Karisma Kapoor reflects on Bollywood shift, family priorities ahead of comeback

Indian actor opens up about industry’s evolving work culture, her demanding early career and importance of family

Indian actor Karisma Kapoor is set to return to the screen with her upcoming OTT series Brown, a gritty new drama that marks a sharp departure from her glamorous 1990s image.

In a recent interview with an Indian magazine, Karisma spoke about the project, her career trajectory, the importance of family, and the evolution of Bollywood over the past three decades. Reflecting on how the industry has become more structured, she described the shift as a positive development.

“Back then, we worked on gut instinct, passion, and belief. There are so many films I’ve done that had no script or written scenes. You would go to the set, and it would all be developed on set within minutes,” she said.

 

 

 

 

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Recalling her experience working with directors like David Dhawan, she added that instructions were often simple and direct: “'Faad do’ (kill it), and we would immediately understand what was expected.”

Speaking about Haseena Maan Jaayegi, she revealed that much of her performance was improvised. Karisma fondly recalled her co-stars Govinda, Paresh Rawal, Kader Khan, and Shakti Kapoor, describing them as a close-knit “gang”.

“We’d be working together on a different film every day. There was a great comic synergy between us, almost like a theatre troupe,” she said, adding that the camaraderie made her feel as though she had known them for years.

Reflecting on the demanding schedules of that era, Karisma noted that she sometimes worked up to four shifts a day — three in Mumbai and one overnight in Hyderabad.

“I’ve grown up in this industry; I’ve been working since I was 16 or 17. It has always been about taking one step at a time and learning along the way,” she said, describing her journey as a continuous process of growth.

 

 

 

 

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Contrasting the past with the present, she added, “Today, I am quite clear about the balance I need between work and family, and I believe in it deeply.”

Emphasising her priorities, Karisma said, “Family is the most important thing for us. Family time is the most essential thing for us.” She added that her family remains her biggest support system, especially her sister, Kareena Kapoor. “That unconditional love and support has always been there and always will be,” she said, noting that the encouragement goes both ways.

Speaking about her latest series, she said, “I think Brown is a step above in a different way, because I don’t think there’s been such a raw character.” She added that the role stood in stark contrast to her established screen image. She said she was drawn to the character’s complexity, describing it as unlike anything she had done before.

“It’s completely opposite to Karisma Kapoor. Everything about her was the opposite of me. She was so bare, so raw,” she said, explaining that the role challenged her in ways few others had and ultimately made the project impossible to refuse.