Karishma Kapoor talked about her family’s legacy, how she started her film career, and some stand-out memories of her working life, at a four day film festival in Mumbai. Read on for some insights into her professional and personal life
How it began
“I was just 16 or 17 when I first stood in front of a camera on the sets of a film. I had spent just two months in college. There was no Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, we had to really work hard to reach the masses not only in the cities, but in the interiors of India. It was a gradual journey of learning. I was doing a bit of both commercial movies and in-depth cinema. It was a gradual growth.”
The importance of being open to learning
“I got a great opportunity to work with Shyam Benegalji. He was like a teacher to me. He would ask me to forget everything, and come to him with a ‘clean slate.’ I wanted to learn. As an actor, it’s important that you don’t take yourself too seriously, and you’re willing to learn. Even today, I learnt a lot from Zubeda, putting the real-life character on reel. The last biopic I did was 20 years ago, when it was considered an art film.”
The privilege of inherited talent
“I come from a family deeply involved in the film industry, with my grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins all working in cinema. I have cherished memories of visiting RK studios to watch my grandfather in action, particularly during the shooting of Ram Teri Ganga Mailee. This exposure fueled my passion for films, and my motivation has always been to contribute to our family legacy because I genuinely love my craft. I am grateful to my audiences for allowing me to display my talent.”
No bed of roses
“While growing up, I actively engaged in elocutions, debates, plays, and had a strong passion for dancing. My choice of a career in cinema faced challenges, with comments about my appearance and doubts about my ability to emote. However, my grandfather’s words remained with me: ‘It’s not easy. You’ll have to work hard. Success in cinema is determined by the audience, not your family background.’”
Busting a myth
“I would like to clear the air about the myth being propagated for decades that women in our family are not allowed to take up this profession. Shammi uncle’s wife Geeta Baliji and Shashi uncle’s wife Jenniferji worked out of choice even after marriage and children. Other women in the family – my mom [Babita] and aunt [Neetu] chose not to work, preferring to be homemakers. But there was never a rule that the girls of our family can’t work.”
Her career trajectory
“In the ‘90s, I had a hectic schedule with multiple shifts daily. The era was different, filled with passionate, instinct-driven movie-making. While I miss that time, I appreciate today’s more professional approach.”
Dealing with public opinion
“This was tough. Lyrics were changed in my song Sexy sexy... to Baby Baby. At 19, I agonized over this, trying to prove myself as a good dancer. I would cry and consider going back to college, but with my family’s support, I accepted the criticism.”
Working hard at comedy
“Comedy is challenging, and I learned a lot from stars like Sridevi, Govinda, and director David Dhawan. Salman Khan teased me on set, and we had great chemistry. Shahrukh Khan’s support in Dil To Pagal Hai was invaluable.”
Working with Govinda, Salman and SRK
“Govinda is calm off-screen but comedic on it. Salman Khan added humour to every shot, and Shahrukh Khan supported me in a challenging scene for Dil To Pagal Hai, even during unexpected rain in Germany”.
