Karisma Kapoor
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Karisma Kapoor (; born 25 June 1974) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films. One of the leading and highest-paid actresses of the 1990s and early 2000s, Kapoor is a recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award and four
Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...
. A part of the Kapoor family, she made her acting debut as a teenager with a leading role in the moderately successful '' Prem Qaidi'' (1991). Subsequently, Kapoor starred in a number of box office hits, including the dramas '' Jigar'' (1992) and '' Anari'' (1993), the comedies '' Raja Babu'' (1994), '' Andaz Apna Apna'' (1994), '' Coolie No. 1'' (1995) and '' Saajan Chale Sasural'' (1996), and the thriller '' Jeet'' (1996). However, she was criticized for her brief, repetitive roles and inclination to male-dominated films. The 1996 blockbuster romance '' Raja Hindustani'' marked a significant turning point in Kapoor's career, earning her praise and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She later won the National Film Award and
Filmfare Award The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Time ...
for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a passionate dancer in the musical romance '' Dil To Pagal Hai'' (1997). Kapoor achieved further success by featuring as the female lead in three of
David Dhawan David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan; 16 August 1951) is an Indian director of Bollywood, Hindi films. A member of the List of Hindi film clans#Dhawan family, Dhawan family, he has directed over #Filmography, 42 films. The 1993 action thriller an ...
's top-grossing romantic comedies—'' Hero No.1'' (1997), ''
Biwi No.1 ''Biwi No.1'' () is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan, being a remake of the 1995 Tamil language, Tamil film ''Sathi Leelavathi (1995 film), Sathi Leelavathi''. It stars Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, ...
'' (1999) and '' Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge'' (2000), and in Sooraj Barjatya's highly successful family drama '' Hum Saath-Saath Hain'' (1999)—and won the Best Actress and Best Actress Critics awards at Filmfare for her titular roles in the dramas ''
Fiza ''Fiza'', elaborately known as ''Fiza: In Search Of Her Brother'' is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action-thriller film written and directed by Khalid Mohamed, and produced by Pradeep Guha. The film stars Karisma Kapoor in the title role, alongs ...
'' (2000) and '' Zubeidaa'' (2001). Kapoor took a sabbatical from full-time acting in 2004, and has since acted sporadically, starring in the web-series '' Mentalhood'' (2020) and the mystery thriller '' Murder Mubarak'' (2024). Kapoor was married to businessman Sanjay Kapur from 2003–2016; the couple had two children together. Her off-screen life is a subject of substantial media coverage. Kapoor has played the titular character in the television series '' Karishma: The Miracles of Destiny'' (2003–2004) and has featured as a talent judge for several reality shows. Apart from her acting career, Kapoor participates in stage shows and is a prominent celebrity endorser for various products.


Early life and background

Karisma Kapoor was born on 25 June 1974 in
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
, to actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita (''née'' Shivdasani). Her younger sister, Kareena Kapoor, is a film actress who is married to actor Saif Ali Khan. Her paternal grandfather was the actor and filmmaker
Raj Kapoor Raj Kapoor (; born as Shrishti Nath Kapoor; 14 December 1924 2 June 1988; also known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor) was an Indian actor, film director and producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. He is considered to be one of the greatest and most influen ...
, while her maternal grandfather was actor Hari Shivdasani. Her paternal great-grandfather was actor Prithviraj Kapoor. The actors Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor are her uncles, while the actress Neetu Singh is her aunt. Her first cousins is the actor Ranbir Kapoor and the businessman Nikhil Nanda. The actors
Shammi Kapoor Shammi Kapoor (born Shamsher Raj Kapoor; (pronounced Help:IPA/Hindi and Urdu, ʌmːi kʌpuːɾ 21 October 1931 – 14 August 2011) was an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. Kapoor is considered one of the greatest and most s ...
and Shashi Kapoor are her grand-uncles, and the late actress Sadhana was her mother's first cousin. Kapoor is informally called as "Lolo" at her home. According to Kapoor, the name Lolo was derived after her mother made a passing reference to the Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida. Her paternal and maternal grandparents were from
Peshawar Peshawar is the capital and List of cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by population, largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the sixth most populous city of Pakistan, with a district p ...
, Lyallpur and
Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
respectively, who moved to
Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
for their film careers before the
partition of India The partition of India in 1947 was the division of British India into two independent dominion states, the Dominion of India, Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan. The Union of India is today the Republic of India, and the Dominion of Paki ...
. Kapoor is of Punjabi descent on her father's side, and on her mother's side she is of Sindhi and
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
descent. Particularly inspired by the work of actresses Sridevi and
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
, Kapoor was keen on pursuing acting since childhood. While growing up, Kapoor regularly attended award ceremonies and accompanied her parents to film sets. However, despite her family background, her father disapproved of women working in films, because he believed it conflicted with the traditional maternal duties and responsibility of women in the family. This led to a conflict between her parents and they separated in 1988. She and her sister Kareena were raised by their mother, who worked several jobs to raise them, until she made her debut in films as an actress. The couple reconciled in 2007, after living separately for several years. Kapoor studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School,
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
, and later, for a few months, at Sophia College for Women,
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
. Kapoor later said that she left college to pursue acting for financial support.


Career


Debut and early roles (1991–1995)

Kapoor made her acting debut in 1991 at the age of 16 with the romantic drama '' Prem Qaidi'', opposite debutant Harish Kumar. Upon release, the film emerged as a moderate box office success and received mixed reviews from critics, as did Kapoor's performance, with Taran Adarsh of ''
Bollywood Hungama Bollywood Hungama (lit. "Bollywood Madness" in Hindi), previously known as IndiaFM (or IndiaFM.com), is an Indian entertainment website, owned by Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, which acquired the website in 2000. The website provides n ...
'' describing it as "mechanical". The following year, Kapoor's first five releases—''
Police Officer A police officer (also called policeman or policewoman, cop, officer or constable) is a Warrant (law), warranted law employee of a police, police force. In most countries, ''police officer'' is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. ...
'', '' Jaagruti'', '' Nishchaiy'', '' Sapne Sajan Ke'' and '' Deedar''—flopped at the box office. ''Sapne Sajan Ke'' earned her a nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. '' Jaagruti'' and '' Nishchaiy'' marked her first two collaborations with Salman Khan, while '' Deedar'' marked her first collaboration with
Akshay Kumar Akshay Hari Om Bhatia (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia; 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (), is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as "Khiladi Kumar", through his career span ...
. She next starred in the action drama '' Jigar'' (1992), followed by the romantic drama '' Anari'' (1993), both of which emerged as box office hits and among the highest-grossing films of their respective years. ''Jigar'' marked Kapoor's first of several collaborations with Ajay Devgn, while ''Anari'' featured her in the leading role of Rajnandini, a princess who falls in love with her poor servant (played by Daggubati Venkatesh). Kapoor's next four releases of 1993 were the dramas '' Muqabla'' (which marked first of her many collaborations with Govinda), '' Sangraam'', '' Shaktiman'' and '' Dhanwaan''. With the exception of '' Muqabla'', none of these films performed well either critically or commercially. In 1994, Kapoor had nine film releases – four of them — '' Prem Shakti'', '' Dulaara'', '' Andaz'' and '' Aatish'' — were critical and commercial failures. Her first hit that year was David Dhawan's comedy film '' Raja Babu'', opposite Govinda, in which she played Madhubala, an educated arrogant girl who calls off her engagement upon discovering her fiancée's illiteracy. Kapoor next played the blind wife of Govinda's character in the hit action drama '' Khuddar'', following which she starred with Salman Khan,
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
and Raveena Tandon in Rajkumar Santoshi's acclaimed comedy film '' Andaz Apna Apna''. Kapoor played Raveena Bajaj, the daughter of a London-based business tycoon, who travels to India in search of true love, and falls for Salman Khan's character. Although the film underperformed at the box office, it developed a significant cult following over the years since its release. Kapoor's final two releases of the year were the action drama '' Suhaag'' (alongside Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Nagma) and the comedy-drama '' Gopi Kishan'' (alongside Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shirodkar), both of which were critically and commercially successful. In the former, she starred as a college student and Devgn's love interest, while in the latter, she played a police commissioner's daughter who falls in love with a criminal. In 1995, after appearing in the box office flops '' Jawab'' and '' Maidan-E-Jung'', Kapoor starred as Malti, a rich girl who marries a poor coolie (played by Govinda) in
David Dhawan David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan; 16 August 1951) is an Indian director of Bollywood, Hindi films. A member of the List of Hindi film clans#Dhawan family, Dhawan family, he has directed over #Filmography, 42 films. The 1993 action thriller an ...
's blockbuster comedy film '' Coolie No. 1''. The film garnered positive reviews and emerged as a commercial success, grossing in India. It later gained a cult following. On her initial career struggle, she later said:
When I first entered the industry, things were made tough for me. I am not saying that I was singled out. I think every star kid has to go through this. Everyone was so unfair to me. Other newcomers were praised for every little achievement, but I was not given an iota of acknowledgement. When it came to me, it was always, 'Okay, she has done well, but what's the big deal about her?'. Nobody gave a 17-year-old credit for doing my job reasonably well.


Established actress (1996–2000)

In 1996, Kapoor appeared in 10 films. Five of them — '' Papi Gudia'', '' Megha'', '' Bal Bramhachari'', '' Sapoot'' and '' Rakshak'' — were commercially unsuccessful. Her next release was David Dhawan's romantic comedy '' Saajan Chale Sasural'', co-starring Govinda and Tabu. ''Saajan Chale Sasural'' emerged as a commercial success. For her fifth release, Kapoor was paired opposite Suneil Shetty in S. Deepak's box office hit ''
Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...
''. She starred alongside Sunny Deol, Salman Khan and Tabu in Raj Kanwar's romantic drama ''Jeet''. She played Kajal, a woman who falls in love with a criminal, but ends up marrying another man. Finishing up as the second highest-grossing film of the year, ''Jeet'' emerged as a "super-hit" at the box office. Critical reaction was positive on both the film as well as Kapoor's performance. That same year, Kapoor starred in Dharmesh Darshan's romantic drama '' Raja Hindustani'' opposite
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
, in which she played a rich, beautiful heiress who falls for a lowly guide and driver. A modern-day remake of '' Jab Jab Phool Khile'' (1965), the film emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year and won Kapoor her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Reviewing her performance for '' India Today'', Anupama Chopra described Kapoor as a "revelation" and "the lifeblood of this otherwise banal film." The film's success established Kapoor as a leading actress of Hindi cinema, and marked a significant turning point in her career. ''Raja Hindustani'' was not only the biggest commercial success of 1996, but also one of the most successful films of all time in
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
with worldwide revenues of . Kapoor's final release of 1996 was Suneel Darshan's action film '' Ajay'', with Sunny Deol. The film was also a financial success. In 1997, Kapoor re-united with
David Dhawan David Dhawan (born Rajinder Dhawan; 16 August 1951) is an Indian director of Bollywood, Hindi films. A member of the List of Hindi film clans#Dhawan family, Dhawan family, he has directed over #Filmography, 42 films. The 1993 action thriller an ...
for two projects, the comedy film '' Judwaa'' (alongside Salman Khan and Rambha), and the romantic comedy '' Hero No. 1'' (opposite Govinda). The former's concept was similar to ''Gopi Kishan'' – it tells the story of twin brothers who are separated at birth and re-unite in their youth. Kapoor and Rambha played the love interests of Khan's characters. In ''Hero No. 1'', she played Meena Nath, a girl who falls in love with Govinda's character despite facing disapproval from her strict grandfather (played by Paresh Rawal). Both films were critically and commercially successful, and Kapoor gained praise for her comedic timing. She eventually received a nomination for the Zee Cine Award for Best Actress for ''Hero No. 1''. She next starred in the Mehul Kumar-directed dramas '' Lahu Ke Do Rang'' and '' Mrityudata'', both of which were critical and commercial failures. Kapoor's fifth and final release of 1997 was Yash Chopra's musical romantic drama '' Dil To Pagal Hai''. Co-starring Shah Rukh Khan,
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
and
Akshay Kumar Akshay Hari Om Bhatia (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia; 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (), is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as "Khiladi Kumar", through his career span ...
, the film depicts the love lives of the cast and crew in a musical dance troupe. Kapoor played Nisha, a bubbly dancer who secretly falls in love with her best friend (played by Khan), who unites with the girl he loves (played by Dixit). Initially hesitant to take on the supporting role, Kapoor was cast by Chopra (who was impressed by her work in ''Raja Hindustani'') after several leading actresses of the time had rejected it. ''Dil To Pagal Hai'' emerged as a blockbuster at the box office and proved to be the highest-grossing film of the year. Kapoor received widespread praise for her portrayal, and she eventually won the National Film Award and
Filmfare Award The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Time ...
for Best Supporting Actress. Kapoor's diminutive comeback in 1999 proved to be good as she took part in the year's most successful films. Kapoor starred in four hits. She next re-united with Dhawan and Salman Khan (alongside
Sushmita Sen Sushmita Sen (; born 19 November 1975) is an Indian actress and beauty pageant titleholder, who was crowned Miss Universe 1994, becoming the first Indian people, Indian woman to win the title. Sen has since predominantly worked in Hindi films, ...
) for the romantic comedy ''
Biwi No.1 ''Biwi No.1'' () is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan, being a remake of the 1995 Tamil language, Tamil film ''Sathi Leelavathi (1995 film), Sathi Leelavathi''. It stars Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, ...
'', in which she portrayed Pooja, a woman whose husband gets involved in an extra-marital affair with a model. The film, which emerged as a major commercial success, earned Kapoor critical praise for her performance. Kapoor received a second Best Actress nomination at Filmfare for her work in the film. She proved to be successful with comedy films, as another of David Dhawan's films '' Haseena Maan Jaayegi'', did fairly well at the box office. Kapoor collaborated for the first time with the Rajshri Productions for the family drama '' Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United'', opposite Saif Ali Khan. The film featured an ensemble cast ( Mohnish Behl, Salman Khan, Sonali Bendre and Tabu), proving to be one of the biggest Hindi film successes of all time in the market, earning worldwide. Alok Kumar stated, "Karisma doesn't have much to do, but looks good in doing whatever she does." Her last release of the year, '' Jaanwar'', opposite
Akshay Kumar Akshay Hari Om Bhatia (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia; 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (), is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as "Khiladi Kumar", through his career span ...
, was another box office hit, making her the most successful actress of the year. '' Silsila Hai Pyar Ka'' was her other film of the year. Kapoor's first release of 2000 was Dhawan's romantic comedy '' Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge'', opposite Salman Khan. She played Sapna, a girl who falls for Khan's character while on a foreign trip, however, she finds it tough to convince her three uncles of this relationship. The film finished up as one of the biggest hits of the year. Aparajita Saha of ''Rediff'' commented: "Karisma Kapoor and Salman Khan elicit more than their fair share of cat-calls in the movie and make a delectable pair. Both are in form – Karisma kapoor looks glamorous and at ease while Salman khan has perfected the lost-boy-muscle-man get-up". Kapoor's next two releases, the romantic comedies '' Chal Mere Bhai'' (opposite Khan and Dutt) and '' Hum To Mohabbat Karega'' (opposite
Bobby Deol Vijay Singh Deol (born 27 January 1969), better known by his screen name Bobby Deol, is an Indian actor who primarily works in Hindi cinema. A member of the List of Hindi film families#Deol family, Deol family, he is the younger son of actor Dha ...
) failed to do well at the box office. That same year, Kapoor won her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress, for portraying the title role of a disillusioned girl in search of her brother, in Khalid Mohammed's acclaimed crime drama ''
Fiza ''Fiza'', elaborately known as ''Fiza: In Search Of Her Brother'' is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action-thriller film written and directed by Khalid Mohamed, and produced by Pradeep Guha. The film stars Karisma Kapoor in the title role, alongs ...
''. Cast against type in a non-glamorous role, her performance was highly applauded, several critics noted her for showing great emotional range and depth. Mimmy Jain of ''
The Indian Express ''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932 by P. Varadarajulu Naidu. It is headquartered in Noida, owned by the ''Indian Express Group''. It was later taken over by Ramnath Goenka. In 1999, eight y ...
'', in a positive review, wrote: "As the young girl who is sick of the suspense and disruption that her brother's disappearance has caused in her family's life, as the obstinate daughter who will not listen to her mother's plea to let her keep hoping for her son, as the determined sister who keeps on in her hunt for her brother despite all odds and then seeks to keep him on the right path, this is a new Karisma, and one that delivers a superbly flawless performance." The film emerged as a "semi-hit" at the box office with a worldwide gross of .


Critical recognition and hiatus (2001–2011)

In 2001, she achieved further critical acclaim for her portrayal of an ill-fated actress in the biographical drama '' Zubeidaa''. Directed by Shyam Benegal, the film was based on the life of Zubeida Begum, who married Hanwant Singh. '' The Tribune'' complimented her by arguing that she "has surpassed herself as the passionate, defiant, wilful and troubled Zubeidaa, the truly modern woman." In an interview with ''Rediff'' she explained: "I have been here so long, I have done everything. lead roles, supporting roles, everything. How do I grow as a performer? If I keep doing commercial cinema, I will stagnate and I wanted to grow". For her work, she won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress and garnered a Best Actress nomination at the ceremony. Co-starring Rekha and Manoj Bajpai, the film had worldwide earnings of over . She next starred alongside Bobby Deol and Rahul Dev in
Indra Kumar Indra Kumar (born Indra Irani) is an Indian film director and producer. He had five Filmfare Awards, Filmfare nominations, has also appeared in number of Gujarati language, Gujarati-language films. His latest film produced is ''Thank God (film ...
's '' Aashiq'' – the movie received little praise from critics, though it proved to be a modest success, grossing over domestically. Suneel Darshan's social drama '' Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love'' was Kapoor's next release. Co-starring
Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is often considered one of the greatest, most accomplished and commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.* * * * * With a cinemati ...
and Akshay Kumar, the film became one of the biggest hits of the year. In 2002, Kapoor had three film releases, the first of which was the romantic drama '' Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya'', opposite
Akshay Kumar Akshay Hari Om Bhatia (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia; 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (), is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as "Khiladi Kumar", through his career span ...
and Abhishek Bachchan. She next starred alongside Nana Patekar in the woman-centric drama '' Shakti: The Power'', playing the role of Nandini, a woman who wants to escape from her in-laws (involved in feudal gang wars) along with her son, after her husband's death. The film, a remake of the Telugu film '' Antahpuram'' (1998), was itself based on the life of author Betty Mahmoody. ''Shakti: The Power'' was critically acclaimed and also earned Kapoor highly positive reviews for her portrayal – Taran Adarsh reviewed: "The power clearly belongs to Kapoor. Breathing fire and venom to win back her son from the clutches of a despot, the actress gives it all to the character of a helpless mother and proves what a virtuoso performer she is. Playing the part of a wounded tigress, this is one performance that overshadows all the performances the year has seen so far". Kapoor's work in the film earned her Best Actress nominations at several award ceremonies, including a fifth nomination at Filmfare. Her final release that year was
Indra Kumar Indra Kumar (born Indra Irani) is an Indian film director and producer. He had five Filmfare Awards, Filmfare nominations, has also appeared in number of Gujarati language, Gujarati-language films. His latest film produced is ''Thank God (film ...
's romantic drama '' Rishtey'', alongside Anil Kapoor and Shilpa Shetty. She featured as Komal, a wealthy woman who falls in love with a poorer man and marries him against her father's wishes. Despite much anticipation, Kapoor's all three releases that year underperformed at the box office. In 2003, she starred in '' Baaz: A Bird in Danger'', which was her only release that year. The film performed poorly at the box-office. Later in the same year, she made her television debut in the Sahara One soap opera '' Karishma – The Miracles Of Destiny'', in which she played a dual role of a grandmother and granddaughter. The serial ended after 260 episodes in 2004 and she took a sabbatical from full-time acting for several years. In 2006, Kapoor was seen in '' Mere Jeevan Saathi'' – the film had been shot and completed in 2003, but was delayed for three years. In 2008, she first judged ''Aaja Mahi Vay'' and later alongside actor Arjun Rampal and director–choreographer Farah Khan, Kapoor began judging season four of the dance show '' Nach Baliye'', and continued the following year with the comedy show ''Hans Baliye''. In addition, she had a cameo in the song "Deewangi Deewangi" from the 2007 melodrama ''
Om Shanti Om ''Om Shanti Om'' (transl. literally to ''Peace Be With You'') is a 2007 Hindi-language romantic fantasy film written and directed by Farah Khan, co-written by Mayur Puri and Mushtaq Shiekh, and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies E ...
'', and in 2008, was as a guest on the reality television show ''Wife Bina Life'' (2010).


Intermittent work (2012–present)

Kapoor made her comeback as an actress with a leading role in Vikram Bhatt's supernatural thriller '' Dangerous Ishhq'', in 2012. Co-starring
Rajneesh Duggal Rajniesh Duggal is an Indian film and television actor, as well as a model. He won the title of Grasim Mr. India, Grasim Mr. India 2003 and represented India at the Mister International, Mr. International 2003 pageant held in London, where he ...
, the film spans a period of four centuries and tells four different love stories set in different time periods. Kapoor played four characters, one from each century. A major critical and box office failure, the film generated positive reviews for Kapoor's portrayal. Taran Adarsh of ''Bollywood Hungama'' commented: "Kapoor puts forth her best efforts, getting to deliver lines in varied dialects. She gets the dialects right, especially Urdu and Rajasthani, but there's not much scope for her to display her acting prowess". In 2013, Kapoor made a special appearance along with several other actors in the titular song of the anthology film ''
Bombay Talkies Bombay Talkies was a movie studio founded in 1934. During its period of operation, Bombay Talkies produced 40 movies in Malad, a suburb of the Indian city of Bombay. The studio was established in 1934 by Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani. Afte ...
'', which was made to honour the Hindi film industry for completing a centenary. That year, she also appeared on the show ''Indian Princess''. In 2018, Kapoor made a special appearance in the Aanand L. Rai-directed romantic comedy ''
Zero 0 (zero) is a number representing an empty quantity. Adding (or subtracting) 0 to any number leaves that number unchanged; in mathematical terminology, 0 is the additive identity of the integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and compl ...
''. Kapoor made her web debut with
Ekta Kapoor Ekta Kapoor (born 7 June 1975) is an Indian television and film producer, known for her work in Hindi television and Bollywood cinema. She is the founder of Balaji Telefilms, Balaji Telefilms Limited, where she serves as joint managing directo ...
's '' Mentalhood'' that released on ALTBalaji in 2020. The series revolves around different natures of mothers and showcases how they try their best to raise their children. Devansh Sharma of ''
Firstpost Firstpost is an Indian news website owned by Network18 Group, which also runs CNN-News18 and CNBC TV18. It has posted misinformation on multiple occasions. The Network 18 group was originally owned by Raghav Bahl. In January 2012, the gro ...
'' opined, "One gradually warms up to Karisma in ''Mentalhood''. Not at any point does she attempt to steal the spotlight, and blends well into the stellar ensemble the show offers." In 2024, Kapoor made her comeback to films, with Homi Adajania's mystery-thriller, '' Murder Mubarak'', portraying a sophisticated actress, Shehnaz Noorani. Pratikshya Mishra from '' The Quint'' praised her for playing an "elusive star" and noted, "The tragedy evident in her characterisation comes through purely because of how expressive her eyes can be." She received the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Web Original Film – Female nomination for the film. Later that year, she made her comeback to television as a judge on '' India's Best Dancer 4''. Kapoor has completed her second web series, ''Brown''.


Personal life

Kapoor was in a relationship with her ''Jigar'' co-star Ajay Devgn from 1992 until 1995. She was engaged to Abhishek Bachchan in 2002 after multiple years together, but the engagement was called off after a few months. On 29 September 2003, she married industrialist Sunjay Kapur, the CEO of Sixt India, in a high-profile Sikh wedding ceremony at her ancestral home, Krishna Raj Bungalow, in
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
. The couple has a daughter, Samaira, born on 11 March 2005 and a son, Kiaan, born on 12 March 2011. In 2014, the couple filed for divorce through mutual consent. In November 2015, the couple had filed applications to withdraw their consent to it. The couple's divorce was finalised in 2016. In 2016, Karisma Kapoor filed a domestic violence case against Sunjay Kapur and his mother, accusing them of physical abuse and claiming Sunjay was involved with another woman. She also filed a dowry harassment case, leading to a summons for Sunjay by the Mumbai police. The couple was already locked in a bitter divorce and custody battle. In 2024, Karisma further accused Sunjay of domestic abuse in her divorce plea, alleging that during their honeymoon, he tried to force her to have sex with his friends. She also claimed that Sunjay once told his mother to slap her when she couldn't fit into a dress while pregnant. On taking a break from her acting career for her kids and family, Kapoor said, it was a "conscious decision". She further said,


Off-screen work

Kapoor supports her close friend Salman Khan's charitable trust Being Human Foundation, for which she walked ramp during "The Couture for a Cause - The Being Human Show" in 2010. In 2005, along with other Bollywood stars, Kapoor performed at the ''HELP! Telethon Concert'', raising money for the victims of the
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time (UTC+07:00, UTC+7), a major earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2–9.3 struck with an epicenter, epicentre off the west coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The Submarine earthquake, undersea ...
. In 2010, Kapoor, along with Salman Khan and several other Bollywood actresses walked at the HDIL India Couture Week, for a charity cause. Kapoor was a goodwill ambassador for Pinkathon 2012 for breast cancer awareness. Later in 2013, Kapoor participated in a campaign with
Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra Jonas (; born 18 July 1982) is an Indian actress and producer. The winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant, Chopra is India's highest-paid actress and has received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards and fiv ...
to highlight the rights of girls in India. Kapoor has been part of several stage shows and world tours since the '90s. The Heartthrobs: Live in Concert was performed across the United States and Canada alongside Arjun Rampal, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Aftab Shivdasani. In 2016, she participated in the Hiru Golden Film Awards in
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
as a special guest along with several other Bollywood actors, including Neil Nitin Mukesh, Suniel Shetty (Sunil Shetty),
Jackie Shroff Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff (born 1 February 1957), known by his screen name Jackie Shroff, is an Indian actor and former model from Mumbai, Maharashtra, who primarily works in the Hindi film industry. In a career spanning over four decades, he ...
, Sridevi, and
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
. In addition to acting and philanthropy, Kapoor has been a celebrity endorser for several brands, including
Kellogg's Kellanova, formerly known as the Kellogg Company and commonly known as Kellogg's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational food manufacturing company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, US. Kellanova produces and markets con ...
, Crescent Lawn, Admix Retail, Danone and Garnier Colour. Kapoor has also walked the runway for such designers as Manish Malhotra, Arpita Mehta, and Vikram Phadnis. Kapoor is a shareholder in the children's product company Babyoye.com, an ecommerce startup specialising in selling infant- and mother-care products. In 2013, she wrote a book "My Yummy Mummy Guide: From Getting Pregnant to losing all the weight and beyond", a guide to motherhood filled with post pregnancy tips for women.


Reception and public image

Kapoor is considered as one of the most popular actresses of Indian cinema. She is also considered among India's most beautiful actresses. In 2012, Kapoor appeared on '' Forbes India''s " Celebrity 100" list, peaking at the 77th position, with an estimated annual earning of . As of 2016, eight of her films have grossed more than . One of the highest paid actress of the 90s and early 20s, Kapoor appeared on ''
Box Office India Box Office India is an Indian film website dedicated to tracking, reporting, and analyzing the financial performance of films released in the Hindi entertainment industry. Established in 2003, Box Office India has become a prominent source of ...
''s "Top Actresses" list for five years (1996-2000) and ranked first thrice (1996, 1997 and 1999). She was placed 8th in its "All Time Top Actresses" list and she topped its top actresses list from 1990–1999. Deven Sharma of '' Filmfare'' termed Kapoor "a force to reckon with commercially", and noted, "Karisma Kapoor was a strong contender to both
Madhuri Dixit Madhuri Dixit Nene (Maiden and married names, née Dixit, ; born 15 May 1967) is an Indian actress and television personality. She has appeared in Madhuri Dixit filmography, over 70 Hindi films. Praised by critics for her performances and danc ...
and Sridevi’s domination to the ’90s." She has been described by '' The Tribune'' as "possessing exuberance and energy". ''
The Times of India ''The Times of India'' (''TOI'') is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by the Times Group. It is the List of newspapers in India by circulation, third-largest newspaper in India by circulation an ...
'' termed her "inimitable" due to her body of work and the essence that she brought into movies in the 90s. Nikita Sawant of '' Femina'' feels Kapoor embodies the statement, "Some people get better with age". '' Rediff.com'' said that Kapoor did everything from "raunchy numbers" to "serious roles". It credited her serious roles as the factor that consolidated her position as an "established actress". In an interview, Kapoor said, Kapoor's sister Kareena Kapoor admits, "Working with Lolo will be a dream come true. She was and will always be my favorite actress." According to '' Rediff.com'', she became "choosy about her roles" post a slew of out-and-out commercial films. ''
NDTV New Delhi Television Ltd is an Indian news media company focusing on broadcast and digital news publication. It was founded in 1984 by economist Prannoy Roy and journalist Radhika Roy. NDTV began as a production house for news segments, ...
'' termed her "The OG Bollywood Queen". '' Filmfare'' terms her as one of the "most celebrated stars" in the Hindi film industry. ''
The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...
'' said that she is blessed with "a radiant look and an enviable figure". Kapoor is widely praised for her performance in ''Raja Hindustani'', ''Dil To Pagal Hai'', ''Biwi No.1'', ''Fiza'', ''Zubeidaa'' and ''Shakti: The Power''. '' Eastern Eye'' noted that Kapoor's filmography is filled with "an array of successful films". In 2022 and 2023, Kapoor was voted "Sexiest Actress Alive" by the '' Glamour Magazine''. She was placed 4th in ''
The Times of India ''The Times of India'' (''TOI'') is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by the Times Group. It is the List of newspapers in India by circulation, third-largest newspaper in India by circulation an ...
''s "50 Beautiful Faces" list. Kapoor's hand-print was unveiled at the Walk of the Stars at Bandra Bandstand. She is also known for her significant fashion and style statements throughout the 90s. In 2002, she received the Smita Patil Memorial Award for Best Actress, for her contribution to Indian cinema. In 2023, Kapoor received the Indian Achievers Award for Power Corridors by the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
. Kapoor ranks among the highest-grossing actresses in Indian cinema.


Accolades

Kapoor is the recipient of a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for ''Dil To Pagal Hai'' (1997), and four
Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...
out of eight nominations: Best Actress for ''Raja Hindustani'' (1996) and ''Fiza'' (2000), Best Supporting Actress for ''Dil To Pagal Hai'' (1997), and Best Actress (Critics) for ''Zubeidaa'' (2001).


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kapoor, Karisma 1974 births Living people Karisma Indian film actresses Indian television actresses Actresses from Mumbai Indian Sindhi people Indian people of English descent Actresses in Hindi cinema Best Supporting Actress National Film Award winners Filmfare Awards winners International Indian Film Academy Awards winners Zee Cine Awards winners 20th-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian actresses Cathedral and John Connon School alumni