Karishma Kapoor

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Biography

Born to one of the most illustrious family of Bollywood one thought Karishma Kapoor, daughter of Babita and Randhir Kapoor, had a silver spoon to her privilege and all doors would open to her automatically.

Only Karishma and her fans know what it took for her to reach where she is today. Hardwork, patience, pitfalls, perseverance, she has seen and gone through them all.

Karishma's career started with prancing along seashores and trees to mundane numbers opposite a small-time hero. Under the guidance of mother Babita, an actress of consequence herself, Karishma improved on her acting, dialogue delivery and dance skills, catapulting herself into a league where she could work in better films.

Exploitative that the film industry is, Lolo, as she is fondly addressed, wasn't spared from taking the brunt. There were vulgar dance numbers, revealing clothes and the rest of the publicity gimmicks that Karishma did which probably otherwise she would not have looked at. She was ambitious and wanted to prove to the world of her capabilities, so she waited with patience.

Her perseverance paid off. Today Karishma is an actress of reckoning and a star in her own right. Every bit of this achievement goes to her hard work and determination. On the event of her younger sister's entry into films, 25-year-old Karishma already relaxes and basks in the glory of her achievements.

A multifaceted actress, the pair of Karishma-Govinda gave several hits. But it was in 'Raja Hindustani’ that one saw a shift in Karishma's performance. So power-packed was she in the film that it immediately fetched her the Filmfare's Best Actress award for 1996, apart from being the biggest hit of that year.

Her recent films – Biwi No.1, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge and Chal Mere Bhai have once again proved that she still retains fan following and Aishwarya Rai has not diminished her demand.

Her refreshing personality and amazing dance capabilities have endeared her to the masses.

Will Karishma Kapoor Call It A Day?

Karishma Kapoor is one actress who has had it all; enjoying both commercial and artistic success. During her decade long career she has done as many as 60 films and has proved her versatility and prowess at both comedy and melodrama with equal ease. She bagged the National Award in the best actress category for her role in Shyam Benegal's 'Zubeida'. Her role in 'Fiza' too brought her a spate of accolades. What more can she ask for? M.S.M. Desai chats with the talented actress on the sets of what could be her last film, to find out just that.

Having achieved so much during her decade-long career, Karishma can afford to call it a day, now that her marriage with Abhishek Bachchan has been announced. She has already curtailed her work by being very selective about her assignments and Tinu Varma's Baaz - A Bird in Danger may be her last film before she ties the nuptial knot with her long time beau.

Karishma was recently spotted on the sets of Baaz at Chandivali, Mumbai, filming a dance sequence with co-star Jackie Shroff. The number was shot against the backdrop of Khajurahoesque sculptures and erotic murals with a troupe of background dancers. Director Tinu Varma is known for his time management skills and speedily wrapped up shooting before the lunch break at 2.00 pm. It was during the lunch break that Karishma finally found the time to speak to the media.

Although seated on a chair clad in a skimpy costume, she looks very relaxed and confidently announces, 'Yes, I am ready, shoot your questions.”

Why is the song being filmed after completion of the entire movie?

“A small segment of the film remains to be completed. There is however, nothing wrong with a song being added at the end, if it helps the film. The song in question here is a commercial song!!!”

Tell us something about your role in this film?

“Baaz is my first suspense film. In the past, I have experimented with different film genres, taking on comic and serious roles, but this is different. I have portrayed a variety of characters and I have always managed to strike the right balance and hence have never been typecast, or branded by the industry. My role in this film is very interesting, as I play a girl who is caught like a sparrow, between five other characters, who are also murder suspects. My character is an interior designer, while Jackie Shroff is the Mayor of Ooty, where three girls have been brutally murdered. Sunil Shetty plays a police inspector and Dino Morea is also an interior designer.”

Coming to a question now tormenting every film buff. Is this, your last film?

“Not necessarily. If good scripts come my way, I will certainly accept the offer. But it is imperative that they should be performance-oriented roles.”

Are you looking at greener pastures, say for example, to Hollywood for interesting offers?

“Hollywood or Bollywood, it doesn't make a difference as long my role is satisfactory. Today there are no set criteria for a good film. In Shakti, for example, my role was unique and hence it was a good movie.”

Having worked with Shyam Benegal, how would you compare the two streams of art and commercial cinema?

“Working with Shyam Benegal is a different experience all together and cannot be compared. He is a disciplined director and I may even do another film with him.”

Karishma Kapoor, daughter of Randhir Kapoor and Babita and grand daughter of Raj Kapoor and Hari Shivdasani, has acted in over 60 films during her career spanning 11 years. She was first signed on by Pramod Chakraborty, but it was Rama Naidu's Prem Qaidi (1991) which became her debut vehicle. The movie was a hit at the box-office and there was simply no looking back for this young starlet. Her entry into the film industry was however, marred by controversy. Karishma arrived on film scene at a time when Juhi Chawla and Madhuri Dixit were vying to be numero uno, and she successfully managed to steal the limelight from the two big stars by wearing a swimming suit, in her very first film. It was unthinkable for a girl from the 'respectable' Kapoor khandaan to flaunt herself in such revealing attire.

Even her Sexy Sexy Sexy number with its explicit lyrics and the raunchy Sarkaila Khatia song raked up mounds of controversy and offended the sensibilities of Shiv Sainiks, who promptly took out a morcha protesting against the vulgarity in the film. Her image then underwent a change with films like Dhanwan and Rajkumar Santoshi's laugh riot Andaz Apna Apna (1994). It was followed by Lawrence D'souza's Paapi Gudia and David Dhawan's Saajan Chale Sasuraal and Raja Babu. Then came Dharmesh Darshan's Raja Hindustani, Jeet and Dil To Pagal Hai. Her role opposite Govinda in Coolie No.1 was highly appreciated, as was her performance in Biwi No.1 and Hum Saath Saath Hai. But it was Fiza and Shyam Benegal's Zubeida that cemented her position as an actress par excellence. Shakti, Ek Rishtaa - The Bond of Love and Ashiq, her more recent releases however, fared poorly at the box-office. Not one to quietly step out of the spotlight, the soon-to-be bride now awaits the launch of her television career with the serial Karisma.