Priyanka Chopra wishes Kareena Kapoor on 46th birthday: 'There will never be anyone like you'
Synopsis
Priyanka Chopra Jonas called Kareena Kapoor Khan 'one of a kind' on her 46th birthday — a gesture made more meaningful by the pair's well-documented past rivalry on Koffee with Karan and their shared history in the 2004 thriller Aitraaz. Twenty-two years on, the warm public tribute signals a definitive thaw.
Key Takeaways
Priyanka Chopra Jonas posted a birthday tribute for Kareena Kapoor Khan on 21 September 2026 , as Kareena turned 46 .
The photograph shared by Priyanka shows Kareena in a rainbow-toned leheriya saree from the promotional campaign for her film Daayra .
Kareena drew a nostalgic parallel between her saree look and sister Karisma Kapoor's similar outfit in the 2001 film Zubeidaa .
The two actresses were once publicly perceived as rivals, trading witty barbs on Koffee with Karan ; both have since maintained there is no bad blood.
Priyanka and Kareena last shared screen space in the 2004 thriller Aitraaz , alongside Akshay Kumar .
Global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas took to social media on 21 September 2026 to extend warm birthday wishes to fellow Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan, who turned 46. Sharing a striking photograph of Kareena, Priyanka described her as one of a kind — a gesture that drew widespread attention given their once-publicised rivalry.
The Birthday Post
Priyanka posted a photograph of Kareena dressed in a vibrant, rainbow-toned leheriya saree, believed to be from the promotional campaign for Kareena's upcoming film Daayra. Alongside the image, she wrote: 'Happy Birthday @kareenakapoorkhan There will never be anyone like you.' The post quickly resonated with fans of both actresses across platforms.
A Nostalgic Style Connection
The leheriya saree look carried an added layer of nostalgia. Kareena herself later shared a collage drawing a parallel between her ensemble and a near-identical look worn by her sister, actress Karisma Kapoor, in the 2001 film Zubeidaa. Karisma had sported the iconic drape in the song 'Dheeme Dheeme Gaao' — a comparison that fans found charming and affectionate.
From Rivals to Warm Co-Stars
The birthday message carries particular cultural weight given that Priyanka and Kareena were once widely perceived as rivals in Bollywood. During early seasons of the celebrity chat show Koffee with Karan, Kareena had taken a jab at Priyanka's accent, asking, 'Where did she get that accent from?' Priyanka, appearing in a separate episode, responded with characteristic wit: 'The same place her boyfriend gets it from' — a reference to Kareena's then-boyfriend, British-educated actor Saif Ali Khan. Notably, both actresses have since maintained publicly that there is no lingering animosity between them.
Their On-Screen History
The two stars have shared screen space before, most memorably in director duo Abbas-Mustan's 2004 thriller Aitraaz, which also featured Akshay Kumar. Priyanka played the antagonist Sonia Roy, earning significant critical acclaim for her portrayal of a morally complex character — a role that helped expand her range in Hindi cinema. Kareena played Priya Malhotra, the steadfast and supportive wife of Akshay Kumar's character Raj. The film remains a reference point for both actresses' early career versatility.
As Kareena steps into her 46th year with Daayra on the horizon, the warmth between two of Bollywood's most prominent names signals how far both women — and the industry's conversation around female rivalry — have come.
Point of View
And the public pivot to warmth, sustained over years, reflects a broader shift in how female contemporaries in the industry choose to position themselves. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that Kareena's Daayra promotional cycle has made her unusually visible right now, making Priyanka's timing as much a show of solidarity as a social ritual. The real story is less about the birthday and more about how two formidable women have rewritten a tired 'rivalry' narrative on their own terms.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Priyanka Chopra's birthday wish to Kareena Kapoor grab attention?
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Kareena Kapoor Khan were once widely perceived as Bollywood rivals, having exchanged witty barbs on the chat show Koffee with Karan. Priyanka's warm tribute on Kareena's 46th birthday, calling her 'one of a kind', stood out because of that well-documented history.
What did Priyanka Chopra write for Kareena Kapoor's birthday?
Priyanka shared a photograph of Kareena in a rainbow-toned leheriya saree and wrote: 'Happy Birthday @kareenakapoorkhan There will never be anyone like you.' The photograph is believed to be from Kareena's promotional appearances for her film Daayra.
What is the connection between Kareena's leheriya saree and Karisma Kapoor?
Kareena shared a collage comparing her leheriya saree look with a near-identical outfit worn by her sister Karisma Kapoor in the 2001 film Zubeidaa, specifically in the song 'Dheeme Dheeme Gaao'. Fans noted the striking similarity as a charming family echo.
Have Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor worked together in films?
Yes, the two actresses shared screen space in the Abbas-Mustan thriller Aitraaz (2004), which also starred Akshay Kumar. Priyanka played the antagonist Sonia Roy and received critical acclaim, while Kareena played Priya Malhotra, Kumar's on-screen wife.
What was the rivalry between Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor about?
During early seasons of Koffee with Karan, Kareena questioned Priyanka's accent, and Priyanka responded with a sharp retort referencing Kareena's then-boyfriend Saif Ali Khan's British education. Both actresses have since publicly stated that there is no bad blood between them.
