Overview (3)
Mini Bio (1)
Katrina Kaif is one of eight siblings, all girls, from a
mother who is a Caucasian of British Nationality, and a father who was
formerly from Kashmir, India, but who has since acquired British
citizenship. Her mother is now re-settled in Chennai (formerly known as
Madras), the Capital of the state of Tamil Nadu in India.
She
spent subsequent years in Hawaii, and then in London, Britain, She
started modeling accidentally when she was in Hawaii at the tender age
of 14, when she was approached for a jewelry campaign. Thereafter she
continued modeling in London.
Continuing to model was the reason
she got her break in a Bollywood movie 'Boom' offered by none other than
film-maker Kaizad Gustad.
She was flooded with modeling
assignments the minute she set her foot on Indian soil, especially with
her innocent expressive face, hour-glass figure, and drop-dead gorgeous
looks.
Professionally she started off as a model with
photographer Atul Kasbekar, and upon being accepted, she received offers
from LG, Cola, Fevicol, Lakme, & Veet. It was the Lakme commercial
that got her noticed. She retained Matrix as her Manager to accept work
on her behalf and at the price she deserved.
Moving to different
culture and country was not much of a culture shock for her, as she
states that no matter where you come from, the bottom line is that
everyone wants to be loved, respected, and cared for.
Despite of
her positive attitude, she had been stereotyped as "Indian" by extreme
right-wingers in Britain who made it clear that she did not quite fit-in
with their "Blonde" Caucasian culture; while on the other hand in India
itself she had been ranked as an 'outsider' very much like Sonia
Gandhi.
Unlike other artistes from foreign lands, Katrina did not
experience any difficulties in getting a visa nor of getting it
extended in India.
Although linguistically challenged, Katrina
puts on a bold face and states that other Bollywood artistes like
Sridevi, who did not know Hindi, did get offers from Bollywood
film-makers, and she is no different. She has taken Hindi and dancing
lessons to fit in with the Bollywood culture. She likes to display a
picture of her learning Kathak dancing where she used to dance 7 hours a
day non-stop.
Adorned with soft gorgeous looks, she is not
easily intimidated, but admits that she is very emotional, sensitive,
and concerned about her privacy, Almost an incurable romantic, she
prefers to wear comfortable non-revealing clothes when at home, hates to
do her hair, and above all dislikes make-up. Admitting to being lonely
in the beginning, but now has several friends who she can hang out with.
Although
her first movie 'Boom' was panned by the critics and shunned by the
audiences, two other Telugu movies 'Malliswari' and 'Pidugu' did get her
noticed. She grossed 70 Lakh Rupees for 'Malliswari' - making her top
the list of the highest paid actresses during a South Indian movie
debut.
Not done with South Indian movies, she has been signed in a Tamil movie 'Bheema' opposite National Award Winner Vikram.
She has received decent reviews for her part in "Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya", as well as a brief appearance in 'Sarkar'.
Katrina
had made Mumbai her base, didn't mind singing and dancing around trees
and as a result is now one of the biggest mega-stars, perhaps one of the
highest paid female-lead actresses in Bollywood, and a crowd-puller
whenever she makes an appearance for a live song and dance number.
- IMDb Mini Biography By:
rAjOo
Trivia (31)
Is half English and half Indian.
Indian supermodel
Has seven siblings: six sisters and one brother.
Was born in Hong Kong and then moved to Hawaii till she was about
14, then she moved to London. Presently, she lives in Mumbai.
Unlike other artistes from foreign lands, Katrina did not
experience any difficulties in getting a visa nor of getting it extended
in India.
She was discovered at age 14 as a model for a jewelry campaign.
When moving to India, she worked for photographer
Atul Kasbekar and did commercials for Fevicol, Lakme and Veet among others.
She is very particular about her clothes which she wears a bold
outfit on screen or for ads, but she feels more comfortable in
not-so-revealing clothes in personal life. And the one thing she hates
is make up.
She refuses to speak about her personal life in the media.
Besides walking the ramp for several top designers and being on
magazine covers, Katrina has also been the stunning face of Estelle
jewelery, Lakme, Pantene, Veet, Kodak cameras, L'Oreal, Samsung, LG etc.
She doesn't do ramp shows anymore.
She was chosen as the face of the year for the Lakme India Fashion Week (2005).
Her favorite Indian designers are Rina Dhaka, Tarun Tahiliani, Rocky S.
Her favorite international designers are Armani, Miu Miu, Prada, Versace.
Prefers acting over modeling.
She enjoys modeling, acting, dancing, playing chess, watching
movies, painting, resting, cooking, going to spas, going to the gym,
meeting new people, and getting together with friends.
The famous Rs. 2 lakh ($4,814) worth silver dress she flaunts in the movie
Welcome (2007) was gifted to her by
Emilio Pucci.
Voted at the No. 1 spot in FHM India's 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll.
Won Best Female Style Icon at the IIFA Awards.
Won Sabsay Favourite Heroine Award (2008).
Won the British-Indian Actor award for the Zee Cine Awards (2008).
Is the most photographed woman in India.
Is the most searched Bollywood celebrity as per Google's 2008, 2009, and 2010 data.
Is active in various charities and often visits orphanages and hospitals.
The unit of
De Dana Dan
(2009) was shooting in the Sentosa Nature Park in Singapore when a
10-year-old spotted Kaif. The boy didn't realize that there were some
production vehicles moving around the set and started running towards
the actress. While running across, he was accidentally hit by a unit
van. The boy was bruised but there was no major injury. When Kaif found
out about the incident, she immediately asked him to be brought on the
sets. She then met him, spent a lot of time and even gave him some
chocolates.
She was voted the sexiest Asian woman in the world by Eastern Eye in the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Favorite bands are Muse, Radiohead and Coldplay.
Personal Quotes (11)
It's not my style to either wear minimum clothes, to strip or to
even be comfortable with a sex-symbol label. I just want to do good work
instead of sporting such meaningless tags. Sex sells, but to a small
extent, not always. And this is what filmmakers have to accept. The
exposure has to be relevant to the film and its characters and not
forced for the sake of titillation. On the contrary, some of the
greatest Indian films have been devoid of all these sexual trappings. I
know my comfort zone in today's Indian culture and society.
Her thoughts on Bollywood accepting her, being an outsider British
girl, into Indian cinema: "I have no complaints. I think I'm especially
lucky. As you said, I've come from outside and I'm not even anywhere
closely connected. But I have absolutely no problem here. People have
been more than welcoming, even before I was ready. There was a time when
I felt that I need to take time to understand more about the industry,
the workings of it. I was doing my modeling, which I really wanted to do
at the time. So that's why even my entry into films was later than
people expected." (Stardust magazine, July 2006)
"I've been very blessed, I think, or what do you call it... mmm...
lucky to get at this stage what I have. It's not like I've come from
acting school and done work at an academy or something. I feel I've been
given a very huge chance and opportunity." (Stardust magazine, July
2006)
My Hindi was bad about three years ago. I wanted to achieve a
certain status in modeling. Through that I got confidence to get into
movies.
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya
(2005) came at the right time. I had done kathak training which apart
from teaching you about dancing also teaches you about emotions. After
that experience, I feel this year will be a much better year for me.
I think I have been very lucky so far. I have done a lot of ads
and also some films down south. People have liked me. I guess I have
found a balance.
Wait and watch. Jee Karda should be on air later this month. We
shot at 4am every day to capture the light and it was scorching. To keep
cool we would stay in shades and sip fruit juice or mint tea.
Egypt is among the most beautiful countries I have visited - the
pyramids, the temples and the landscape are absolutely exotic. I even
enjoyed the barbecue dinner on a boat on the Nile. We shot in a number
of places and I've come back with fond memories of my trip.
I unwind myself by taking off the costume and make-up as soon as
the shoot is over! And get a spa treatment. It is extremely relaxing.
Unfortunately, the kind of lifestyle and schedule we have, we hardly get
time. Not only actors, but I have seen a lot of directors and
journalists with skin problems and believe me, all that can be cured by a
spa treatment.
Salman Khan
did not help me get movie offers. What rubbish! Will any producer take a
risk of millions of rupees at the instance of any person? Everyone
knows that the film industry is highly competitive, and one gets a job
on one's talent only and not on any recommendation.
My relationship with
Salman Khan
is too personal to talk about. I take my work like any other regular
job and what I do in my personal life is no one's business. I'd rather
let my work do all the talking.
Every one has her own love life. Every one has a dream to get a
perfect life partner. But this is not so easy in real life. In fact, one
doesn't love, it happens. As far as I am concerned, I love a boy who is
linked with the film industry. However, I shall not name him. You never
know what may happen in future.
