Kareena Kapoor Khan has spent more than two decades in the industry as a leading lady, a star, a performer and an actor willing to let the work take precedence over stardom. But perhaps the most telling way to understand what makes her special is to hear from the filmmakers who have actually watched her work from the other side of the camera. On her 46th birthday, three directors who have worked with Kareena at very different points in her career offer a glimpse into what they see in her.
Meghna Gulzar, who recently directed her in Daayra, speaks of an actor who can bring glamour and craft together without allowing either to overwhelm the other. The crime thriller that sees the actress play DCP Ajooni Kohli alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, released on September 18. Says Meghna, “It’s been a privilege having Kareena’s trust and craft in Daayra. She’s unassuming as a person and unafraid as an actor; and these are the precious qualities that make her who she is. She beautifully channels her glamour as a star and her immense prowess as an actor, exactly where and how they’re needed, never letting one overshadow the other. Above everything, as one working woman to another, my true respect for how she balances between work, family and children. I will always be grateful for having experienced her as the actor and the wonderful person that she is.”
For Sujoy Ghosh, who worked with Kareena on Jaane Jaan, her greatest strength is the trust she inspires in a director. “Kareena is like the platinum standard of an actress. You can trust her with any character. When we worked, I kept thinking, how does she remember all the lines because not once did I see her read the script. It was magic. And the sheer professionalism is another level. She spoils you, and I think she knows that. That’s why we keep running back to her.”
Kabir Khan’s experience of working with Kareena goes back to Bajrangi Bhaijaan, where she played Rasika, a warm and grounded presence in a story largely driven by Salman Khan and Harshaali Malhotra. He shares, “My association with Kareena on Bajrangi Bhaijaan is something that I remember with a lot of affection,” Khan says. “Kareena is a huge star. When she walks on a set, she has this wonderful ability to leave all that behind. There is no fuss, there is no weight of stardom, just the fabulous actor who is completely instinctive. And seeing her performance is pure joy.”
He continues, “Rasika, her character, was so dignified and Kareena knew exactly what the film needed from her. She brought a certain warmth, humour and emotional strength that became such an important part of Bajrangi’s world. The mark of a true star is that they don’t need to fight for attention because they know that the camera will find them. Kareena has that rare magic. She can simply be, and you can’t take your eyes off her.”
Director Madhur Bhandarkar, who worked with Kareena on Heroine, adds, “I have always felt that she is an extremely instinctive and versatile actor, and on the sets of Heroine, she completely immersed herself in Mahi Arora. She could switch on the moment the camera came on, and what she brought to the character was far beyond what I had imagined while writing it. Even today, when I look back at the film, I feel Kareena gave Mahi everything: her vulnerability, strength, madness and emotional depth. We share a very special rapport, and I have immense respect and affection for her as an actor and as a person. On her birthday, I wish Kareena a very happy birthday and many more years of creating characters that stay with audiences.”
The camera has been in love with Kareena Kapoor Khan for 26 years. And the glowing affirmations from her colleagues suggest that the affair will go on forever.
Also Read: Editor’s Take: Kareena Kapoor Khan, The Star Who Became Her Own Legacy
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
