A fourth-generation member of the Kapoor film dynasty, Kareena Kapoor Khan debuted in Refugee in 2000 and swiftly became one of the defining actresses of the 2000s. Her Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham remains a pop-culture touchstone, while Chameli and Omkara proved she could disappear into gritty, unglamorous parts. Jab We Met's talkative Geet gave her one of Hindi cinema's most loved heroines and a Filmfare Best Actress trophy.

She paired blockbusters like 3 Idiots and Bajrangi Bhaijaan with risk-taking choices such as Heroine and Udta Punjab, collecting six Filmfare Awards along the way. Married to actor Saif Ali Khan, she has continued to headline films on her own terms — the heist comedy Crew and the crime drama The Buckingham Murders among her recent projects — while hosting radio and streaming shows.

Filmography Highlights

• Refugee (2000) — Debut opposite Abhishek Bachchan
• Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) — Poo, one of Bollywood's most quoted characters
• Chameli (2004) — Image-breaking role as a Mumbai sex worker
• Omkara (2006) — Acclaimed Desdemona figure in the Othello adaptation
• Jab We Met (2007) — The irrepressible Geet; Filmfare Best Actress
• 3 Idiots (2009) — Part of one of India's biggest blockbusters ever
• Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) — Key role in the Salman Khan mega-hit
• Veere Di Wedding (2018) — Female-led ensemble comedy she returned with post-motherhood

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