Kareena Kapoor Khan: An actor who stays relevant and is a strong force to reckon with

In Refugee, she was offered a performance-oriented role which she pulled off with finesse.

Of course, there are films where Kareena came across as too over the top in pitching her performances, like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003).

Karan Johar once commented that Kareena was not even aware of for whom she was crying in one scene. But having said that, the actor also proved herself to be a versatile performer in many movies.

Kareena Kapoor, a versatile actor

Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor in a still from ‘Jab We Met’. (X)

A good example of this is Sudhir Mishra’s Chameli (2003). In the movie, Kareena Kapoor Khan played the role of a sex worker who speaks a rustic language.

It was a brave choice, particularly considering the glamorous image of the actor, but Kareena sunk her teeth into the role playing her part with empathy and conviction.

In the film Dev (2004), directed by Govind Nihlani, the Bollywood actor played a deglamorised role. She shared screen space with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and more than stood her own.

A scene that deserves a particular mention is when Kareena’s character comes forward to expose the powerful men responsible for the riots before the police commissioner.

The actor effortlessly conveyed the grit of a determined young woman.

Ken Ghosh’s Fida (2004) is another important film in her career. In the flick, Kareena appears as a girl next door with a lot of tenderness. But in the second half, the character takes a huge turn and she is the villain who dupes Shahid Kapoor’s character.

Another noteworthy performance in Kareena Kapoor’s filmography is Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara (2006). Her role (Dolly) goes through many emotions from love, awe, fear and bewilderment.

The Hindi actor does not have many lines but she made a big impact with her expressions.

Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met (2007) is, of course, a monumental film in her career. Kareena’s Geet has many shades. From a bubbly and overtly talkative young woman, the character goes through heartbreak in the second half.

But still, there is an inner resilience. Kareena Kapoor delivered an award-worthy performance.

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A strong screen presence

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aamir Khan on the sets of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. (X)

When it comes to married female actors, there is a tendency to slow down post-motherhood and have long breaks. But Kareena Kapoor Khan’s speciality lies in maintaining her glamorous image even after two children and getting author-backed roles in different genres.

These films include Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), Good Newwz (2019), Jaane Jaan (2023), and the latest Crew (2024).

In spite of Aamir Khan playing the title role, Kareena registered a strong impact in Laal Singh Chaddha. Her Roop is a conflicted woman who loves Laal Singh and dreams big for herself.

Kareena Kapoor played her part with a lot of compassion, additionally, she also looked stunning.

In Raj Mehta’s Good Newwz (2019), the Bollywood actor appeared as a working woman named Deepti Batra, who has been trying to get pregnant for a long time.

She had a meaty role and she did a swell job. The actor was particularly good in a dramatic monologue with Akshay Kumar.

In Sujay Ghosh’s Jaane Jaan, Kareena played a single mother, who escaped an abusive marriage. Things take a dramatic turn when the past catches up in the form of her abusive husband played by Saurabh Sachdeva.

Kareena’s Maya D’Souza was a mixture of steely resilience, vulnerability and charm, among other things. She delivered a knock-out performance.

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Crew, an absolute riot

Kareena Kapoor in ‘Crew’. (X)

Now, to her last release Crew. In this film, Kareena Kapoor Khan plays an air hostess who is unapologetically greedy and doesn’t mind taking a shortcut to get rich. At the same time, there is also a deep loneliness.

The Hindi actor did a wonderful job of portraying the different facets of Jasmine. Additionally, her scenes with Tabu were an absolute riot.

Kareena Kapoor also got into production with Hansal Mehta’s directorial The Buckingham Murders (2023), which premiered at the London Film Festival on 14 October last year. Her performance has been much appreciated.

This is a brief outline of Kareena Kapoor’s past and recent roles. Here’s hoping that the senior actor continues to shine bright and spread joy among her fans with varied roles.

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