Born in Hong Kong to a British mother and raised across several countries, Katrina Kaif came to Mumbai as a model and worked her way into Hindi films despite initially speaking little Hindi. After a rough start with Boom, hits like Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? and Namastey London established her, and by the late 2000s she was among the industry's most in-demand leading ladies.

She became synonymous with big-canvas entertainers — the Tiger spy films with Salman Khan, Dhoom 3, and Bang Bang! — and with show-stopping dance numbers like "Sheila Ki Jawani" and "Chikni Chameli". Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara let her show a breezier, more natural side. Off screen she founded the cosmetics brand Kay Beauty, and in 2021 she married actor Vicky Kaushal. Her recent work includes the thriller Merry Christmas and Tiger 3.

Filmography Highlights

• Namastey London (2007) — Breakthrough performance as a British-Indian bride
• Singh Is Kinng (2008) — Blockbuster comedy opposite Akshay Kumar
• Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009) — Hit rom-com with Ranbir Kapoor
• Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) — Acclaimed road-trip film; her most praised role
• Ek Tha Tiger (2012) — Spy blockbuster that began the Tiger series
• Dhoom 3 (2013) — One of the highest-grossing Hindi films of its time
• Bharat (2019) — Decades-spanning drama with a strong dramatic part
• Merry Christmas (2024) — Sriram Raghavan's slow-burn thriller, critically praised

Image: Wikimedia Commons. Part of the Top 50 Bollywood Celebrities series. Ranking inspired by popular industry listings; profiles are original editorial content.