Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor addressed a popular misconception about her family during an event in Mumbai.
“I think it is a myth that Kapoor bahus [daughters-in-law] do not work. Whether it is my mother [Babita, wife of Randhir Kapoor] or Neetu [Rishi Kapoor’s wife] aunty, they made a choice of not working after marriage and having children,” she said.
“On the other hand, Jennifer [Kendal, wife of Shashi Kapoor] aunty and Geeta [Bali, first wife of Shammi Kapoor] aunty worked throughout, even after marriage. So we all practised our choice,” said Karishma at The India Today Conclave 2018 on Saturday.
Her sister Kareena Kapoor Khan said: “Also, I think our parents were very cosmopolitan. They did not stop us from doing what we wanted to. My father was very supportive. Though he did not recommend us to any producer, he always encouraged us to fly.”
Remembering their childhood, Karisma said: “Every weekend when we used to go to Chembur to meet our grandparents, by crossing our R.K. Studio, we used to get fascinated seeing how many talented people are there in our family, bringing out some of the fine films. We always wanted to be a part of this journey and contribute to our cinema.”
Kareena said she was obsessed with actresses Madhuri Dixit and the late Sridevi.
“I used to perform on their dance numbers in front of the mirror a thousand times as a child,” she said.
Remembering Sridevi, Karisma said: “When we got to know about Sridevi’s demise, we were in grief and that was obvious. We idolised that icon for decades and all of a sudden she is no more. I think we all know this for a fact that stardom is not forever, it goes away.”
Asked about their favourite Sridevi movie, they both said it was Khuda Gawah, which they watched eight times in the cinema.
At the conclave, Kareena also spoke about her son Taimur and his popularity on the internet.
In a conversation with journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, she was asked about the trolling on social media of her son’s name.
“Of course, there was trolling but at the same time there was an immense support from the people we were getting, not that trolls matter to us that much but it was our choice,” she said.
“The day before I was going to the hospital for delivery, I had a talk with [husband] Saif [Ali Khan] and he was suggesting to keep his name Faiz, he said, ‘Bebo, that is a more poetic, more romantic name’. I said ‘no, Taimur means iron and if I give birth to a son, my son is going to be a fighter, I will produce an iron man’. And yes, I proudly did so,” Kareena added.
Asked about the attention her son gets from paparazzi, she said: “I do not like the fact that Taimur’s every move is monitored... and people even [talk] about his hairstyle and all... I mean, he is just 14 months old.”
“I do not know how to control it now. Having said that I think he is becoming more familiar with the camera now, he looks right into the camera,” she added.
While Kareena is the grandchild of legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor, she says nepotism does not exist.
“There are so many superstars from yesteryears and not all of their children are a superstars. If nepotism exists, they would have been big stars by now,” she said.
“The fact that Ranveer Singh has become the new superstar of Bollywood who does not come from a film family proves the fact that they become superstars out of their sheer talent and hard work. Nepotism does not exist,” she said.
Karishma added: “I think it is about the talent that takes you where you go. When you are on-screen, anybody can make or break you; anyone can make a judgment on you irrespective of you are a daughter or grandchildren of someone.”
While they were countered by Sardesai that actress Kangana Ranaut said otherwise, Karishma said: “People can have their opinion and we should respect each opinion.”
