Kareena Kapoor Khan seldom plays by the rules and is certainly the poster girl for breaking stereotypes. Here are five instances when Kareena had broken the stereotypes during her first pregnancy.
In the year 2000, Kareena Kapoor had made her debut in the Hindi film industry with Refugee and in her two decades of journey, she had proved her mettle as an actor several times. Hailing from The First Family of Indian Cinema i.e., Kapoor family, granddaughter of Raj Kapoor, daughter of Randhir Kapoor and Babita, sister of Karisma Kapoor, Kareena had won millions of hearts in her 20 years in Bollywood. When Kareena had entered the film industry, she was no Ajnabee for Bollywood lovers, and with more than 60 films in her kitty, she had made us Fida over her Tashan and in no time, she had become the number one Heroine. With a career filled with Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham moments, Kareena had given nothing but Khushi to her fans with her performances and we can proudly say, Kurbaan hue Gori Tere Pyaar Me!
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Just like her sister, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor too, hadn’t fit into predefined boxes set by her family and society, and is known to break the stereotypes. Be it bringing the trend of size zero or flaunting her baby bump and post-pregnancy weight with equal pride, be it marrying the love of her life, Saif Ali Khan at the peak of her career and proving that marriage doesn’t ends a woman’s professional life or working throughout her pregnancy and soon after delivering her child; Kareena seldom plays by the rules and is certainly the poster girl for breaking stereotypes. While stereotypes stop us from venturing out of the preconceived boundaries of society, Kareena, in her journey, has inspired everyone to break out of their societal captivities. Kareena had openly addressed her relationships and break-ups and had maintained her fearless image by always brimming confidence.
Kareena Kapoor had added the surname ‘Khan’ to her name when she had walked down the aisle ‘Nawab’ style with Saif Ali Khan in 2012. Four years later, Kareena and Saif had embraced parenthood with the arrival of their son, Taimur Ali Khan. Throughout her first pregnancy and even after delivering Taimur, Kareena had shattered the stereotypical expectations that are set for a woman and being a voice with far better reach, Bebo had said and done everything that the world needed to hear and see! Here are five instances when Kareena had broken the stereotypes during her first pregnancy:
While most celeb mommies-to-be shy away from the cameras during their pregnancies, Kareena Kapoor Khan had shattered the norms and had left us floored, admired and inspired when she walked the ramp flaunting her baby bump. Sparkling her way down the runway wearing Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s olive green bridal lehenga, Kareena had become the best showstopper in the history of fashion shows. Kareena had complemented her regal bridal look with a maang teeka, her poise, confidence, pregnancy glow and beautiful smile! For walking the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week as a showstopper, Kareena had become a trend-setter in a true sense and she looked no less than a queen. Speaking about that ‘special moment’ when all she needed was pregnancy glow to inspire us, Kareena had stated in an interview to Deccan Chronicle:
“I must say it’s not one but two of us. It’s a very special moment. I have never walked for Sabyasachi before, we were not able to do a film together. But this moment is very special. It’s going to be in the history. I am actually very emotional right now. It is a moment I want everyone to cherish. I would like to say Sabyasachi is not a designer he is an artist. He creates painting. I am really honoured to wear this artist.”
In an interview with ScoopWhoop, when Kareena Kapoor Khan was asked to comment on being the first Bollywood actress to celebrate her pregnancy as a showstopper on runway and proudly flaunting her baby bump, she had remarked:
“Well, l think the fact is that I just want to do what I love doing. My work is something that I love doing. Everyone is just asking me this one question, 'Oh! how are you walking while you are pregnant' and my answer is, 'don't tell me how to walk, you expect me to just fly or lie down on a couch?' As a brand ambassador I am representing someone who believes in the philosophy of a young, working, independent woman. And it looks like I am going to make this opportunity into a historic one as this has been the first ever moment when an Indian actress actually you know walked the ramp at this stage.”
This isn’t something new in India because it is believed that a boy brings prestige to the family. Many families go to lengths to have a boy child and while procreating a male progeny is celebrated, the birth of a girl child is considered to be a burden on the family. Kareena Kapoor Khan, in 2016, had extended her support to the Global Citizen Movement, and had addressed certain questions that had bothered her back then. Being a girl child, pregnant Kareena had said that she would love to have a girl and was quoted as saying:
“Wherever I go these days there is just one question asked which I think is quite intrusive but, still I am asked both me and Saif whether it is a boy or is it a girl? Have you found out? And I am like excuse me what difference does it make. I am a girl child I would love to have a girl what is the difference. Probably I have done more for my parents than a son would. “We are still in a nation where we have been asked oh you are getting married and still going to work, oh you are having a child are you till going to work. These questions upset me. When I was asked if I would like to be part of this initiative my first reaction was as an expectant mother on this journey nothing would make me happier than being part of a movement.”
Kareena Kapoor Khan had smashed the stigma attached with a girl child and had continued:
“Not just for me or my child but for the millions of children out there. For all those people who think a girl child is considered taboo, a girl is considered not equal enough, not up to a man but you must know a woman is the only soul that has the right to carry a soul in her. That is truly something that is a joy.”
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Gone are the days when women used to stay confined during the pregnancy. In fact, nowadays women prefer working till the last days of their pregnancies while taking care of themselves and everyone around them. Exemplifying the essence of womanhood, Kareena Kapoor Khan had created her own path, and had proved that pregnancy or motherhood isn’t the end of a woman’s career. Kareena had attended B-town events, get-togethers, fashion shows, slayed the magazine covers, endorsed brands, shot for films and whatnot. Kareena had made sure that her pregnancy doesn’t hold her back in completing her professional commitments or taking up work as she wasn’t conscious about her pregnant body. Kareena had surely made the most of the most beautiful phase of her life i.e., pregnancy while she was pregnant with Taimur and had also filled it with a whole lot of inspiration for the expecting mothers.
In a 2016 interview to Grazia, Kareena Kapoor Khan had talked about choosing not to hide behind four walls or double size outfits. She had said:
"I do have a stomach and am big. But I have a child in there and I am carrying it proudly. There's nothing to sit at home and watch Netflix for. I go to work and come back; I don't want to curl up and hide."
When asked if she was worried between about the sudden shifts between the movies and motherhood, the sassy mommy-to-be had retorted:
"Who says I have got to choose?"
In an interview with BBC Asia Network to mark her 20 years in Bollywood, Kareena Kapoor Khan had recalled shooting for Koffee With Karan almost 20 days before her delivery and was quoted as saying:
“A lot of people told me that they have never seen an Indian actress pregnant. Because every Indian actress, whenever they got pregnant went into hiding. Either they went to London or America, or they never left their houses. It’s because you can’t see her fat or you can’t see her bloated. Hands swell up, face swells up. We shot Koffee With Karan in November or first week of December and I delivered Taimur 20 days later. I was actually looking my bloated best. And when I saw the episode, I looked fat, not very beautiful but I was like it is okay.”
Kareena Kapoor Khan had carried her pregnancy with utmost grace and poise. If you think maternity wears are boring, then you surely haven’t seen Kareena’s pregnancy wardrobe! Bebo had made a statement during her first pregnancy and had set trends with her amazing maternity fashion. From Philipp Plein embellished gown, an electric blue dress, off-shoulder dresses, thigh-high slit gowns, fitted maxis, flowy gowns, skirts and denims, comfy daily wears, embroidered traditional ensembles, edgy kurtas, ankle-length shrugs, flowy palazzos to easy-breezy pre-baby outfits, Kareena was surely the best dressed baby bump in B-town.
In an interview with Pinkvilla, Kareena Kapoor Khan was asked about making maternity fashion a rage and how she had managed to be on her toes during pregnancy. She had said:
"Well, I didn't set out to intentionally do that at all, I think it was all about the fact that I always wanted to be comfortable in whatever I wear and I think it just happened. It was not something that was really-really planned. I am honestly not one of those actresses who wear head to designer when I am walking out of the airport. My hair is not blow-dried, in fact, I have always tied an amboda (bun) on my head. My sister Karisma is always saying at least open your hair and I respond saying no! I probably have not washed it because I am coming back from a shoot. I am most of the time in track pants and I am not properly styled for my airport looks, but you know what I am fine."
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Taking the bar higher of being a showstopper, Kareena Kapoor Khan had once again stolen our hearts at Lakme Fashion Week. Just 45 days after delivering Taimur Ali Khan, Kareena had looked like a vision in a beautiful gold and white hand-crafted embroidered ensemble by designer, Anita Dongre. Wearing a floor-length off-white gown paired with gold jacket with embellishments, the then-newbie mommy had accentuated her look with minimal makeup. Bringing the curtains down in 2017, Kareena had said in an interview to the IANS:
“It feels amazing. It’s just been day 46 (post-delivery) and it feels great. The idea is to do what I have been always loved to do, which is work. It is a part of my DNA, it’s a part of me. It’s never going to change.”
Revealing why Saif Ali Khan hadn’t joined her for the show, Kareena Kapoor Khan had remarked:
"I am lucky that I have such an amazing husband. He is very supportive. So, whenever I am out working, he takes care of our baby."
“Kaun hai woh, jisne dobara mud ke mujhe nahi dekha? Who is he?” – We bet there is no ‘woh’ in this world, who would have dared to miss out on this aura of self-confidence. Breaking all the norms and stereotypes, Kareena Kapoor Khan created her own path, followed her own rules and exemplified the essence of womanhood. Though Kareena is a self-proclaimed ‘main apni favourite hoon’, but there’s no doubt that she is ours too. Here’s wishing a happy second pregnancy to the woman we love, Kareena!
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