A Star Born Before She Turned 17
As Karisma Kapoor marked three and a half decades in the Hindi film industry, she opened up about the early years of her career in a candid conversation, sharing stories that most fans have never heard. Her debut film, Prem Qaidi, released just four days before her 17th birthday. She had only just left school, spent a handful of days at junior college, and then walked straight onto a film set. The impact was immediate: from that very first film, she was already a star.
Studio Lights: An Unexpected Ordeal
When Karisma reflected on those earliest days of shooting, she recalled that the intense studio lighting was one of her biggest challenges. The glare from the lights on set was so powerful that she often could not keep her eyes properly open while the cameras were rolling.
The Film She Was First Signed For
What very few people are aware of is that Prem Qaidi was never the original plan. Karisma had first been cast to make her debut in Barsaat, opposite Bobby Deol, the son of Dharmendra. However, the film ran into serious production trouble. The shooting and making of Barsaat kept stalling, with delays piling up for one reason or another and no clear end in sight. Unable to keep waiting, Karisma eventually decided to leave Barsaat behind and signed on to Prem Qaidi instead, which launched her career in 1991.
Twinkle Khanna Steps In, and the Film Becomes Her Moment
After Karisma's departure, the makers recast the female lead in Barsaat with Twinkle Khanna, the daughter of Rajesh Khanna, opposite Bobby Deol. The film finally released in 1995 to a warm audience response, with its songs going on to become major hits of that era. For Twinkle Khanna, Barsaat was the film that defined her career.
A Defining Run Through the Nineties
Karisma's own career, meanwhile, turned into one of the most impressive winning streaks in 1990s Bollywood. After Prem Qaidi, she delivered blockbuster after blockbuster: Raja Babu, Coolie No. 1, Sajan Chale Sasural, Judwaa, Hero No. 1, Biwi No. 1, Haseena Maan Jaayegi, Andaz Apna Apna, Jeet, Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai and Hum Saath Saath Hain.
Zubeidaa: The Film That Means the Most
Among all her work across 35 years, Karisma singled out Zubeidaa as one of the finest films of her career. She shared her experience of working with the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal on the project, describing it as one from which she learned enormously and which she holds closest to her heart.
