Kareena Kapoor on dancing to Sridevi songs: 'My mom would film me'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has long been regarded as one of Hindi cinema's most versatile performers, but long before her debut, she was an ardent fan of the legendary Sridevi — dancing to her iconic numbers at home while her mother recorded it all on a video camera. The revelation came during Kareena's appearance on Simi Garewal's celebrated chat show 'Rendezvous with Simi Garewal' in 2002.
Growing Up in a Filmy Household
During the conversation, host Simi Garewal nudged Kareena with a candid reminder: 'I believe you used to wear your mom's nightie and you used to do Sridevi numbers.' Kareena, popularly known as Bebo, laughed it off but confirmed the story, recalling how her mother Babita would stand beside her with a video camera capturing every step. 'Ohh God. Yes, and my mom used to be with me with a video camera, standing, and I remember I used to be dancing to it,' she said.
The Sridevi Songs She Loved
When Garewal pressed her on which songs specifically, Kareena mentioned a wide range from the legend's catalogue. She cited 'Icecream Khaoge' — noting it featured Jitendra — as one she particularly enjoyed. She also named 'Aap Jaisa Koi' and 'Meri Zindagi Main Aaye' as favourites. 'I used to try and be like, you know, like those old Hindi heroines, and my mom used to be with a video camera, 'Ohh no, look right, look left',' she recalled with amusement.
Mr India's 'I Love You' Was the Dream Song
Kareena singled out the 'I Love You' number from Sridevi's blockbuster 'Mr India' as her dream song from the era. The film, released in 1987, remains one of the most celebrated entries in Hindi cinema and cemented Sridevi's status as an unrivalled screen phenomenon. The anecdote paints a charming picture of how deeply Sridevi's screen presence permeated even the homes of film families.
Kareena's Own Journey in Bollywood
Kareena Kapoor made her debut with 'Refugee' in 2000 and went on to build one of the most enduring careers in contemporary Hindi cinema. Her filmography spans 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' (2001), 'Chameli' (2003), 'Jab We Met' (2007), 'Omkara' (2006), '3 Idiots' (2009), 'Bodyguard' (2011), 'Ra.One' (2011), 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' (2015), 'Udta Punjab' (2016), 'Veere Di Wedding' (2018), 'Good Newwz' (2019), 'Laal Singh Chaddha' (2022), 'Jaane Jaan' (2023), and 'Crew' (2024). The girl who once mimicked Sridevi in her mother's nightie had clearly absorbed the lessons well.