The Cult of Kareena Kapoor
Twenty-five years of memes, monologues, and main-character energy — from the diva who knew she was a legend from day one.
“I’m a legend.” “Main apni favorite hoon.” “Fashion lies in the attitude, not the clothes you wear.” Remarkable, repeatable, and memeable — both on and off screen — Kareena Kapoor is a Bollywood diva for the ages. She has played, preened, and pouted for the camera, and she refuses to run out of material.
Stardom in India is a myth-making project, a place where our affection often crosses over into devotion. It’s what transforms an ordinary boy from Delhi into Shah Rukh Khan or a bus conductor from Bangalore into Rajinikanth. But stardom is also merciless — any break from acting or a string of flops can lead to irrelevance — which makes Kareena Kapoor’s 25-year-old career particularly impressive. Here’s someone who has braved an ageist, sexist film industry without sacrificing her cocksure self.