POPULAR actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has been entertaining audiences ever since making her movie debut with Refugee in 2000 and gained herself a global fanbase. She celebrates her 41st birthday this week and will receive good wishes from around the world. Eastern Eye decided to celebrate the A-list Bollywood superstar turning a year older on September 21 by putting together a watchlist of her 10 greatest performances, listed in chronological order.
Asoka (2001): The actress delivered the first really powerful performance of her career in the big-budget historical epic based on real life events. She showed real star power with a stunning turn as a warrior princess opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The challenging role coloured by a rainbow of emotions earned her a Filmfare Best Actress nomination.
Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham (2001): The actress succeeded in making her presence felt in a star-studded family drama that had power hitters Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Jaya Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan in the cast. The incendiary turn of a no-nonsense young woman with a fiery temper and hot dance moves burned a permanent mark on the heart of film fans around the world. It earned her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Chameli (2004): The actress took a step back from big commercial blockbusters and glided effortlessly into the title role of a street-smart prostitute in this performance-driven drama. She transformed every aspect of herself with an award-winning performance that showed off her acting range. Such was the impact that it is widely regarded as a major turning point in Kareena’s career.
Dev (2004): The powerful drama is very much about men, played by Amitabh Bachchan, Om Puri and Fardeen Khan on a collision course, but that doesn’t stop Kareena getting herself noticed with a performance that acts as a balancing force. Despite being only four years into her career, she shows remarkable maturity with her role and gained herself a Filmfare Critics Award For Best Actress. She was the only cast member from the film to win an acting honour.
Omkara (2006): The Bollywood adaptation of William Shakespeare classic Othello is set in the rural heartlands and sees the actress take on the lead role, inspired by classic literary character Desdemona. She beautifully portrays an innocent young woman, who melts the heart of a hardened criminal and then pays the ultimate price of his jealousy. The atmospheric Vishal Bhardwaj-directed drama would earn her another Filmfare Critics Award For Best Actress.
Jab We Met (2007): The romantic road movie has what is widely regarded as the greatest performance of Kareena’s career. She would win every major Bollywood award for her portrayal of a carefree girl, who gives a disheartened young man a reason to embrace life again. In subsequent years, many leading ladies would cite Geet from Jab We Met as their dream role.
3 Idiots (2009): The record-breaking film was very much about the three male protagonists and that makes Kareena’s award-nominated performance all the more special. She made her presence felt as the younger daughter of the strict college director, who falls in love with his most disruptive student. The image of her on a motorbike in a wedding outfit became iconic and exuded the kind of girl power only she was capable of.
We Are Family (2010): The official remake of 1998 Hollywood movie Stepmom earned the actress a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award. The pitch-perfect performance saw her portray a young woman on a collision course with her partner’s former wife played beautifully by Kajol and then pushed towards becoming a stepmom when tragedy strikes.
Heroine (2012): Director Madhur Bhandarkar’s dissection of Hindi cinema saw Kareena deliver a dynamite performance as a superstar actress who is battling personal demons, which includes bipolar disorder. She goes through a range of emotions during a rollercoaster role, which would prove to be one of the most challenging of her career.
Udta Punjab (2016): The episodic crime drama looking at the drug problem in Punjab has a series of strong characters connected to the central theme in some way. Kareena adds real gravitas with her portrayal of Dr Preet Sahni and becomes a shining ray of light in a story filled with decidedly dark characters. She would get multiple Best Supporting Actress nominations for her role.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.