Happy Birthday, Karisma Kapoor: Still No 1 @44

The eldest of this generation of Kapoors, Karisma has dazzled Bollywood for years with films like Hero No 1 and Coolie No 1, among others. Commercial hits aside, Karisma is also famous for critically-acclaimed films like Fiza and Zubeidaa, where she has given truly spectacular performances. Once Bollywood's reigning queen, the actress quit showbiz for her family and children. As she turns 44, here's a pictorial look at her journey so far.

Karisma was born on June 25, 1974 to actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita. She is the granddaughter of renowned actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor and the great-granddaughter of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Her younger sister Kareena Kapoor is also a very successful actress in Bollywood. Her relatives include actors Ranbir Kapoor and Armaan Jain, brother-in-law Saif Ali Khan, uncles Rishi and Rajiv Kapoor and aunt Neetu Singh.

Nicknamed Lolo, Karisma studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. She also went to Sophia College for a while.
Karisma reportedly dated actor Ajay Devgn while they were shooting for the movie Jigar. She was also briefly engaged to Abhishek Bachchan, before breaking up in February 2003.
At the peak of her career, Karisma married Delhi-based industrialist Sunjay Kapur on September 29, 2003. However, the couple divorced in 2014.

Karisma and Sunjay have two children together. Daughter Samaira was born on March 11, 2005 and son Kiaan Raj Kapoor on March 12, 2010.

This image was posted on Instagram by therealkarismakapoor
Karisma made her debut in the 1991 movie Prem Qaidi, with southern star Harish. The movie did average business at the box office.
She acted in a couple of flops the same year like Police Office, Jaagruti, Nishchaiy and Sapne Saajan Ke.

Her only hit in 1992 was Jigar, opposite Ajay Devgn.
Karisma's first release in 1993, Anari, was a huge success. She acted opposite another southern superstar Venkatesh in the movie.
Her next few releases like Sangram (1993) and Dhanwaan (1993) were flops.

Karisma then formed a hit partnership with Govinda, appearing in movies like Raja Babu (1994) directed by David Dhawan.
Karisma appeared in a song, originally made as Sexy Sexy Sexy Mujhe Log Bolein, in the movie Khuddar (1994). The song became a huge hit but also ran into controversy. The lyrics were later changed to Baby, Baby, Baby Mujhe Log Bolein.
In 1994, Karisma acted in Rajkumar Santoshi's comedy Andaz Apna Apna, which also starred Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Raveena Tandon. The movie was a huge flop when it released, but later became a cult classic. It is now considered one of the best comedies ever made in the history of Indian cinema.
In 1994, Karisma delivered average movies like Suhaag and Gopi Kishan.
In 1995, Govinda, Karisma and David Dhawan reunited for the hit Coolie No 1.
She acted with Sunny Deol and Salman Khan in the love triangle Jeet in 1996.
The same year Karisma played the female lead in Dharmesh Darshan's Raja Hindustani, opposite Aamir Khan. This movie was the turning point in Karisma's career. She went through a complete image makeover in the movie and her fans loved it.
Raja Hindustani was the highest-grossing film of 1996 and fetched Karisma her first Filmfare Best Actress Award.
In 1997, Karisma was directed by Yash Chopra in Dil To Paagal Hai, in which she co-starred with Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. She won the Filmfare and the National Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress.
In 1999, Karisma appeared in another David Dhawan hit, Biwi No 1, this time with Salman Khan.
Yet another David Dhawan movie, Haseena Maan Jayegi, also released the same year and was a huge hit.
Karisma also collaborated for the first time with the Rajshri Productions banner in ensemble film Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), which was a hit.
Her movies in the year 2000 were Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge and Chal Mere Bhai, which also did well at the box office making her the most successful actress of that time.
In 2000, she won her second Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in Khalid Mohammed's Fiza.
The very next year Karisma acted in Zubeidaa, directed by Shyam Benegal, and won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance.
Her performance in Shakti - The Power (2002) was highly praised and earned her nominations in the Best Actress category at award shows.
Karisma made a much-awaited comeback to the silver screen after a gap of nine years, with Dangerous Ishhq in 2012. The movie tanked at the box office but the actress said that she did the movie only for her two children Samaira and Kiaan Raj. The actress said she is open to doing more films but is waiting for the right script. In 2013, Karisma also made an appearance in Bombay Talkies as herself.
This year, she will star in a cameo in Shah Rukh Khan's Zero.

This image was posted on Instagram by iamsrk
Here's wishing Karisma a very happy birthday.