Karisma Kapoor

Karisma Kapoor (born 25 June 1974) is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. Part of the Kapoor family, she is the daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita. Kapoor made her acting debut at the age of seventeen with Prem Qaidi in 1991. She subsequently featured in films including Jigar (1992), Anari (1993), Raja Babu, Suhaag (1994), Coolie No. 1, Gopi Kishan (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet (1996).

In 1996, Kapoor earned her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Raja Hindustani, her biggest commercial success, and later received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the romantic drama Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). She went on to play the leading role in the critically acclaimed projects, Fiza (2000) and Zubeidaa (2001), for which she earned the Best Actress and Best Actress (Critics) trophies at the Filmfare ceremony. Having done so, Kapoor has established herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema. She has been considered as one of the most beautiful women in Bollywood and a sex symbol.[2] Vogue states that in the past decade, Kapoor has become a nationally recognized style icon.[4] Kapoor ranked first on Box Office India's "Top 5 Actresses of 1990–1999".[5]

During her career, Kapoor has received one National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards, among six nominations. In addition to acting in films, Kapoor has played the leading role in the television series, Karishma - The Miracles of Destiny (2003) and has also featured as a talent judge for the reality shows, Nach Baliye and Hans Baliye.

Kapoor was born in Mumbai to Randhir Kapoor, an actor popular during the 1970s and 80s, and actress Babita, and was lovingly called Lolo, after a passing reference to Gina Lollobrigida, by her mother, as Babita's mother was Catholic and Hindu Sindhi.[1][6] She is the maternal granddaughter of actor Hari Shivdasani and the paternal granddaughter of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor[7] great-granddaughter of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, grandniece of actors Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, sister of actress Kareena Kapoor.[8] Her mother's cousin is classic actress Sadhana Shivdasani.[9] She is of Punjabi descent on her father's side;[10][11][12] on her mother's side she is of Sindhi[13] and British descent.[14] Kapoor studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School and later, for a few months, at Sophia College.[15]