Kareena Kapoor makes it clear: 'Not Ranbir but we sisters Karisma and I' carried the Kapoor legacy forward

Economic Times

12 hours ago

Kareena Kapoor Khan asserts that she and her sister Karisma Kapoor, not Ranbir Kapoor, truly carried the Kapoor legacy in Bollywood. Karisma broke barriers in 1991, defying family norms to become the first Kapoor woman in films. Kareena debuted in 2000 with Refugee and experimented with roles, balancing commercial success with performance-driven characters.
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In a film dynasty built by men, Kareena Kapoor Khan is setting the record straight. While her cousin Ranbir Kapoor is often seen as the modern torchbearer of the iconic Kapoor family, Kareena believes the real trailblazers were the Kapoor women—herself and her sister Karisma. 'It was only me and Karisma before Ranbir came in,' she said in a recent chat with Mojo Story. 'We've carried on the Kapoor legacy .' She also further called herself not 'tigresses' but 'tigers' who took the legacy forward. Karisma Kapoor broke the glass ceiling back in the early '90s when she debuted with Prem Qaidi in 1991. At a time when the Kapoor men famously believed women from the family shouldn't work in films, Karisma became the first female Kapoor to enter Bollywood . She went on to rule the box office with blockbusters like Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Fiza, becoming one of the most sought-after stars of her era. She has also delivered movies like Zubeidaa , Raja Babu, Judwaa, Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Hum Saath Saath Hain, among others.Nearly a decade later, Kareena marked her debut with Refugee in 2000. The J.P. Dutta film also introduced Abhishek Bachchan, and despite being a first outing, Kareena's performance stood out. The movie recently celebrated 25 years in the industry with a nostalgic Instagram post captioned- "25 years and forever to go..." Kareena's journey since Refugee has been anything but ordinary.While many actresses stuck to formula roles, Kareena experimented early on, earning praise for bold choices like Chameli and Omkara. She struck gold with the iconic Jab We Met, and later stunned audiences with performances in Udta Punjab, Heroine, and Laal Singh Chaddha.What sets Kareena apart is her ability to balance commercial blockbusters with layered, performance-driven roles. Whether it's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham's bubbly Poo or Veere Di Wedding, Kareena has consistently adapted to changing trends without losing her signature charm. Kareena was last seen in Singham Again. She has Takht in the pipeline.Ranbir Kapoor, undoubtedly one of the finest actors of his generation, made his debut in 2007 with Saawariya. With critically acclaimed roles in Rockstar, Barfi!, and Sanju, he's carved a place for himself. Meanwhile, the actor is currently gearing up for Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious film adaptation of 'Ramayan'. It boasts a stellar ensemble cast and a grand two-part release.Ranbir Kapoor leads the narrative as Ram, with Sai Pallavi taking on the role of Sita, and Yash portraying the formidable Ravana. ANI cited reports that Sunny Deol will step into the role of Hanuman, while popular television actor Ravi Dubey will play Lakshman. Lara Dutta has been signed on as Kaikeyi, the queen whose choices shape the destiny of Ayodhya, and Rakul Preet Singh will bring the fiery and enigmatic Shurpanakha to life. Kajal Aggarwal will portray Mandodari, the dignified queen of Lanka, and in a powerful move, Amitabh Bachchan will appear as Jatayu, the noble vulture who valiantly defends Sita. Actress Sheeba Chaddha will portray Manthara. Ramayan will unfold over two parts, with Part 1 set to release on Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 on Diwali 2027.