“I was always meant to be an actress”: Karisma Kapoor’s throwback revelation

Karisma Kapoor's Throwback Revelation: "I Was Always Meant to Be an Actress"

Before Karisma Kapoor became a Bollywood icon in the 1990s, she broke ground simply by entering the film industry. In a rare 1990 interview, a year before her debut in "Prem Qaidi," the 16-year-old actress openly discussed shattering the Kapoor family's tradition, her first day on set, and the special encouragement she received from her legendary grandfather, Raj Kapoor.

Breaking the Family Mould

Speaking to Lehren Retro, Karisma Kapoor directly addressed the family tradition, stating, "If my father and his brother could marry heroines, why can't the women of the family work in films? It's the same thing."

At a time when daughters-in-law like Babita and Neetu Singh had given up acting after marriage, Karisma’s decision to pursue acting marked a significant turning point. She refuted the notion that Kapoor women were prohibited from appearing on screen, saying, “I don’t know why everybody is under this illusion. My father encourages me now. Even my grandfather said, ‘Lolo baby, if you become an actress, be the best — otherwise don’t.’”

Facing the Camera for the First Time

Although her debut film, "Prem Qaidi," was released in 1991, Karisma's first shooting experience took place during the filming of "Nishchay" in 1990, which was released later in 1992. She fondly recalled her first day on set, sharing, "I had waited so long to face the camera. It was so nice. I shot a short scene with Salman Khan and Reema Lagoo. Everyone, including the director, was incredibly sweet and made me feel comfortable.”

She also mentioned that she never did a screen test, making her debut feel even more personal and organic.

On the other hand, Karisma Kapoor’s previous outing was ‘Murder Mubarak’ which was directed by Homi Adajania.