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Kareena Kapoor Khan - The versatile commercial actress
- Pankaj Kumar Sinha           Let us know what you think about this article

Some recently released Bollywood films had some interesting women oriented films doing well at box office. Most of them have been far from being commercial and these successes could be attributed to niche audience in cities. Vidya Balan, Kangana Ranaut and Priyanka Chopra had begun the new wave of women oriented films and are the flag bearers of this movement. But, there is one actress from last one and a half decade, who has quietly and consistently, has stayed as top female stars of our country and one of the most versatile commercial actresses. She is none other than Kareena Kapoor Khan. Today also she is one of first choices for any female centric role for any big film by top production houses of the country. She is the only top actress, whom all top male stars want to work with. The younger heroes also want to work with her. Vidya Balan and Kangana Ranaut's filmography misses that.

Kareena Kapoor Khan was born star because of her famous lineage but her volume of work speaks for her today. She has done variety of roles and has been a part of different kind of films. She started her career with 'Refugee' opposite Abhishek Bachan. The film did not do well at box office but her role was critically acclaimed. She got her first box office success in 'Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai' opposite Tushar Kapoor. But her Poo act in 'Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Gham' gave her a lot of appreciation and a lot of girls during that time started following her style statement in that movie. Kareena Kapoor did not have easy career at box office. She had her share of flops. But her acting performance was always appreciated. Some of the movies like 'Asoka', 'Chameli', 'Omkara', 'Dev', 'Kyunki', 'Fida', 'Kurbaan' and 'Heroine' showed the great acting potential in her. The movies may not have done well at box office but got lot of critical acclaim for her.

Kareena saw commercial success with movies like 'Aitraaz', 'Ajnabee', 'Hulchul', 'Golmaal Returns', 'Golmaal3', 'Jab We Met', '3 Idiots', 'Talaash', 'Bodyguard', 'Ekk Main Aur Ek Tu', and 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan.' She never had consistent period of box office success like her contemporaries like Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone but she has always been one of top star actresses. She proved her versatility with her choice of roles. 'Jab We Met' has been the biggest turning point of her career. Her character 'Geet' in the film is, arguably, one of the best roles written for heroine in Indian cinema and she made the role completely of her own. We cannot think of any other actor doing same role. Today most of the actresses are auditioned on the basis of her scenes from Jab We Met. This is the biggest compliment for any actor.

Kareena Kapoor Khan has best comic timing in current female actors. 'Jab We Met', 'Golmaal3' and 'Ek Main aur Ek Tu' are good examples for that. We have seen her doing a negative role in 'Fida'. She played doctor role diametrically different in 'Kyunki' and '3 Idiots'. 'Kyunki' was one of her best roles and she played it very well. We saw her playing a lawyer in 'Aitraaz' saving her husband in a rape case. Priyanka Chopra got lot of appreciation for her negative role in the film but Kareena Kapoor Khan was equally good as a lawyer. The climax court scenes showed her best as an actor. 'Chameli', where she played a prostitute was one more critically wonderful performance from her. She has played challenging roles but also maintaining good balance in doing commercial cinema.

Last year we saw her in the successful 'Bajraangi Bhaijaan' opposite Salman Khan. It was more of a supporting role but very effective. Her role was a pillar of strength for Salman's Character Pavan in the film. 'Ki and Ka' released this week for Kareena Kapoor and is getting lot of appreciation for her role as ambitious career woman at corporate. We have young Arjun Kapoor opposite her. Somewhere she has not got her due as an actor from media. There are lots of actors coming from filmy family but only few get that success. Kareena Kapoor has worked hard and we can easily call her most versatile commercial actresses of her time.


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