Kareena Kapoor Khan, in a new interview, shared some valuable advice for newcomers. She also opened up on her passion for acting.
Kareena Kapoor Khan stepped in the Hindi film industry with JP Dutta’s Refugee in 2000, and since then, there has been no looking back for her. With many hit films to her credit across different genres, the actress is one of the most prolific actresses when we speak about Bollywood.
The ‘Crew’ actress recently graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar India magazine wherein she dished out some motivating advice to newcomers. Bebo said, “Focus on your performance, stay centered on what’s happening in front of the camera. There’s a lot of noise behind the scenes, but what truly matters is your performance. Keep honing your craft and improving your acting skills. That’s what will help you stand out and succeed.”
Kareena revealed that she never chased any opportunity and added, “Instead, I let them come to me. If something didn’t work out, I was okay with it because I knew that by staying true to myself and my craft, everything would eventually fall into place.”
The actress said that her goal has always been to be recognised as a serious actor and not just a star.
“While being a star is great, I’ve always been driven by the desire to take on challenging roles. Coming from a family with a rich acting legacy—my grandfather (Raj Kapoor), Shashi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, and my sister Karisma—I wanted to prove that I could combine being a star with being a serious actor. Whether it was the commercial success of Jab We Met or the intense drama of Udta Punjab, (2018) I’ve always sought roles that push my boundaries and showcase my versatility. This blend of commercial appeal and depth is something I strive for, and I continue to pursue it with projects like Singham and others,” Kareena told the publication.
The ‘Jab We Met’ star said that out of all the roles that she has played, Meera from Mani Ratnam’s Yuva is very special as it allowed her to portray a very real, relatable character. Kareena said, “People often see me as glamorous, so stepping out of that mould and delivering a performance grounded in reality help create a deeper connection.”
Bebo also expressed her surprise at how some of her characters like Poo from Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham and Geet from Jab We Met have maintained their relevance and become part of pop culture, and added, “While films and the industry continue to evolve, some actors and characters remain memorable, though not always in the same way they once were.”
While elaborating on how things have evolved considerably ever since she joined the film industry 24 years ago, Kareena emphasised on how it’s important to pay more attention to content and scripts, and focus more on elements like the scriptwriters, language, dialogue, and dialect.
“We now have agents, managers, and a highly compartmentalized system. There’s this entire PR machinery that often seems to dictate who’s the latest global icon based on the success of their films. But, honestly, these are just fleeting names and trends that change weekly,” Kareena said in her interview.
She added, “The director, and the performances that leave a lasting impact—these are what really matter. Lately, I’ve been longing for more focus on strong storytelling and scriptwriting. I hope with good films performing well at the box office, we’ll see a resurgence in content that truly resonates.”
Kareena Kapoor Khan is currently gearing up for the release of her upcoming film, Hansal Mehta’s murder mystery, The Buckingham Murders.
