailed it! Again her dialogue, “Nark mein hoon … par swarg ka raasta jaanti hoon” throws light on the difficult life of a sex worker.
11. Dr. Preeti Sahni – ‘Udta Punjab’
Credits: Balaji Motion Pictures
Bebo once again proved her acting mettle with Imtiyaz Ali’s Udta Punjab. The film was made on drug addiction among the youth of Punjab. Kareena played the role of Dr. Preeti Sahni in the film. “Nasha gala banda karta hai … par aundha effect poori family te hota hai“, line delivered by Kareena tells a lot about how a family is destroyed due to drug issue.
12. Maya D’Souza – ‘Jaane Jaan’
Credits: Balaji Motion Pictures
With Jaane Jaan, Kareena made her OTT debut in 2023. She played the character of Maya D’Souza who was in an abusive marriage and had left her husband to protect and give a better life to her daughter, but ended up murdering her husband.
Social and lead image credits: Pritish Nandy Communications, Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision, Dharma Productions
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