Karisma Kapoor is a name that needs no introduction when it comes to the Hindi film industry. As one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed and beloved actresses, she has been charming her way into our hearts since the mid-90s. This Indian starlet made waves with her impressive performances in movies such as Raja Hindustani (1996) and Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). But what’s even more remarkable is her journey from stardom to grace as a single mother who manages to juggle both work and home life with equal aplomb.
Early Life & Career Beginnings
Kapoor was born on June 25th, 1974 in Mumbai. She grew up in the city of dreams surrounded by family members who had successful careers in the world of entertainment – her grandfather being actor Prithviraj Kapoor, father Randhir Kapoor, uncles Shammi Kapoor and Raj Kapoor, aunt Ritu Nanda, etc. Being born into a family steeped in the culture of cinema only served to inspire Karisma to pursue acting herself, leading her to join the Film and Television Institute of India at age sixteen.
Soon after graduating, Kapoor made her debut in 1991 with Prem Qaidi alongside co-star Harish. Although not particularly well-received, this movie marked the beginning of Kapoor’s career in show business. Over the years she would appear in many other films including Aatish: Feel the Fire (1994), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Jigar (1992), Zubeidaa (2001) and Fiza (2000).
Rise To Stardom
Karisma Kapoor really hit her stride when she starred opposite Aamir Khan in Raja Hindustani (1996). Her portrayal of Aarti won her numerous awards and catapulted her into superstardom. Following this success were hits such as Judaai (1997), Biwi No 1 (1999) and Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999) which all fared very well at the box office. Not just an actress, Kapoor also found success behind the scenes with production credits for Shakti The Power (2002) and Dangerous Ishhq (2012).
Facing Controversies
Throughout her career, there have been certain scandals that marred her reputation but these did little to deter her spirit or dedication towards her craft. In 2009 she became embroiled in controversy due to a divorce case between herself and Sanjay Kapur which dragged on until 2017. Despite everything, she remained committed to her children Kiaan Raj Kapoor and Samaira Kapoor.
Marriage & Children
After going through the tumultuous process of divorcing Sanjay Kapur, Karisma married Delhi based businessman Sunjay Kapur in 2003. They had two children together before separating in 2014. Since then, she has been successfully raising them as a single mother while continuing to work hard as an actress and producer.
Her Recent Projects
Since transitioning back to the big screen, Karisma Kapoor has done several noteworthy projects over the last few years. These include collaborating with some of Bollywood’s biggest stars like Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Zero (2018), working with Varun Dhawan on Kalank (2019), starring alongside Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone on Piku (2015) as well as making cameos in Judwaa 2 (2017) and Good Newwz (2019).
Most recently, she appeared in Netflix’s original series Lust Stories (2018) directed by Anurag Kashyap. Additionally, she will be seen soon in Mentalhood – a lighthearted drama produced by Ekta Kapoor and co-starring Dino Morea and Sandhya Mridul.
Conclusion
All in all, Karisma Kapoor is truly a marvel! From small beginnings to becoming a stalwart of Bollywood, she has lived a life full of highs and lows and continues to march forward undeterred. With her graceful presence onscreen and off, she serves as a shining example for aspiring actors everywhere and we look forward to seeing more from this amazing artist!