How Kareena Kapoor became the No 1 actress

Kareena Kapoor

Today, she's heralded as the numero uno star of Hindi cinema and with good reason. She's starred in some of the highest grossing films like 3 Idiots, Golmaal 3 and Bodyguard. Every filmmaker and superstar wants to repeat her. She's a top brand as far as endorsements go. She's every magazine's favourite cover girl. And it certainly doesn't hurt her to be the highest-paid actress of Bollywood.

Although fame and acclaim are fleeting, what works in Kareena's favour is that she is a genuinely gifted actress. Right from her first film, the 30-year-old justified her lineage with a spontaneous performance and luminous screen presence. Similarly her proficiency at dance and glamour, from Poo to Geet, is equally well-documented. 

A complete natural with oodles of energy, she seldom fails to deliver under deft guidance. She's had her share of mistakes though. It's hard to forgive those jarring, screeching acts in tripe like Mujhse Dosti Karoge, Khushi and 36 China Town. Except give the lady her space and she'll astonish you with her nuanced delivery, even in failed films like Asoka, Dev or Kyon Ki.