Kareena Kapoor is facing criticism for resurfaced comments she made about fellow Bollywood actors Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan. This comes shortly after similar backlash against actress Mrunal Thakur for old remarks, sparking a broader conversation about holding celebrities accountable for past statements.
The controversy stems from old interviews where Kapoor Khan expressed candid, and some say "mean," opinions about her contemporaries. On social media platforms, particularly Reddit, users have shared snippets of these interviews, labeling her a "mean girl". Some have even compared her to her character "Poo" from the movie "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham," known for her sassy and at times, cutting remarks.
One of the most highlighted comments involves Salman Khan, where Kapoor Khan admitted she wasn't a fan of his acting. She stated, "I'm not at all a Salman fan. I don't like him; he's a very bad actor. I tell him that he hams all the time". In the same interview, while critiquing Salman Khan's acting, she praised Shah Rukh Khan, professing her admiration for him. "I'm totally in love with him... Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh are the only two actors I admire," she said.
Regarding Hrithik Roshan, the criticism arises from comments made about his debut film, "Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai". Kapoor Khan was initially meant to star in the film but walked out. She claimed that Rakesh Roshan, the director and Hrithik's father, focused excessively on his son, while his co-star Ameesha Patel, was not given the same attention. She reportedly said that Rakesh Roshan "spent five hours on every frame and close-up of his, whereas not even five seconds were spent on Ameesha". She also pointed out that Ameesha had "pimples and under-eye bags" in some scenes.
Further adding fuel to the fire, Kapoor Khan had also shared her views on losing the Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Devdas" to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, calling Sanjay Leela Bhansali a "confused director". She also allegedly claimed that Sridevi never had a historical hit. Additionally, she made a statement that "being fat is not sexy," which has also been resurfacing amidst the current backlash.
Social media users have reacted strongly to these resurfaced comments. Some have called out what they perceive as a pattern of disrespectful behavior, with one user stating, "I swear she has forever been mean. I don't know what's iconic about that. Being disrespectful is not cool". Others, however, have defended Kapoor Khan, attributing her candor to her personality and the era in which the interviews took place. Some fans consider her "mean behavior" as "sassy". One user commented, "Thank god she started at a time when celebrities weren't crucified for singular statements on social media".
It's worth noting that Kapoor Khan has worked with both Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan in several successful films since making these comments. She starred alongside Salman Khan in "Kyon Ki," "Mr. and Mrs. Khanna," "Bodyguard," and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan". Her films with Hrithik Roshan include "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham," "Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon," and "Yaadein".
In the past, Kareena addressed rumors of a romantic link-up with Hrithik, while he was married to Sussanne Khan, stating that there was nothing to clarify and that it was a joke. She also added that she wouldn't want another woman's curse on her head.
The current controversy raises questions about the statute of limitations on celebrity comments and whether public figures should be judged for statements made in the past, especially when those statements have the potential to be misinterpreted or taken out of context.
