Kareena Kapoor Khan is known for speaking her mind without holding back. Over the years, the Bollywood actress has made headlines for her bold statements, some of which sparked controversies. One such moment was when she indirectly slammed Mallika Sherawat during an old interview.
According to a throwback report by Filmibeat, Kareena once spoke openly about her 2003 film Chameli in an interview with journalist Syed Firdaus Ashraf. In Chameli, she played the role of a sex worker, but the film didn’t have many intimate or sensual scenes. Kareena shared how the trade people in the film industry expected more “sex appeal” in the film, given its subject.
She said, “When trade people saw Chameli, they were like, ‘Arre Chameli mein thoda sex missing tha.’ They don’t understand that in Pyaasa, Waheedaji (Waheeda Rehman) was not doing sex scenes either. I’m sorry, you cannot expect Raj Kapoor’s granddaughter to do those kinds of scenes.”
Kareena made it clear that she chose to portray her character with dignity, just like legendary actresses from the past. She compared her role to that of Waheeda Rehman in the classic 1957 film Pyaasa, emphasizing that sensuality isn’t necessary to portray such roles effectively.
However, during the same interview, the journalist reminded her of a comment made by Mallika Sherawat. Mallika had reportedly said that even Raj Kapoor, Kareena’s grandfather and a legendary filmmaker, used to sexualize women in his films.
This didn’t sit well with Kareena. She strongly defended her grandfather and took a sharp dig at Mallika Sherawat, saying, “She doesn’t realize what she is talking about. She made a laughing stock of herself. She is talking about a legend. Raj Kapoor always presented a woman gracefully and tastefully.”
Kareena was clearly upset and felt that Mallika’s statement was disrespectful toward Raj Kapoor’s legacy. She maintained that her grandfather was known for showing women in a dignified and artistic way in his films, not merely as objects of desire.
The interview didn’t stop there. Kareena also addressed the rumors that she disliked Mallika Sherawat’s film Murder, released in 2004. It was an erotic thriller that became one of the biggest hits of that year. The film’s makers had claimed that Kareena had issues with the movie.
But Kareena dismissed those claims. She said, “That was a publicity stunt from them. It was ridiculous. I saw the film and said it was nice. I just felt that there was too much overexposure.”
She clarified that while she did watch and appreciate the film, she felt it went overboard in showcasing certain scenes and that the controversy around her opinion was blown out of proportion for attention.
In conclusion, Kareena Kapoor Khan has always stood firm when it comes to her opinions—whether it’s about the roles she chooses or defending her family’s legacy. Her film Chameli is still seen as one of her finest performances, where she portrayed a complex character with grace. On the other hand, Mallika Sherawat’s Murder also made a strong mark in Bollywood, though in a very different way.
This throwback moment is a reminder of how two actresses from different schools of thought once clashed over ideas of cinema, boldness, and respect for legendary filmmakers.
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