Raipur रायपुर
—  Metropolitan City  —
Raipur city
Raipur
Coordinates: 21°08′N 81°23′E / 21.14°N 81.38°E / 21.14; 81.38Coordinates: 21°08′N 81°23′E / 21.14°N 81.38°E / 21.14; 81.38
Country	India
State	Chhattisgarh
District	Raipur
Government
• Mayor	Mrs. Kiranmayi Nayak
Area
• Metropolitan City	226 km2 (87 sq mi)
Elevation	298.15 m (978.18 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Metropolitan City	1,000,500
• Density	4,400/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
• Metro[2]	1,122,555
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Chhattisgarhi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	492001
Vehicle registration	CG-04
Website	www.raipur.nic.in

Raipur /ˈraɪpʊər/ (Hindi: रायपुर  pronunciation (help·info)) is the capital city of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The city is the administrative headquarters of Raipur District. It was formerly a part of Madhya Pradesh before the state of Chhattisgarh was formed on November 1, 2000. At the time of the 2011 census, the population of the Municipal Corporation area was 1,010,087.

History[link]

Raipur district is important in historical and archeological point of view. This district was once part of southern Kosal and considered to be under Mourya Kingdom. Raipur city had been the capital of the Haihaya kings, controlling the traditional forts of the Chhattisgarh for a long time. The town of Raipur has been in existence since the 9th century; the old site and ruins of the fort can be seen in the southern part of the city. Satawahana kings ruled this part till the 2nd–3rd century.

In the 4th century AD the king Samudragupta had conquered this region and established his domination till fifth–sixth century when this part had come under the rule of Sarabhpuri kings. For some period in the fifth–sixth century, Nala kings dominated this area. Later on Somavanshi kings had taken the control over this region and ruled with Sirpur ("City of Wealth") as their capital. Mahashivgupt Balarjun was the mightiest emperor of this dynasty. His mother, the widow queen of Harshgupta of the Somavansh, Rani Vasata built the famous brick temple of Lakshman. The Kalchuri kings of Tumman ruled this part for a long time making Ratanpur as capital. The old inscriptions of Ratanpur, Rajim and Khallari refer to the reign of Kalchuri kings. It is believed that the King Ramachandra of this dynasty established the city of Raipur and subsequently made it the capital of his kingdom.

Another story about Raipur is that King Ramachandra's son Brahmdeo Rai had established Raipur. His capital was Khalwatika (now Khallari). The newly constructed city was named after Brahmdeo Rai as 'Raipur'. It was during his time in 1402 that Hajiraj Naik the temple of Hatkeshwar Mahadev was constructed in the banks of river Kharun. The decline of this dynasty's rule came with the death of King Amarsingh Deo. This region had become the domain of Bhosle kings after the Amarsingh Deo's death. With the death of Raghuji the III, the territory was assumed by the British government from Bhonsla'a of Nagpur and Chhatisgarh was declared a separate commissionery with its headquarters at Raipur in 1854. After independence Raipur district was included in Central Provinces and Berar.

Demographics[link]

As of the^[update] 2011 census, Raipur Municipal Corporation had a population of 1,010,087^[1] and the urban agglomeration had a population of 1,122,555.^[2] The Municipal Corporation had a sex ratio of 946 females per 1,000 males and 12.3% of the population were under six years old.^[1] Effective literacy was 86.90%; male literacy was 92.39% and female literacy was 81.10%.^[1]

Being an important regional centre and a city with a history stretching back more than a thousand years, Raipur has attracted people from different parts of Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states. The population includes local ethnic Chhattisgarhis, North Indians, South Indians, and a few people from the North East. Local ethnic Chhattisgarhi comprises Kurmi, Swarnkar, Teli, Koshta and Satnami communities. The city is also inhabited by the trading communities like Baniyas, Agarwals, Jains, Gujaratis, and Marwaris. Due to close proximity with Orissa there is large numbers of Oriya and Kosali speaking population found in the city as well as in the state. The city is also home to an immigrant population that includes Sindhis and the Sikhs. It also has a sizable Bengali, Telugu, Malayalee and Maharashtrian population. Majority of the population in Raipur is Hindu. Muslims and Christians are minorities. Muslims primarily reside in such areas as Moudhapara (occupied by the immigrants from UP and Bihar), Baijnathpara, Chota Para, Momin Para (Shia Islam community) and Byron Bazaar (which is named after a Briton who is supposed to have formed the place; Byron Bazar was once mostly inhabited by the Muslims from the "Madras Paltan" i.e. those serving in the British Army (Madras Regiment), and had occupied Byron Bazaar as a result of their regiment getting disbanded). The Christian population is scattered around the city. This city is also populated by the people of Gond community.

Geography and Climate[link]

Geography[link]

Raipur is located near the centre of a large plain, sometimes referred as the "rice bowl of India", where hundreds of varieties of rice are grown.^[3] The Mahanadi River flows to the east of the city of Raipur, and the southern side has dense forests. The Maikal Hills rise on the north-west of Raipur; on the north, the land rises and merges with the Chota Nagpur Plateau, which extends north-east across Jharkhand state. On the south of Raipur lies the Deccan Plateau.

Climate[link]

Raipur has a tropical wet and dry climate, temperatures remain moderate throughout the year, except from March to June, which can be extremely hot.The temperature in April–May sometimes rises above 48 °C (118 °F).These summer months also have dry and hot winds. The city receives about 1,300 millimetres (51 in) of rain, mostly in the monsoon season from late June to early October. Winters last from November to January and are mild, although lows can fall to 5 °C (41 °F).

Transport[link]

Raipur Railway Station Entrance

Railways[link]

Raipur is situated on the Mumbai-Howrah route of the Indian Railways (via Bhusawal, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Kharagpur) and is well connected with almost all major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kota, Ahmedabad, Jaipur e.t.c.A branch line from Raipur to Vizianagaram via Titlagarh originates from here. Also there is a narrow gauge line connecting Raipur to Rajim and Dhamtari via Abhanpur. This narrow gauge line is being converted into broad gauge line and realigned to serve the city of Naya Raipur as well.

The main railway station Raipur Junction is situated near the heart of the city. There are 8 small railway stations for local/passenger trains in other parts of the city. These are

• W.R.S. Colony Railway Satation
• Urkura Railway Station
• Mandhar Railway Station
• Saraswati Railway Satation (National Institute of Technology Raipur Campus),
• Sarona Railway Station
• Mandir Hasaud Railway Station
• Telibandha Terminal (Narrow Gauge)
• Mana (Narrow Gauge)

Roads[link]

National Highways connecting Raipur to various cities are as under^[5]:

Airport[link]

Raipur Airport old terminal building

Swami Vivekananda Airport is the city's airport located 15 km away from the center. A Four Lane road is proposed on V.I.P. road which will connect airport to city more efficiently. The New Airport Terminal is proposed to avoid crowd hassal in old mana airport. The airport has seen a surge in traffic post after 2006 and presently connects Raipur to most of the major airports of India & operates 38 flights Daily. Raipur Airport is the second most busiest airport in central India after Nagpur.

Local Transport[link]

A City bus service is provided by Raipur City Bus Limited (RCBL) for the intra-city travel. Raipur Municipal Corporation launched the Raipur City Bus service on 25 Feb 2008. The company runs 40 buses out of which 32 are low floor Tata Starbus. Paratransit modes in the form of auto-rickshaws and tuk-tuk are available all over the city.

A Metro Train is proposed for an 86 km metro line from Naya Raipur-Raipur-Bhilai-Durg-Rajnandgaon in the Budget 2012-13. Almost 10,000 people commute per day from Raipur to Rajnandgaon. But the general public thinks that metro should be introduced on Raipur-Bilaspur route because the traffic pressure is higher than the Raipur-Rajnandgaon. But because of natural resource and blocks, the Raipur-Rajnandgaon route was an easier and cheaper option for the government.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs.18000 crores and project would be completed with the help of Central and State Government.

Economy[link]

Historically, when Raipur was a part of Madhya Pradesh, it was the second major commercial centre in Madhya Pradesh after Indore. Traditionally, Raipur's economy has been based on agricultural-processing and saw-milling. The city is located centrally in the state of Chhattisgarh, and now serves as a regional hub for trade and commerce for a variety of local agricultural and forest products.

The traditional face of city has changed with Raipur becoming an important regional commercial and industrial destination for the coal, power, steel and aluminium industries. Raipur is Largest market of Steel in India. Raipur is among the richest cities and India’s biggest iron market; there are about 200 steel rolling mills, 195 sponge iron plants, more than 6 steel plants, 500 agro-industries and more than 35 ferro-alloy plants. There are more than 800 rice milling plants, and all major and local cement manufacturing companies have a presence in the city. Raipur also has many big chemical plants like Prachi Resins Pvt. Ltd, which produces formalin and is distributed throughout the country.

Education[link]

Raipur is well known as a hub for education in the region as number of institutes of national repute have come up.

Primary and secondary education[link]

There are many Government & Private schools in Raipur. Some prominent government schools of raipur are:

• Kendriya Vidyalaya no.1, W.R.S. Colony
• Kendriya Vidyalaya no.2, P.t.R.S.University Campus
• J.R. Dani Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School
• Govt. Hindu High School
• P.G. Umathe Govt. Girls School
• Kalibadi Govt. School
• Govt. Multipurpose High School

Other notable private schools include:

• Holy Hearts Educational Academy
• Brighton International School, Raipur
• Kaanger Valley Academy
• Salem English School
• Rajkumar College, Raipur
• Gyan Ganga Educational academy
• DPS, Raipur
• Holy Cross Senior Secondary School Kapa
• Holy Cross School, Byron Bazaar
• Krishna Public School, Raipur
• Shishu Niketan Hr. Sec. School
• N.H.Goel World School
• Mintu Public International School
• Indus World School
• Holy Cross School, Pension Bada, Raipur
• St.Vincent Pallotti College
• St. Xavier's High School,Raipur
• Raipur Convent Hr.Sec School,Gudhiyari
• Raipur Convent Hr.Sec School,Khamtarai
• Raipur Convent Hr.Sec School,New Rajendra Nagar
• Desh Bandhu School,Raipur
• Adarsh Vidyalaya,Raipur
• Shri Balaji Vidya Mandir,Devendra Nagar Raipur
• Radiant Public School,Raipur
• holy cross h.s. school,pension bada

Universities and deemed universities[link]

• Indian Institute of Management Raipur
• National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur

Administrative Building of Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India

• Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University
• Hidayatullah National Law University
• Indian Institute of Hotel Management
• Indira Gandhi Agricultural University
• Kushabhau Thakre Patrakarita Avam Jansanchar University
• C.G. Aayush State Medical University
• Govt Nagarajun PG Science college raipur

Architecture colleges[link]

• Dignity College of Architecture

Engineering colleges[link]

• Kruti Institute of Techonology & Engineering(KITE)
• Raipur Institute of Technology
• New Government Engineering College, Raipur
• Disha institute of management and technology(DIMAT)
• Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Professional Management and Technology, Raipur (SSIPMT)
• Pragati College of Engineering and Management
• Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institutions, Raipur
• Bhilai Institute of Technology, Raipur
• MM College of Technology, Raipur(MMCT)
• Parthivi College of Engineering and Management, Raipur
• Columbia Institute Of Engineering And Technology
• Vindhya Institute of Techonology
• Rungta Institute of Techonology & Management
• Central college of Engineering and Management, kabir nagar,Raipur
• Professional institute of engineering and technology,raipur.

Medical Colleges[link]

• Pt Jawaharlala Nehru Medical College, Raipur
• Governmenet Ayurvedic Medical College
• Government Homeopathic College
• Government dental college,raipur
• Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel all India institute of medical sciences(under construction)

Some prominet religious places[link]

• Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple
• Dudhadhari Montesary and Temple
• Mahamaya Temple
• Banjaari Mata Dham
• KaliBadi
• St Paul Church
• Sadani Darbar
• St Joseph Cathedral
• Jagannath temple,gayatri nagar
• Baba budhasahib Gurudwara,opp telibandha lake

Media[link]

News Channels[link]

Many local news channels are Broadcasted from Raipur in Hindi :

Newspaper[link]

Many national and local newspapers are published from Raipur both in Hindi and English:

• The Pioneer English Language

Radio[link]

Raipur has 6 Radio stations & from the beginning Radio Mirchi is leading the private FM Radio space :

Entertainment[link]

Shopping malls[link]

Attractions in the city[link]

• Mahant Ghasidas Museum - It was built in 1875 by Raja Mahant Ghasidas, King of erstwhile Rajnandgaon state.
• Guru Tegh Bahadur Museum - It was built in honour of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur situated near Ghasidas museum.
• Sushilpikangan - The Art Gallery:Gallery of Chhatisgar / Bastar art where you can find Dhokra arts with finest workmanship.
• Shabari handicrafts emporium and Chhattisgarh Haat - These are famous for uplifting the local artist and craftsman.
• Mahakoshal Kala Parishad - This is a historic place for the exhibit of arts and paintings.
• Purkhauti Muktangan Museum - This is being developed by Government of Chhattisgarh, Culture Department under Ministry of Tourism.It is spread over 18 hectares exhibiting entire Natural Resources with existing infrastructures, industries, places of tourists attraction, etc. including the VISION 2020
• Vivekananda Sarovar (Burha Talab) - It is a very old lake which is as old as the city. A 37 ft high statue of Swami Vivekananda has been build in between the lake.This statue has been added in Limca Book of Records for being the 'largest model for a statue'. The lake has color-light fountains^[7]
• Nandanvan - It is a mini zoo in the western fringes of the city on the banks of river Kharoon
• Nagar Ghadi (City Clock Tower) - It is a clock tower situated in one of the busiests squares of the city. This clock plays a different local folk tune every hour(24 tunes in a day).
• Gaurav path (The pride way) - This is a stretch of G.E road within the city which has been decorated with beautiful sculpture and plantation on both sides.
• Rajiv Smriti Van and Urja Park (Energy Park)- This is a theme park built in the memory of Rajiv Gandhi.The unique feature here is that everything runs on solar energy.
• Shaheed Smarak Bhavan- A huge and beautiful building with an art gallery and an auditorium dedicated to the freedom fighters of India
• MM Funcity - A water cum amusement park in the eastern outskirts of the city .
• Water World Resort - A water park on the banks of river kharoon in the south-western part of the city.
• Raipur Municipal Corporation Building (White House) - The new building of the Raipur Municipal Corporation is a latest attraction in the city. It a 7 storeyed building built with a mix of ancient and modern architecture. The building is illuminated in blue light at night.
• Mahavir Park (Anupam Garden) - This is the most beautiful park in the city with illuminated trees and fountains. It also has a battle tank provided by Indian Army for display.
• 5D shows - Raipur is one of the few cities in India which have three 5D theatres. These are located in Magneto Mall, City Mall 36 and CG City Centre

• 

  Mahant Ghasidas Museum

• 

  Purkhauti Muktangan

• 

  Vivekananda Sarovar(Burha Talab)

• 

  Nagar Ghadi at night

• 

  Sculpture at Gaurav Path

• 

  A musical fountain at Urja Park run by solar energy

• 

  Raipur Municipal Corporation Building

• 

  Mahavir Park (Anupam Garden) at night

Notable people associated with Raipur[link]

The building in Raipur where Swami Vivekanand lived for 2 years

• Swami Vivekananda spent 2 years of his teenage in Raipur from 1877 till 1879 when his father was transferred here.^[8]
• Ravishankar Shukla,the 1st Chief Minister of the state of Madhya Pradesh,spent his childhood and was educated in Raipur.
• Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah, former Chief Justice of India and acting President of India, received his primary education at the Government High School of Raipur till 1922.
• Osho started his teaching career as a lecturer in Raipur Sanskrit College in 1957.^[9]
• Habib Tanvir, noted theatre artist and playwright, was born in Raipur in 1923.
• K. S. Sudarshan,the former chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, was born in Raipur in 1931.
• Vidya Charan Shukla,former Union Minister and 9 times parliamentarian, was born in Raipur and still lives in Raipur.
• Harshad Mehta, the infamous stock broker, spent his childhood in Raipur after his parents shifted here from Mumbai. He received his education from Holy Cross English School, Byron Bazar.^{[citation needed]}
• Lucky Ali, noted Bollywood singer/composer/actor did a part of his schooling from Rajkumar College, Raipur^[10]

See also[link]

• Naya Raipur
• Swami Vivekananda Airport

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Raipur

• Raipur District Administration
• DPR Raipur District

Dr. Raman Singh
Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 December 2003
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Ajit Jogi
Constituency	Rajnandgaon
Union Minister of State Commerce and Industry
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 December 1999
Personal details
Born	(1952-10-15) 15 October 1952 (age 59) Kawardha, Chhattisgarh
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)	Veena Singh
Children	Abhishek Singh, Asmita Singh
Residence	Civil Lines, Raipur [Cg.] 492001
As of January 2, 2011 Source: Government of Chhatisgarh

Raman Singh (born 15 October 1952) is an Indian politician who as of March 2012^[update] is the Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh and has been so since 7 December 2003. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Background[link]

Raman Singh was born on 15 October 1952. He comes from a farming family, his father being Vighnaharan Singh Thakur and his mother, Sudha Singh. He is a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine and is married to Veena Singh.^[1]

Political career[link]

Singh joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh as a youth member and progressed to become a councilor.^{[citation needed]}

He was elected to Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1990 and 1998. In 1999 he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Rajnandgaon constituency in Chhattisgarh. In the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Singh became the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. He was later named as President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the new state of Chhattisgarh, and led the party to a victory in the 2003 state Assembly elections. With the other main contender for the Chief Minister's post, Dilip Singh Judeo, caught in the midst of a scam, the BJP leadership named Raman Singh as Chattisgarh's second Chief Minister, and the first person to be elected to that post.^[1]

He has received praised for his organisational abilities, as reflected in his state's position with regard to implementation of a programme to improve the conditions of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. The United Nations has also recognised the work done in Chhattisgarh under his leadership and the fiscal management of the state is another aspect for which he is known.^[1]

He banned naxalite organisations in Chattisgarh in 2005 under the "Salwa Judum" initiative, a move supported by the opposition party as well, led by Mahendra Karma. In the state of Chhatisgarh, he is known as 'Mr Clean', for the monumental reduction in corruption while implementing government scheme and plans during his tenure. This image helped him to regain the power in the state in the Assembly elections held in December 2008. Singh was sworn in for his second term on December 12, 2008.^[2]

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Hindu - Governor invites Raman Singh
• Dr Raman Singh official website
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Profile

v t e Current Chief Ministers of Indian states (list)     Andhra Pradesh: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy Arunachal Pradesh: Nabam Tuki Assam: Tarun Gogoi Bihar: Nitish Kumar Chhattisgarh: Raman Singh Goa: Manohar Parrikar Gujarat: Narendra Modi Haryana: Bhupinder Singh Hooda Himachal Pradesh: Prem Kumar Dhumal Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah Jharkhand: Arjun Munda Karnataka: D. V. Sadananda Gowda Kerala: Oommen Chandy Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chauhan Maharashtra: Prithviraj Chavan Manipur: Okram Ibobi Singh Meghalaya: Mukul Sangma Mizoram: Pu Lalthanhawla Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio Orissa: Naveen Patnaik Punjab: Parkash Singh Badal Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot Sikkim: Pawan Kumar Chamling Tamil Nadu: Jayalalithaa Tripura: Manik Sarkar Uttar Pradesh: Akhilesh Yadav Uttarakhand: Vijay Bahuguna West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee Delhi: Sheila Dikshit Pondicherry: N. Rangaswamy

Kareena Kapoor
Kapoor at the launch of Gitanjali Group's jewellery collection, "Parineeta", June 2010
Born	(1980-09-21) 21 September 1980 (age 31) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Film actress, Model
Years active	2000–present
Partner	Saif Ali Khan (2007–present)
Signature
Website
www.kareenakapoor.me

Kareena Kapoor (pronounced [kəˈriːnaː kəˈpuːr]; born on 21 September 1980),^[1] often informally referred to as Bebo,^[2] is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career, Kapoor has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres; these include her work from contemporary romantic dramas to comedies, period films to major Bollywood productions, as well as less publicised independent films.^[3][4]

Born into a family where her parents, Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and elder sister Karisma were actors, Kapoor faced the media spotlight from a very young age, but did not make her acting debut until the 2000 film Refugee. Her melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... became India's highest-grossing film in the overseas market in 2001, and is one of her biggest commercial successes to date.^[5] After receiving negative reviews for a series of repetitive roles, Kapoor accepted more demanding parts in order to avoid being typecast,^[6] and was consequently recognized by critics for displaying greater versatility as an actress.^[7][8] Her portrayal of a sex worker in Chameli (2004) proved to be the turning point in her career and she was later noted for her performances in the critically acclaimed projects Dev (2004) and Omkara (2006).^[6] She went on to play the lead female role in the Imtiaz Ali-directed romantic comedy Jab We Met (2007), for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, and the drama 3 Idiots (2009), which became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time.^[9]

Inspired by Bollywood actresses like Nargis and Meena Kumari, as well as her sister Karisma, Kapoor is well-recognized for her fashion style and her film roles, both of which have contributed in making her a style icon for young girls and women.^[10] Her contributions to the film industry have garnered her numerous achievements including six Filmfare Awards, among nine nominations,^[11] making her a leading actress of Hindi cinema.^[3][8] In addition to film acting, Kapoor is a regular stage performer and has launched her own clothing line in association with being the former brand ambassador for the retail chain Globus. Her off-screen life, including her relationship with actor Saif Ali Khan, is the subject of wide media coverage in India.^[7][12]

Early life and background[link]

Born in Mumbai, India, on 21 September 1980, into the Kapoor film family, Kapoor is the younger daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita (née Shivdasani); her elder sister Karisma, is also an actress. Often informally referred to as Bebo,^[2] she is the granddaughter of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor and niece of actor Rishi Kapoor.^[1] According to Kapoor, the name "Kareena" was derived from the book Anna Karenina, which her mother read while she was pregnant with her.^[13] She is of Punjabi descent from her father's side^[14] and on her mother's side she is Sindhi.^[15]

As a child, she had strong aspirations to become an actress, and was particularly inspired by watching the films of Bollywood actresses Nargis and Meena Kumari.^[16] Kapoor, who describes herself as a "very naughty [and] spoilt child", would regularly dress up in her mother's clothes and perform in front of the mirror.^[17] Despite her family background, her father disapproved of women entering the acting profession because he believed it conflicted with the traditional maternal duties and responsibility of women in the family.^[10] This led to a conflict between her parents and resulted in Kapoor's mother leaving the house with her daughters.^[18] After her parents' separation, she was raised in Lokhandwala by her mother, who worked several jobs to support her daughters until Karisma debuted as an actress in 1991.^[19] In an interview with Vir Sanghvi, Kapoor said that growing up in a household filled with women helped her become strong and independent.^[17] Following her parents' reconciliation in October 2007,^[18] Kapoor explained that they "were never officially divorced ... [but] ... liv[ed] separately."^[19] Asked about the relationship she shared with her father, Kapoor remarked, "My father is ... an important factor in my life. [Al]though we did not see him often in our initial years, we are a family now."^[19]

Kapoor attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai before progressing to Welham Girls Boarding School in Dehradun.^[16] She later recalled, "I learnt so much from being at Welham", and described her experience there as "one of the finest parts of my life".^[17] According to Kapoor, she was a good student and received first-class honours in all subjects except mathematics.^[17] Upon graduating from the boarding school, she studied commerce for two years at Mithibai College in Vile Parle, Mumbai, but later confessed that she only studied there because she was close to her family.^[16] Kapoor then registered for a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard University in the United States.^[16] She later developed an interest in law and enrolled at the Government Law College in Churchgate; during this period she became immersed in law books and developed a long-lasting passion for reading.^[16] However, after completing one year at Churchgate, Kapoor realized that she was not inclined towards academics and returned to her initial plan to become an actress.^[17][20] She began training at an acting institute in Andheri, mentored by Kishore Namit Kapoor, a member of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).^[21]

Acting career[link]

2000–03: Debut and breakthrough[link]

Kapoor was initially scheduled to make her debut in Rakesh Roshan's Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000), opposite the director's son Hrithik Roshan.^[16] Several days into the filming, however, she abandoned the project and later explained that, "it was probably destined that I was not to be in the film. After all, it was a launch for his son. The whole focus was on the boy. Now I am glad I did not do the movie."^[16]

She made her debut later that year in J.P. Dutta's war drama Refugee, alongside Abhishek Bachchan. Set during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, the film centers on a man known simply as "Refugee", who illegally transports civilians back and forth across the Indo-Pakistani border. Kapoor portrayed Naaz, a Bangladeshi girl who falls in love with Refugee while illegally migrating to Pakistan with her family. Her performance was acclaimed by critics; Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama wrote that Kapoor "has a magnetic personality, which will make the viewer fall in love with her instantly. What surprises you is the ease with which she emotes the most difficult of scenes [...] There is no denying the fact that she is a natural performer who is very camera friendly."^[22] On the experience of making her first film, she described it as "...tough ... [but] also a great learning experience."^[16] Refugee became the fifth highest-grossing film in India in 2000,^[23] and Kapoor's performance earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.^[11]

In 2001, Kapoor appeared opposite Tusshar Kapoor in the romantic drama Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, which became one of the highest earners of the year.^[24] A review in The Hindu, in regards to her performance, noted that she was "definitely the actress to watch out for, if her debut with Abhishek in Refugee and now Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai are any indication [...] Kareena shines throughout the flick, with the grace of a seasoned sizzler already."^[25] She next starred in Subhash Ghai's family drama Yaadein alongside Jackie Shroff and Hrithik Roshan. The drama centers on the character of Raj Singh Puri, a middle-class man, and his daughters' marriages. Kapoor played the part of the youngest daughter and Roshan's love interest, Isha Singh Puri. The film was met with negative reactions from reviewers and garnered poor box office returns.^[24] Kapoor then appeared in the Abbas-Mustan thriller Ajnabee. The feature was adapted from the 1992 American thriller film Consenting Adults,^[26] and was a moderate box office success in India.^[24]

Later in the year, she played the female lead in Santosh Sivan's period epic Asoka, a partly fictionalized account of the life of Ashoka the Great. It was widely screened across the United Kingdom and North America, and was also selected for screening at the Venice Film Festival and the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival.^[27] Featured opposite Shahrukh Khan who played Ashoka, Kapoor portrayed the character of Kaurwaki—a princess of Kalinga with whom Ashoka falls in love—and received her first Filmfare Best Actress nomination.^[11] While the film received generally positive reviews, Kapoor's performance received a mixed reaction from critics. Rediff.com concluded that "while a large portion of the first half is focused on the emerging romance between the runaway prince and herself and to their credit they do manage to whip up some on-screen chemistry, I am still unsure as to her acting abilities."^[28] Meanwhile, David Rooney from Variety wrote, "Kapoor plays ornately tattooed Kaurwaki as a lively mix of flirtatious coquette and feisty warrior woman, kind of like J.Lo meets Michelle Yeoh."^[29]

Her final release of 2001 was Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..., a melodrama, in which she featured as part of an ensemble cast that included Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol and Hrithik Roshan. Directed by Karan Johar, the film was a major financial success and became India's second highest-grossing film of the year, as well as Kapoor's highest-grossing film up until then. It also performed well internationally and became one of the biggest Bollywood success of all time in the overseas market, earning over 1,000 million (US$19.95 million) worldwide.^[30] Kapoor's performance as "Poo", a good-natured but superficial girl, was described as "one of the main ... highlights of the film",^[31] and her portrayal earned her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination.^[11]

During 2002 and 2003, Kapoor experienced a setback in her career. She was in six films—Mujhse Dosti Karoge!, Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, Talaash: The Hunt Begins..., Khushi, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, and the four-hour war epic LOC Kargil—all of which proved critically and commercially unsuccessful in India.^[32][33] Kapoor's performances were often identified by critics as unoriginal and repetitive, with little inspiration.^[1] They expressed concern that she was becoming typecast, but these negative reviews were fundamental in motivating her to improve her integrity as an actress in subsequent years by accepting more demanding roles.^[6][34]

2004–06: Critical acclaim[link]

Following the negative period in Kapoor's career, 2004 marked the beginning of her work in more serious films, most of which would bring her critical acclaim rather than commercial success.^[6] Under the direction of Sudhir Mishra, Kapoor portrayed the role of a prostitute in Chameli. The film relates the story of a young prostitute who meets with a widowed investment banker (played by Rahul Bose), and follows the development of their relationship as they share their devastating life experiences. When Kapoor was initially offered the film, she refused it, stating that she wouldn't be comfortable playing the role.^[34] However, when the director again approached her a year later, she agreed to do the film and viewed it as an opportunity to show the range of her acting skills.^[34] To prepare for the role, she visited several of Mumbai's red-light areas at night to study the dress and mannerisms of sex workers.^[34] Upon release, the film and Kapoor's performance opened to predominantly positive reviews by critics, with the Indiatimes praising her "intuitive brilliance" and stating that she had exceeded all expectations.^[35] Another reviewer, however expressed concern that they found her portrayal unconvincing and excessively stereotypical, describing her as "sounding more like a teenager playacting than a brash, hardened streetwalker", and likening her mannerisms to that of a caricature.^[36] Nonetheless, Kapoor's portrayal of Chameli garnered her the Filmfare Special Performance Award^[11] and the film marked a significant turning point in her career as an actress.^[6]

She next co-starred in Mani Ratnam's bilingual project Yuva alongside Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Rani Mukerji and Esha Deol. The film, consisting of three chapters, tells the story of six individuals linked by a car accident. Kapoor is featured in the third chapter as Oberoi's love interest, Mira, a young witty woman. In a review published by The Times of India, film critic Subhash K Jha described her role as "fey and insubstantial", but further stated that "she turns these character traits to her own advantage to create a girl who is at once enigmatic and all-there, a bit like the film itself which is both mysterious and voluptuous".^[37] She then appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Fardeen Khan in Govind Nihalani's critically acclaimed film Dev, which revolved around the 2002 Hindu-Muslim riots in the Indian state of Gujarat.^[38] Kapoor's role was that of a Muslim victim named Aaliya, modelled after Zaheera Sheikh, a key witness in Vadodara's Best Bakery case.^[38] It earned her a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress, as well as nominations for Best Actress at various award ceremonies.^[11] Taran Adarsh commented, "Kareena Kapoor is first-rate. Sporting a deglamorized look, the actress takes a giant leap with this film. Her scene with Amitabh Bachchan (when the latter asks for witnesses to come forward) is an example of superb acting."^[39]

Shortly afterwards, she was cast for the first time as a villain in the thriller Fida. The film follows the story of an on-line robbery and the Mumbai underworld with which her character Neha Mehra becomes involved. During the filming of Fida, Kapoor entered into a relationship with actor Shahid Kapoor, whom she later described as having "a major positive influence in my life."^[40] Although the film did not succeed at the box office,^[41] Kapoor garnered positive reviews for her performance, with some critics noting a distinct progression from her earlier roles.^[42] Her subsequent releases that year included Abbas-Mustan's thriller Aitraaz and Priyadarshan's comedy Hulchul, both of which did well at the Indian box office.^[41] Following the success of her last two releases, she was cast as the protagonist in the 2005 drama Bewafaa. The feature received mostly negative reviews and Kapoor's portrayal of Anjali Sahai, an unfaithful woman, was not well-received. Nikhat Kazmi of Indiatimes believed that in an effort to become a serious actress, Kapoor was embodying a maturer, more jaded character ahead of her years in Bewafaa which appeared peculiar for a young woman of her age.^[43] She then starred in Priyadarshan's romantic drama Kyon Ki, a film that relates the love story of a mentally ill patient, played by Salman Khan, and his physician, played by Kapoor. The film was a box office failure,^[44] though Kapoor's performance was generally enjoyed by critics, with the BBC reporting that she is "[...] a pure natural when it comes to acting."^[45]

In 2006, Kapoor appeared in three films. She first starred in the thriller 36 China Town followed by the comedy Chup Chup Ke; both films performed reasonably well.^[47] She next portrayed the Shakespearean character of Desdemona in Omkara, the Hindi adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film is a tragedy of sexual jealousy set against the backdrop of the political system in Uttar Pradesh.^[48] The film premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and was also selected for screening at the Cairo International Film Festival.^[48][49] Omkara was embraced by critics and Kapoor's portrayal earned her a fourth Filmfare Award and first Screen Award;^[11] her performance was later included in the 2010 issue of the "Top 80 Iconic Performances" by Filmfare.^[46] Kapoor herself considers her role in Omkara as a "new benchmark" in her career and has made comparisons between her portrayal of Dolly and her own evolving maturity as a woman.^[50]

Following Omkara, she stopped acting for a short time, as she felt that "nothing [was] challenging enough for me to say yes".^[50] In an interview with The Times of India, Kapoor commented, "In my initial years in the industry, I pushed myself to do a lot of work because I was greedy. I did some films – which I now regret – purely for the money. Today, I want to do selective films"; she later described this period as a way of "finally getting to do the things I have always wanted to do."^[51]

[edit] 2007–present: Jab We Met and other works

Kapoor returned to film as the female protagonist Geet Dhillon, a vivacious Sikh girl with a strong zest for life, in the Imtiaz Ali directed romantic comedy Jab We Met (2007). Featured opposite Shahid Kapoor, the film relates the story of two people with contrasting personalities who meet on a train and eventually fall in love. The film was received favourably by critics and became one of the year's most successful films, with a domestic box office of 303 million (US$6.04 million).^[52] Kapoor won several awards for her performance, including her second Screen Award as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.^[11] Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN noted, "Uninhibited and spontaneous, Kareena Kapoor is the soul of this picture, its biggest strength, as she brings alive her character with not just those smart lines, but with the kind of candor actors seldom invest in their work."^[53] While shooting for Jab We Met, Kapoor and Shahid ended their three-year relationship.^[54] Asked in Mumbai Mirror about their well-publicized break-up, she stated that "I hold him in utmost regard, and I hope one day we could be good friends. He is a great guy."^[19] During this period, speculation began to surface that she was dating actor Saif Ali Khan, her co-star in the film Tashan; Khan later confirmed their relationship to the media during Manish Malhotra's grand finale show at the 2007 Lakme Fashion Week.^[54]

The following year, she co-starred alongside Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor in Vijay Krishna Acharya's action-thriller Tashan. Though a poll conducted by Bollywood Hungama named it as the most anticipated release of the year,^[55] the film eventually became a commercial and critical failure.^[7] She next provided her voice for the character of Laila, the love interest of a street dog named Romeo, in the Yash Raj Films and Walt Disney Pictures animated film Roadside Romeo. It was the second Bollywood film to receive a North American release by a Hollywood studio.^[56] In preparation for the role, Kapoor viewed several Hollywood animated films to analyse how actors delivered their dialogues.^[57] Kapoor then appeared in Rohit Shetty's comedy Golmaal Returns, the sequel to the 2006 film Golmaal: Fun Unlimited. A part of an ensemble cast that included Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi and Tusshar Kapoor, Kapoor played a distrustful wife who believed her husband to be unfaithful. The film received an ambivalent reception from critics and Kapoor herself received mixed reviews. The Indian Express believed the screenplay was unoriginal, concluding, "There is nothing particularly new about a suspicious wife keeping tabs on her husband, and there is nothing particularly new in the way Kareena plays it."^[58] Golmaal Returns was nonetheless a major financial success, with revenues of 793 million (US$15.82 million) internationally.^[30]

In 2009, Kapoor was cast as Simrita Rai opposite Akshay Kumar in Sabbir Khan's battle of the sexes comedy Kambakkht Ishq. Set in Los Angeles, California, it became the first Indian film in history to be shot within Universal Studios Hollywood, California, and featured several cameo appearances from Hollywood actors.^[59] The film earned over 840 million (US$16.76 million) worldwide, but was a critical failure.^[30] The Times of India described her performance as "a complete let-down" and further stated that "despite her haute-coutured look, micro minis [and] pencil heels, she comes across as a completely unconvincing supermodel cum surgeon."^[60] She next played the leading female role in the dramatic thriller Kurbaan, alongside Saif Ali Khan and Vivek Oberoi. The film, which marked the directorial debut of Rensil D'Silva, featured Kapoor in the role of Avantika Ahuja, a woman who is confined to house arrest after finding out that her husband is a terrorist. She described the film as "an emotionally draining experience", which did not let her disconnect from her character during shooting.^[61] Upon release, the film was critically embraced and Kapoor received her fourth Filmfare Best Actress nomination.^[11] According to Subhash K Jha, "Kurbaan belongs to Kareena Kapoor. In her most consistently-pitched performance to date she pulls out all stops to play a betrayed wife with splendid sensitivity. Kareena accommodates her radiant beauty into an utterly credible character and performance. At her best, Kareena is incomparable. She proves it in Kurbaan."^[62]

Her final release of the year was Rajkumar Hirani's drama 3 Idiots, a film loosely based on the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat.^[63] Co-starring alongside Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi, Kapoor starred as Pia, an independent-minded medical student and Khan's love interest. On acting alongside Khan, Kapoor revealed that it was "a dream come true" and further stated that her journey as an actress was "finally complete".^[64] The feature received much critical devotion and emerged as the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time, grossing 2,026 million (US$40.42 million) at the Indian box office.^[9] It also did well internationally and earned over 1,080 million (US$21.55 million), the biggest Bollywood success of all time in the overseas market.^[5][65] The Deccan Herald opined that Kapoor "brings a dollop of sunshine and feminine grace to an otherwise masculine tale. She is so spunky and spontaneous you wish there was room for more of her."^[66] During the 55th Filmfare Awards, Kapoor received another Best Actress nomination for her role.^[11]

In 2010, she appeared in the romantic comedy Milenge Milenge, a production that had been delayed since 2005.^[67] The feature garnered negative reviews and poor box office returns. Kapoor's role was small and was not well-received.^[67] She next took the supporting role of the career-oriented Shreya Arora in We Are Family, the Hindi adaptation of the 1998 Hollywood release Stepmom. Prior to working on the project, Kapoor explained that she did not want to watch the original film in an attempt to "interpret the role...in my own style". Reaction to the film was mostly lukewarm, but Kapoor's performance drew positive reviews and ultimately won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress;^[11] Priyanka Roy of The Telegraph wrote: Kapoor "breathes life and a new-found maturity into what is largely a uni-dimensional character lacking depth."^[68] At the end of the year, she reunited with director Rohit Shetty for his sequel to the 2008 release Golmaal Returns. Like its predecessor, the project was met with mixed reactions from reviewers, though became the most successful entry in the Golmaal film series, earning more than 1,000 million (US$19.95 million) domestically.^[69] For her portrayal of the tomboy Daboo, Kapoor went on to receive several Best Actress nominations at a number of award ceremonies, including Filmfare.^[11]

Kapoor received further success in 2011 by starring as the love interest of Salman Khan in the romantic drama Bodyguard, a remake of the 2010 Malayalam film of the same name. The project opened to mixed reviews upon release, though became the most popular film of the year, with a domestic total of 1,410 million (US$28.13 million). In a review published by Mint, film critic Sanjukta Sharma dismissed Kapoor's role as the "sacrificial, ornamental [and] submissive female" whilst MiD DAY referred to her as "bright", arguing that she "actually manages to bring her caricature of a role alive."^[70][71] She next appeared in Anubhav Sinha's science fiction film Ra.One, alongside Shahrukh Khan. The film, which follows the story of a London-based videogame designer who creates the strongest villain—only to later realize that it has escaped from the game, saw the use of several new visual effects never seen before in the cinematic history of Bollywood, and became the most expensive Hindi film ever produced.^[72] With revenues of over 2,000 million (US$39.9 million) worldwide, Ra.One went on to become one of the highest earners of the year and Kapoor's fourth major success in three consecutive years.^[73]

She followed it by playing the female lead in Shakun Batra's directorial debut Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012), alongside Imran Khan. Produced by Dharma Productions, the romantic comedy is set in Las Vegas and tells the story of two strangers who accidentally get married one night after getting drunk. Kapoor essayed the role of the quick-witted hairstylist Riana Braganza. In an interview with The Times of India, Kapoor explained that she was drawn to the relatable qualities of her character: "Riana knows what she is doing. Even though she does not have a house or a job, she is a positive person... very similar to the way I am."^[74] Upon release, the film was greeted with positive reviews and was an economic success, earning over 550 million (US$10.97 million) internationally. The Hollywood Reporter found her "endearingly natural" while Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com asserted that "after doing ornamental roles in films like Bodyguard and Ra.One, it is nice to see the spunky actress in her element again since Jab We Met. Though vivacious, her Riana isn't a child-woman like Geet but a free-spirited, unflappable adult armed with plucky impulses and scrumptious smile that helps Rahul come-of-age and Ek Main Au Ekk Tu worth a helping."^[75][76]

Following the completion of Sriram Raghavan's Agent Vinod, Kapoor began working on Madhur Bhandarkar's drama Heroine in November 2011.^[77] Originally the first choice for her role, she was initially not able to take on the project due to a scheduling conflict with Bodyguard and Ra.One, and was later replaced by Aishwarya Rai.^[77] Several days after production began, Rai left the film due to her pregnancy, enabling Kapoor to rejoin the film.

Off-screen work[link]

Stage performances[link]

Kapoor performing at Temptation Reloaded 2008

Kapoor has been part of several stage shows and world tours since 2002. Her first world tour, the Heartthrobs: Live in Concert, was successfully performed across the United States and Canada alongside Hrithik Roshan, Karisma Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, and Aftab Shivdasani.^[78] At the end of the year, she performed alongside several Bollywood stars at the Kings Park Stadium in Durban, South Africa, for the show Now or Never.^[79] Four years later, Kapoor took part in the Rockstars Concert world tour, along with Salman Khan, Zayed Khan, John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, Esha Deol and Mallika Sherawat. The concert was showcased in 19 cities across the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, and went on to become a success.^[80] In 2008, Kapoor participated in Shahrukh Khan's Temptation Reloaded 2008, a series of concerts showcased across several different countries. The show, which also featured Arjun Rampal, Katrina Kaif, Ganesh Hegde, Javed Ali and Anusha Dandekar, took place at the Ahoy Rotterdam venue in Rotterdam, Netherlands.^[81] Several months later, she again joined Khan, Rampal and Kaif to perform for 15,000 spectators at Dubai's Festival City Arena.^[82]

Humanitarian work[link]

During her years in the film industry, Kapoor has been involved with various humanitarian causes. In November 2003, Kapoor performed at the Marco Ricci Each One Reach One Benefit Concert, a fundraiser for the World Youth Peace Summit,^[83] while in 2005, along with other Bollywood stars, she took part in the HELP! Telethon Concert, to help raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.^[84] Later that year, she visited the desert heartland of Rajasthan to boost the morale of the jawan troops for a special Holi weekend episode on the NDTV show, Jai Jawan. The show consists of entertainers and stars visiting Indian troops in isolated regions along with the NDTV team.^[85] During her 2010 appearance at the NDTV Greenathon, Kapoor adopted the village of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh to provide them with electricity.^[86] While there, she also raised awareness on creating a greener future for the environment.^[86] Several months later, Kapoor was roped in by UNESCO and FIFA for their international campaign, 1GOAL Education for All.^[87] The project consisted of a group of individuals raising public awareness and involvement in achieving education for children. Upon joining the project, she said: "Education is a way to emancipation. It is not just freedom from poverty but also from hopelessness. Countries in Southeast Asia have a high level of poverty [...] and we should do something to help erase this. I would like to contribute in some way or other to help spread this awareness."^[88] In March 2011, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, Kapoor was appointed as the brand ambassador of the Shakti campaign, a project launched by the television company, NDTV, to help fight violence against women.^[89]

Clothing line[link]

In August 2007, Kapoor replaced actress Soha Ali Khan, when she was hired as the brand ambassador for the clothing chain Globus on a two-year contract.^[90] Vinay Nadkarni, CEO of Globus Stores Pvt Ltd, explained that in an attempt to move away from being a multi-branded retail chain to adopting a single brand strategy for its stores, the clothing chain decided to appoint a different brand ambassador for its new business ventures.^[91] On being appointed by Globus, Kapoor commented, "I am delighted to be the face of Globus [...] I look forward to spreading this new language of fashion across the nation".^[90] Since her start, it was reported that the brand had experienced a 75 percent increase in sales.^[92]

Several months later, Kapoor announced that she would be launching her own line of clothing, thus becoming the first Indian actress to do so.^[93] She said, "I will be launching my exclusive line of clothes soon and I am quite sure people will like it. My clothing line is very reflective of my personal sense of style and will have my label on it. Just like I am pretty casual about my dressing, my line will also consist of an extremely wearable yet stylish collection. I am taking out this line in association with Globus, a brand that I am also the ambassadress for".^[93] Kapoor further stated that she would also be involved in the planning and designing process of the clothing as well.^[93] Her clothing line debuted several months later in stores across India and was well-received by the public.^[94] Following the end of her contract with Globus, Kapoor expressed her desire of working with an international design house to release her clothing line internationally;^[95] she later explained that her plans had to be put on hold due to prior commitments.^[96]

In the media[link]

Kapoor and Khan at the 53rd Filmfare Awards ceremony in February 2008

Hailing from a family deeply involved in the Bollywood film industry, Kapoor faced the media spotlight from a very young age.^[16] As a child, Kapoor regularly attended award ceremonies and events with her mother Babita and sister Karisma Kapoor, and would also accompany her sister on set during filming.^[2] In an interview with Filmfare, she said that growing up in a film family helped her develop a sense of professionalism towards her work and remain grounded as a human being.^[97] Kapoor's off-screen life has been subject to wide media coverage in India with frequent press coverage of her weight and diet.^[7] She also created headlines with her much publicized breakup with Shahid Kapoor and her subsequent relationship with actor Saif Ali Khan.^[54] Often referred to as India's "Brangelina" ("Saifeena") by the press,^[98] her relationship with Khan has become one of the most reported celebrity stories in India since 2007.^[7][12] In recent years, in response to media speculation, Kapoor has developed a nonchalant relationship with the media and has gained a reputation for discussing her professional or private life with the press with no reservations.^[4][7]

As one of her most distinctive physical features, Kapoor's lips have been cited by the Indian media as her trademark.^[99] Her off-screen image has been open to much debate and criticism. While a section of the press has described her as friendly and extremely close to her family,^[2] others have described her as arrogant and vain, an image she gained after the portrayal of her snobbish character "Poo" in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001).^[6] She subsequently went on to play similar characters in her films from 2002–03, which further established her off-screen as well as her on-screen image as an actress.^[1] Prior to the release of Chameli (2004), in which she played the role of a sex worker, Kapoor stated that, "there is a certain image that people identify you with. It always follows you whichever role you play. I am trying to transgress this image and become more screen-friendly than image-friendly."^[100] Following the release of Chameli, which helped her gain a new on-screen image,^[6] Kapoor was asked about her off-screen image. During an interview, she explained that as a child she was always taught to be self-confident, a trait she says was often misunderstood by the media for her arrogance.^[101]