Bollywood's Rani Hindustani turns 39

The eldest of this generation of Kapoors, Karisma, who was recently seen in a special appearance in the movie Bombay Talkies, is dazzling Bollywood all over again as she turns 39. Once Bollywood's reigning queen, Karisma quit for her family and children. However, of late her B-Town sightings are increasing and she is a regular at various events and ramp shows. We also hear that the actress is busy reading scripts. Here's a pictorial look at her journey on her 39th birthday.

The eldest of this generation of Kapoors, Karisma, who was recently seen in a special appearance in the movie Bombay Talkies, is dazzling Bollywood all over again as she turns 39. Once Bollywood's reigning queen, Karisma left it all for her family and children. However, of late her B-Town sightings are increasing and she is a regular at various events and ramp shows. We also hear that the actress is busy reading scripts. Here's a pictorial look at her journey on her 39th birthday.

Karisma was born on June 25, 1974 to actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita. She is the granddaughter of renowned actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor and the great-granddaughter of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Her younger sister Kareena Kapoor is also a very successful actress in Bollywood.
Often referred to as Lolo, Karisma studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai until grade six.
Karisma reportedly dated actor Ajay Devgn while they were shooting for the movie Jigar. She was also briefly engaged to Abhishek Bachchan, breaking up in February 2003. but the relationship did not last long.

At the peak of her career, Karisma married Delhi-based industrialist Sunjay Kapur on September 29, 2003. However, the marriage has been dogged by rumours of divorce and infidelity.
Karisma and Sunjay have two children together. Daughter Samaira was born on March 11, 2005 and son Kiaan Raj Kapoor on March 12, 2010.
Karisma made her debut in the 1991 movie Prem Qaidi with southern star Harish. The movie did average business at the box office.

She acted in a couple of flops the same year like Police Office, Jaagruti, Nishchaiy and Sapne Saajan Ke.
Her only hit in 1992 was Jigar opposite her then beau Ajay Devgn.
Karisma's first release in 1993, Anari, was a huge success. She acted opposite another southern superstar Venkatesh in the movie.

Her next few releases like Sangram and Dhanwaan were flops.
Karisma then formed a hit partnership with Govinda, appearing in movies like Raja Babu directed by David Dhawan.
Karisma appeared in a song, originally made as Sexy Sexy Sexy Mujhe Log Bolein, in the movie Khuddar. The song became a huge hit but also ran into controversy. The lyrics were later changed to Baby, Baby, Baby Mujhe Log Bolein.
In 1994, Karisma acted in Rajkumar Santoshi's comedy Andaz Apna Apna which also starred Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Raveena Tandon. The movie was a huge flop when it released, but later became a cult classic. It is now considered as one of the best comedies ever made in the history of Indian cinema.
In 1994, Karisma gave average hits like Suhaag and Gopi Kishan.
In 1995, Govinda, Karisma and David Dhawan reunited for the hit Coolie No 1.
She acted with Sunny Deol and Salman Khan in the love triangle Jeet in 1996.
The same year Karisma played the female lead in Dharmesh Darshan's Raja Hindustani opposite Aamir Khan. This movie was the turning point in Karisma's career. She went through a complete image makeover in the movie and her fans loved it.
The movie is also remembered for her famous kiss with Aamir Khan.
Raja Hindustani was the highest grossing film of 1996 and Karisma won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award for it.
In 1997, Karisma did her first Yash Chopra movie Dil To Paagal Hai, which had Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. She won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award and the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 1999, Karisma appeared in another David Dhawan hit, Biwi No 1, this time with Salman Khan.
Yet another David Dhawan movie, Haseena Maan Jayegi, also released the same year and was a huge hit.
Karisma also collaborated for the first time with the Rajshri Productions banner in ensemble film Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), which was a hit.
Her movies in the year 2000 were Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge and Chal Mere Bhai, which also did well at the box office making her the most successful actress of that time.
In 2000, she won her second Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in Khalid Mohammed's Fiza.
The very next year Karisma acted in Zubeidaa directed by Shyam Benegal and won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance.
Her performance in Shakti - The Power (2002) was highly appreciated and earned her nominations in the Best Actress category.
Karisma Kapur made a much-awaited comeback to the silver screen after a gap of nine years, with Dangerous Ishhq in 2012. The movie tanked at the box office but the actress said that she did the movie only for her two children Samaira and Kiaan Raj. She said in an interview, "I wanted to do a film that they could also see. The film had elements of fantasy, costume drama and supernatural aspects. It is something that could appeal to them."

Hope we get to see a lot of Karisma on the big screen in the year ahead.