Karisma Kapoor celebrates 35 years of her first film ‘Prem Qaidi’: ‘My first film released four days before my 17th birthday’ | Hindi Movie News
Thirty-five years after making his big show, Karisma Kapoor taking a trip down memory lane. The actor, who entered the industry with K. Murali Mohana Rao’s ‘Prem Qaidi’ in 1991, says it feels surreal to look back at the career he started as a teenager. Opposite Harish, Karisma was just 16 years old when she faced the camera for the first time, a role she remembers as a whirlwind transition from classes to film sets.For Karisma, there was no break between studies and practice. The actor recalls that his first film came just a few days before he was going to do something big in his life.“My first movie was released four days before my 17th birthday. So, I just finished school. I went to a small college for a few days, and then I was straight at Prem Qaidi. I also remember the mahurat shooting. Time has passed so quickly.”The early 1990s, he said, brought their own problems. The props were very different from what actors are used to today, especially when it comes to lighting equipment. The light was terrible. We struggled not to open our eyes.
Karisma Kapoor on how cinema has changed over the past three decades
After working for several years in the film industry, Karisma has seen the industry’s technology change dramatically. From celluloid film to digital cameras and from dubbing studios to sound recorders, the process of filmmaking has changed dramatically over the course of its career.One project that sticks out in his mind is Shyam Benegal’s ‘Zubeidaa’, which he describes as a game-changer both professionally and creatively. “Obviously, it was all new. Then I realized, and I think all actors would agree, that your real performance comes out when it feels right because you’re in that moment.”According to the actor, playing on the set brought a sense of stability that was difficult to replicate during post-production. “No matter how hard we try, we can’t have the same feeling in a dark AC room when we’re writing lyrics.
Unforgettable association with Shyam Benegal
Among the filmmakers who influenced her journey, Karisma holds Shyam Benegal in high esteem. The actress says that working on ‘Zubeidaa’ gave her an opportunity to learn not only about acting but also about cinema as an art.“Zubeidaa was very educated. He is an amazing director, and an amazing person.” He vividly remembers conversations with Benegal between shoots, where he shared stories about the history of Indian cinema.“I think I learned a lot about being behind the camera from what he told me.” Whenever we were free between shoots, I would ask him to tell stories and kiss other actors and actresses of other films, and he would do that. It was a lot of fun.”
Why ‘Zubeidaa’ was yes immediately
Interestingly, Benegal did not know if Karisma would be interested in one of his films, given her image as a commercial star. However, the actor says he did not hesitate.“He is my grandfather (Raj Kapoor) share the same birthday, December 14. So, I always had this strange relationship with him.” Recalling their first meeting, she says the filmmaker repeatedly checked whether she was sure she would do the job.“I remember meeting him, and he asked me, ‘Will you act in my film? I said, ‘Lord!’ I was completely honored and grateful.” He added, “He said, ‘Are you sure?’ I said, ‘No, I will, and I want to do this because at this point in my career, this is the time that I want to explore.’
Karisma Kapoor’s unprecedented debut
Before ‘Prem Qaidi’, Karisma is expected to start her career with ‘Barsaat’ opposite Bobby Deol. However, the delay in the film’s development made him look for other opportunities. Years later, Bobby Deol revealed that production delays contributed to the change in plans. “Instead, I was supposed to start with Karisma Kapoor. But the story of my film was not growing. The script was going on.”The actor also explained that what happened at the time influenced the decision. “So, Karisma was a little insecure, and I don’t blame her. So, she decided to start her career with Prem Qaidi.” While ‘Barsaat’ was released in 1995 and Twinkle Khanna As a female lead, Karisma had already established herself as one of the leading actresses in Bollywood at that time.After her debut, Karisma became one of the most sought-after actresses of the 1990s through films like ‘Raja Babu’, ‘Coolie No. 1’, ‘Saajan Chale Sasural’, ‘Judwaa’, ‘Hero No. 1’, ‘Biwi No. 1’, ‘Haseena Maan,’ Apnaz Apnaz’, ‘Apnaz Apnaye’ ‘Raja Hindustani’, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ and ‘Hum Saath-Saath Hain’.After retiring from acting after her marriage in 2003, she returned to the screen with ‘Dangerous Ishhq’ and later expanded her presence on the screen through projects like ‘Mentalhood’, ‘Murder Mubarak’ and ‘Brown’.
The career front of Karisma Kapoor
Today, Karisma says her approach to choosing projects is driven less by strategy and more by instinct. “The person I am, I work from the bottom of my heart, not from my head. If I want to do something, I would want to.Even after 35 years in the industry, his passion for acting has not changed. “I have never tested myself. I like to do things. I want to shoot the best, and then I leave it to my audience and fans.”As she celebrates 35 years since ‘Prem Qaidi’, Karisma Kapoor’s journey continues to show the evolution of Hindi cinema, spanning generations, looks and styles of storytelling while staying true to the talent that brought her to the show as a teenager.
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