Kareena Kapoor: This Heroine is 34

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who is quietly proving that there is life after marriage in Bollywood, is 33 today. Kareena had just one film this year but it was a superhit - Rohit Shetty's Singham Returns opposite Ajay Devgn. As she celebrates her special day, we take a pictorial look at her life and times.

Kareena, nicknamed as Bebo, has the acting bug embedded in her DNA. She is the granddaughter of legendary actor-director Raj Kapoor. She is the youngest daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita and sister of actress Karisma. The Kapoor family also includes several other actors - her great-grandfather Prithviraj, grand-uncles Shammi and Shashi, uncles Rishi and Rajiv, aunt-by-marriage Neetu, and cousins Ranbir and Armaan.

As children, both Kareena and Karisma dreamed of becoming actresses. However, the Kapoor women traditionally did not act. Mother Babita and aunt Neetu had both quit their acting careers after getting married. But Babita supported her daughters' cinematic dreams, leading to conflict between her and Randhir Kapoor. In the end, she won a victory in the male bastion of Bollywood's first family. Karisma became the first Kapoor actress, followed by sister Kareena.

Kareena attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai and Welham Girls Boarding School in Dehradun. She studied commerce for two years at Mithibai College in Mumbai. However, she disliked it there and studied only because she was close to her family. Kareena then registered for a three-month summer course in microcomputers at Harvard University in the United States. She later developed an interest in law and enrolled in the Government Law College in Churchgate. However, after completing one year at Churchgate, Kareena returned to her initial plan of becoming an actress.

Kareena made her debut opposite Abhishek Bachchan in J P Dutta's Refugee in 2000. Though the film wasn't a huge commercial success, it earned her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award and she was hailed by critics as an emerging star.

Next came Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001) opposite Tusshar Kapoor. The film became one of the highest earners of the year. Kareena was lauded for her performance. The same year brought with it Santosh Sivan's epic Asoka, opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Her performance received mixed reactions from critics but Kareena received her first nomination for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards.

But the crowning moment of 2001 for her was the release Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham which was a huge commercial success. Kareena's performance as "Poo" was well-received by critics and fetched her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Then came a few lean years. Kareena featured in six films in next two years - Mujhse Dosti Karoge!, Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, Talaash: The Hunt Begins, Khushi, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, and LOC Kargil - all of which were commercial failures.

But come 2004, she silenced her critics by playing a prostitute in Sudhir Mishra's Chameli. Kareena's performance was well-received and she won the Filmfare Special Performance Award that year.

Then came Govind Nihalani's critically acclaimed film Dev, which was based on the 2002 Gujarat riots. The film earned her a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance.

In 2006 came Omkara, Vishal Bhardwaj's Hindi adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello. The film saw Kareena play the desi Desdemona. Omkara premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and was also selected for screening at the Cairo International Film Festival. Kareena's performance was critically acclaimed, earning her a fourth Filmfare Award.

This was followed by the release of Jab We Met (2007). The film was received favourably by critics and became one of the year's most successful films. Kareena won several awards for her performance, including a Filmfare Best Actress Award.

In 2009, 3 Idiots co-starring Aamir Khan became the-then highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time. The movie also earned her a Filmfare Best Actress nomination.

In 2011, she had two blockbusters - RA One with Shah Rukh Khan, and Bodyguard with Salman - completing her trilogy of blockbusters with the three Khans. The RA.One song Chammak Challo featuring her became a rage and remained on airwaves for long time.

2012 was less kind to the actress. Three of her four releases were poorly received - - Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Agent Vinod opposite beau Saif Ali Khan, and what was meant to be her magnum opus, Heroine. However, the year ended on a high note with Talaash, co-starring Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji.

2013 also proved lacklustre with Satyragraha and Gori Tere Pyaar Mein.

However, Kareena returned to form in 2014 with Singham Returns. This reunited her with director Rohit Shetty and actor Ajay Devgn, with whom she had delivered blockbuster comedies in the Golmaal franchise.

Kareena has also made some memorable special song appearances. Her version of Yeh Mera Dil from Don (2006) and Fevicol Se (2012) in Dabangg 2 are considered legendary among Bollywood item numbers.

Kareena will next be seen in Badtameez Dil and Shuddhi. She will also make a cameo appearance in Diwali release Happy New Year, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.

Kareena and Saif Ali Khan began dating in 2007 and became the 'it' couple of Bollywood. They were referred to as 'Saifeena' and were Bollywood's equivalent of 'Brangelina.' Kareena and Saif were married in Mumbai on October 16, 2012.

We wish the actress a very happy birthday and a great time ahead.