The actress has been part of numerous blockbusters. However, her record would have been even higher had she not turned down some films.
Hindi cinema, as you know, has undergone a huge transformation since the 2000s. Lots of new trends have come and gone, and not to mention the continuous emergence of new talents with time. However, Kareena Kapoor Khan continues to reign today just as she did decades ago - and there's still no one quite like her! From her debut film 'Refugee' to her recent release 'The Buckingham Murders', she has evolved gracefully and reinvented herself in literally each of her projects.
Kareena Kapoor plays a grieving mother in ‘The Buckingham Murders’
Born on September 21, 1980, the actress has essayed a range of characters in multiple film genres. And several of her films performed exceptionally well at the box office, including 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...', '3 Idiots', 'BajrangiBhaijaan', 'Singham Returns', and 'Veere Di Wedding'. However, what’s also essential to note is that she has passed on more films than she has taken up throughout her career! Well, several of her rejected films later turned out to be blockbusters, some even attaining the 'cult' status.
Today, as the actress turns 44, let's have a look at some of those films.
The list must begin with 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' as this Rakesh Roshan film was supposed to be Kareena's debut, co-starring Hrithik Roshan. She was initially a part of the film, however, abandoned the production after a few days of shooting due to creative differences with the director.
Ameesha Patel and Hrithik Roshan made their debut with ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’
She was replaced with another newcomer, Ameesha Patel, who became an overnight sensation after the film's release. And 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai', well, grossed over ₹800 million, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2000 worldwide.
Notably, Kareena made her debut with ‘Refugee’, alongside Abhishek Bachchan.
Yes, Kareena was the first choice of Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the leading lady in 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'. She reportedly agreed to do the film and even received an advance, but had to later turn it down due to some other commitments. The role was eventually played by Aishwarya Rai.
Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan in a still from ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’
Upon its theatrical release, 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' emerged as a massive critical and commercial success. And it turned out to be the breakthrough of Aishwarya in Bollywood.
It's worth noting that Kareena later turned down Bhansali's 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Ram-Leela' as well.
Before Priyanka Chopra came on board as the lead in 'Fashion', Kareena was approached for the same. Director Madhur Bhandarkar believed that she would be perfect to portray the rise and fall of an ambitious model on the screen. Although she liked the script, she had to say no due to her busy schedule.
Priyanka Chopra in ‘Fashion’
Priyanka Chopra nailed her role as Meghna Mathur in 'Fashion', winning the National Award for Best Actress at the 56th National Film Awards. The film received enormous acclaim from critics, and also performed well at the box office. Over the years, several media outlets have listed it as one of the best women-centric films in Bollywood.
Kareena Kapoor Khan in and as ‘Heroine’
Notably, Kareena later played the lead in Bhandarkar's 'Heroine'.
Deepika Padukone as Meenamma in 'Chennai Express' was so brilliant that we can't even imagine anyone else in the role. However, not many know that Kareena was the original choice of director Rohit Shetty for the film. According to reports, she loved the script and was extremely keen on doing it. However, she had to eventually reject the offer as she was occupied shooting for 'Talaash' with Aamir Khan at that time.
Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Chennai Express’
'Chennai Express' received mixed reviews from critics, while 'Talaash' was showered with enormous praise. However, as far as the box office is concerned, the former reached unprecedented heights within a short period. It even surpassed '3 Idiots' to become the highest-grossing Hindi film worldwide at that point.
They say, someone's loss is someone else's gain. Well, Kareena Kapoor's rejection of these films paved the way for other actresses to succeed. And besides the above-mentioned films, the list also includes 'Queen', 'Black', 'Kal Ho Na Ho', and 'DilDhadakne Do'.
