Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor is the daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita Kapoor, and the younger sister of actress Karisma Kapoor. She belongs to the Kapoor family, a prominent film dynasty that includes her grandfather Raj Kapoor and great-grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor.

She has been married to actor Saif Ali Khan since 16 October 2012. They have two sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jehangir Ali Khan Pataudi. Kapoor continued practising Hinduism after adding Khan to her name.

Kapoor attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai and Welham Girls' School in Dehradun. She then studied commerce for two years at Mithibai College in Mumbai and completed a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard Summer School.

She enrolled at the Government Law College in Mumbai and left after her first year to pursue acting. She subsequently trained at an acting institute in Mumbai under Kishore Namit Kapoor.

Kapoor made her film debut in 2000 as Naaz in J. P. Dutta's Refugee, opposite Abhishek Bachchan. Her performance earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Her early films included Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, Aśoka and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, in which she played Pooja Sharma, known as Poo.

After a difficult period involving several unsuccessful releases, Kapoor expanded her range with Chameli, in which she played a sex worker. She received special jury recognition at the Filmfare Awards for the performance. She later earned critical acclaim for playing a riot victim in Dev and Dolly Mishra, a character based on Desdemona, in Omkara.

Her performance as the outspoken Geet Dhillon in Jab We Met became one of the defining roles of her career. The film earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress and a Screen Award for Best Actress.

Kapoor continued to combine mainstream films with demanding dramatic roles. She appeared in Kurbaan, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, Heroine, Udta Punjab and Laal Singh Chaddha. Her performance in We Are Family won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Her major commercial releases have included 3 Idiots, Golmaal 3, Bodyguard, Ra.One, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Good Newwz and Singham Returns. 3 Idiots earned her the IIFA Award for Best Actress, while Bajrangi Bhaijaan received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

Kapoor also starred in female-led films including Veere Di Wedding and Crew. In Crew, she appeared alongside Tabu and Kriti Sanon as one of three flight attendants involved in a heist.

Kapoor moved toward thriller roles with Jaane Jaan and The Buckingham Murders. In Jaane Jaan, she played Maya, a single mother involved in a murder investigation. The Buckingham Murders, filmed predominantly in English, featured her as detective Jasmeet Bhamra and marked her first production venture.

She reprised her role as Avni Kamat Singham in Singham Again. Her announced projects include Meghna Gulzar's thriller Daayra, in which she is set to star with Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Alongside acting, Kapoor has contributed to books about nutrition and personal style. Her publications include Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight, Women and The Weight Loss Tamasha, The Style Diary of a Bollywood Diva and Pregnancy Bible. She also collaborated with nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar on nutrition-related projects.

Kapoor launched a women's clothing line during her association with Globus and later introduced a cosmetics line with Lakmé. In 2018, she began hosting the radio programme What Women Want for Ishq FM, which was renewed for three more seasons. She also served as a talent judge on Dance India Dance.

She has worked with UNICEF since 2014 to promote girls' education and quality education in India. Her advocacy has included campaigns concerning women's safety, maternal and newborn healthcare, menstrual hygiene and child-friendly schools. She became a national UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for India in 2024.