Kapoor sisters Kareena and Karisma both made their mark in Indian cinema and delivered several blockbusters at the Box Office. However, their foray into the film industry was far from perfect. While their first movies weren’t exactly a dud, the films they rejected went on to become far bigger hits.
Bobby Deol, in a recent interview with the Indian Express, revealed how he was supposed to debut with Karisma Kapoor in Prem Qaidi, but since the scripting was still going on, and Karisma wanted to start her career early, she picked the 1991 film opposite Harish, making him her first co-star.
Why Karisma didn’t make her debut with Bobby Deol
“Actually, I was supposed to start with Karisma Kapoor. But my film’s story wasn’t getting developed. The scripting was still going on. At that point, women’s careers were such that they couldn’t work for many years. That’s changed now, thankfully. So, Karisma was a little insecure, and I don’t blame her for that. So, she decided to start her career with Prem Qaidi (1991),” Deol Jr told the portal.
While Prem Qaidi, directed by K. Murali Mohana Rao, made on the budget of ₹2.1 crore earned ₹4.8 crore at the box office, according to Koimoi. The movie recovered its cost and made profits, but Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna starrer was the 5th highest-grossing movie of that 1995, collecting ₹34 crore at the box office, according to Koimoi. However, by the time Barsaat released, Karisma had already starred in 20-22 movies, delivering several hits like Raja Babu, Coolie No.1, and Gopi Kishan. In 1995, Karisma’s Coolie No. 1 and Saajan Chale Sasural raked in huge numbers.
While Karisma made her debut at the age of 15, Bobby Deol launched in the film industry at the age of 26 years, in 1995. The two paired up for Hum To Mohabbat Karega (2000) and Aashiq (2001), a decade and a half later.
Kareena’s debut debacle
Something similar happened with Kareena Kapoor when she was signed opposite Hrithik Roshan in Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, the biggest hit of 2000, which amassed Rs 62 crore at the domestic box office, and Rs 80 crore at the worldwide box office.
While Kareena’s launch was announced with Hrithik in 1998, she was removed from the project after differences between her mother and director Rakesh Roshan. Ameesha Patel replaced Bebo within days of her ouster. While it was rumoured that Kareena backed out of the project, Patel in an interview, clarified it was Roshan’s decision.
“Actually, she (Kareena) didn’t back out. From what Rakesh ji told me, he asked her to leave the film because they were having differences,” the actress told Bollywood Bubble in a chat.
Kareena made her debut in the same year opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Refugee. While her performance received critical acclaim and she walked away with Best Debutant Award trophy that year, the movie wasn’t a huge commercial success. The JP Dutta film, made on a budget of Rs 15 crore, collected Rs 35.44 crore worldwide, according to Box Office India.
However, despite an average debut, both Karisma and Kareena carried on their Kapoor legacy with a string of blockbusters and went on to become superstars of their time.
Karisma delivered her biggest blockbuster Raja Hindustani in 1996, while Kareena’s 2015 movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan has been her career’s highest earner.