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28 March 2024

Why Kareena needs friends like Ash, Gauri, Rani, Priyanka...

Published
By Khushi Chadda

Kareena Kapoor has always maintained she’s a star.
 
And according to starry etiquette, a few eccentricities and a whole lot of attitude latches on to a celebrity once they hit the limelight.
 
In the case of to-the-manor-born Kareena, the Bollywood actress has always remained unapologetic about her starry status and her inability to maintain any friendships within the film fraternity, even telling us earlier: “I am not here to make any friends, neither is Saif [Ali Khan].
 
“We maintain a healthy work rapport with our colleagues and that’s where it ends.”
 
The truth behind her words was put to the acid test when her wedding this week saw only a handful of celebrity types show up at her doorstep, of which half was family.
 
Kareena has also said in previous interviews that amongst stars, Amrita Arora and Malaika Arora Khan are her only friends – albeit neither really qualifies as a real actress – while director Karan Johar and designer Manish Malhotra complete this quartet of buddies.
 
But with marriage comes responsibilities, especially when the union sees Kareena wed into the royal family of the Nawabs of Pataudi.
 
Insiders say that Kareena will be closely watched in the coming few months, not just by members of the feuding extended family of Saif who are waiting to add more fuel to the fire, but also filmmakers who may be hesitating to sign the new bride on the dotted line lest she chooses matrimony over movies.
 
In such an instance, Kareena would be better equipped by surrounding herself with more friends from the film fraternity to champion her cause. And while these women may not be her future BFF, she could certainly learn a thing or two from the choices Emirates 24|7 puts forth that call for a certain inclusion on her speed dial.
 
 
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
 
It’s no secret that there isn’t any love lost between the Bachchans and the Kapoors have ever since that ill-fated engagement between Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor, which ended dramatically and mysteriously.
 
And even though Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was not a part of this equation back then, she was damned by association courtesy her marriage to Abhishek a few years ago.
 
Kareena herself didn’t make it easier, what with signing on for ‘Heroine’ after Aishwarya was dropped unceremoniously from the project for being pregnant, along with the younger actress coming out to the media to say that even ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ – Ash’s biggest hit – was offered to her first.
 
So why should Kareena befriend Ash again?
 
Probably because Aishwarya is one of the few actresses who gracefully stepped into the roll of a married star, along with being wedded into one of the biggest families of Bollywood.
 
Ash’s priority has always been family first, especially since the birth of her daughter Aaradhya, and her strong influence would probably do wonders for the brash Kareena and tame her wayward ways to adopt a stance that is more befitting of the Nawabs of Pataudi.
 
Gauri Khan
 
There are quite a few negative stories that have surfaced about Gauri Khan, or Shah Rukh Khan’s better half, in the past few years.
 
Yet, Gauri has always risen above the sniggers and whispers with grace and class that would do well for Kareena when the rumour mill churns out the first story of Saif’s alleged affair post marriage.
 
Today, Gauri demands equal respect as Shah Rukh’s wife without being an accomplished actress herself; for Kareena, Gauri’s friendship can only be favourable and beneficial.
 
Plus, let’s not forget, Gauri holds unparalleled influence over King Khan himself.
 
Rani Mukherji
 
Before critics scoff at Rani Mukherji’s fading star – who can forget the ‘Aiyyaa’ disaster of last week – for finding place on the list as Kareena’s new BFF, wait awhile.
 
It’s not Rani herself that is the important cog in the wheel, but rather her influence on a certain Mr Aditya Chopra, son of patriarch Yash Chopra.
 
In Kareena’s own words on TV show ‘Koffee With Karan’ a few years ago, when quizzed, the actress said: “Rani has Yash Chopra in her bag.”
 
Over the last few years, Rani has been insistently been linked with Aditya, the head honcho of Yash Raj Films, one of the biggest production houses in India, with a marriage on the cards slated for next year.
 
For Kareena, it would be good to have a friend that could ensure a few plum projects continue to come her way from the YRF camp, especially since a married actress’ career has historically never survived in Bollywood.
 
Chitrangda Singh
 
Yummy mummy Chitrangda Singh is the perfect example of an actress whose sex appeal is still in demand despite motherhood.

In an interview with DNA India, the actress said earlier: “I do agree that for a married actress balancing the two is not always easy unless you get a rock solid support at home, like I have.
 
“Also, instead of doing five to six films in a year like the single actresses, we probably can do only four because of the family factor, but for many of us, the priority is good work and not numbers, so it has hardly mattered whether I am married or not. I don’t think the filmmakers or audience really have the actor’s personal life in mind when they see a character on screen.”
 
Critics may agree or disagree, but Kareena certainly has a friend when weighty issues are of prime importance when the actress plans to embrace motherhood.
 
Priyanka Chopra
 
Okay, so there’s no love lost between Priyanka Chopra and Kareena. So why have her on speed dial again?
 
Probably because post marriage Kareena would need to have some fun back in her life and who better than party girl Priyanka, who is always the mistress and yet to be a blushing bride.