Kareena Kapoor & Shahid Kapoor hug at IIFA 2026 press conference
Synopsis
Two decades after their much-publicised split, Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor shared a warm, unhurried hug at the IIFA 2026 press conference in Mumbai — and the internet noticed immediately. It is the second consecutive year the former couple has made headlines at an IIFA event, and it coincides with buzz around Kareena's confirmed performance at IIFA 2027 in Abu Dhabi.
Key Takeaways
Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor hugged at the IIFA 2026 press conference in Mumbai on 22 October 2026 .
A similar warm reunion between the two was also captured on video at last year's IIFA event.
The pair starred together in Fida , Chup Chup Ke , and Jab We Met during their relationship in the 2000s.
The 27th IIFA Weekend and Awards is set for 22–23 January 2027 at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi .
Hosts include Varun Dhawan , Ananya Panday , Karan Johar , and Manish Paul ; performers reportedly include Salman Khan , Kareena , and Janhvi Kapoor .
Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor, one of Bollywood's most talked-about former couples, were spotted sharing a warm hug at the IIFA 2026 press conference on Thursday, 22 October, in Mumbai. A video from the event captured the cordial reunion, drawing widespread attention online.
The Moment That Caught Everyone's Eye
In the clip, Kareena — affectionately called Bebo by fans — spots Shahid across the room and leans in to greet him with a hug and an air kiss. The two Jab We Met co-stars then exchange brief pleasantries before heading their separate ways. The moment was spontaneous and unhurried, underlining a comfort level that has surprised and delighted fans in equal measure.
Notably, this is not the first time the two have shared a public moment of warmth at IIFA. A similar clip from the previous year's edition had gone viral, showing the pair embracing and chatting on stage alongside other celebrities including Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, and filmmaker Karan Johar.
A Relationship That Defined Early 2000s Bollywood
Kareena and Shahid were one of the most high-profile pairs in Hindi cinema during the mid-2000s. Vocal about their relationship at the time, they shared screen space in several films — including Fida, Chup Chup Ke, and Jab We Met. The two reportedly parted ways just before Jab We Met went into production, making the film's on-screen chemistry all the more striking in retrospect.
Today, both have built separate family lives. Kareena is married to actor Saif Ali Khan and has two sons, while Shahid has been married to Mira Rajput since 2015 and is the father of a son and a daughter.
IIFA 2027: What to Expect
The press conference itself was held to build buzz for the 27th IIFA Weekend and Awards, scheduled for 22 and 23 January 2027 at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The event will be hosted by Varun Dhawan, Ananya Panday, Karan Johar, and Manish Paul.
Performance announcements have already created anticipation, with Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor reportedly set to take the stage. A reunion of two of Bollywood's most remembered ex-couples, seen chatting at a press conference for the very awards night where Kareena is slated to perform, adds a layer of narrative that few Bollywood observers could have scripted.
Point of View
On chat shows, and eventually on screen — and audiences have never quite let go of that story. IIFA's press machinery, knowingly or not, keeps giving that narrative fresh oxygen. The real story here may be what their easy cordiality says about how Bollywood's social culture has evolved: an industry once notorious for icy post-breakup silences now celebrates its exes getting along.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor trending today?
The two were seen sharing a warm hug at the IIFA 2026 press conference in Mumbai on 22 October 2026, with a video of the moment circulating widely online. It is the second consecutive year the former couple has shared a public moment of warmth at an IIFA event.
Were Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor in a relationship?
Yes, Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor dated during the mid-2000s and were one of Bollywood's most high-profile couples at the time. They reportedly parted ways just before filming Jab We Met, which remains one of Hindi cinema's most beloved romantic films.
When and where is IIFA 2027?
The 27th IIFA Weekend and Awards is scheduled for 22 and 23 January 2027 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The ceremony will be hosted by Varun Dhawan, Ananya Panday, Karan Johar, and Manish Paul.
Who is performing at IIFA 2027?
Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor are reportedly set to perform at IIFA 2027 in Abu Dhabi. The full performer lineup has not been officially confirmed yet.
Are Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor still friends?
Based on public appearances, including at successive IIFA press conferences, the two appear to be on cordial terms. Both have moved on — Kareena is married to Saif Ali Khan and Shahid to Mira Rajput — but they have been seen exchanging pleasantries warmly on multiple occasions.
