Actress Kareena Kapoor, renowned for her diverse range of roles, expressed her frustration during a press event for the trailer launch of “Jaane Jaan” in Mumbai. She discussed her desire to explore different characters but shared her disappointment that fans still associate her most with the iconic roles of Poo in “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” and Geet in “Jab We Met.”
Kareena explained, “As an actor, you want to try and do something different every time. For me, it is difficult because I’ve been known for playing Poo and Geet… This perception has become ingrained in people’s minds. So, it’s been a conscious effort on my part to seek out diverse roles. They don’t seem to remember films like Dev and Chameli from my past work. But I will continue striving to diversify my roles, even though people keep returning to Poo and Geet.”
She cited her role in Vishal Bhardwaj’s 2006 film “Omkara” as an example of her ability to portray intense characters. “I’ve taken on several intense roles in the past, but everyone seems to remember only Poo and Geet. It frustrates me, like ‘Omkara’ was an intense role,” she reminisced about her performance in the acclaimed adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
Kareena is gearing up for her debut in the world of OTT with “Jaane Jaan,” Sujoy Ghosh’s Hindi adaptation of the popular Japanese novel “Devotion of Suspect X.”
Reflecting on her OTT debut, she admitted, “I’m more nervous now than I was 20 years ago for my first film. With the promo being scrutinized on TV screens and people watching me closely on their phones, it’s a different experience. We’ve all put in a lot of effort, and Sujoy has created an incredible film. We’ve been trying to collaborate for over a decade.”
“Jaane Jaan” also features Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma, whom Kareena praised as “natural actors.” She expressed her desire to work with exceptional actors who bring freshness to the screen and from whom she can learn. “I can’t thank them enough. Sometimes in the middle of a scene, I would look at them and forget my lines. They are so natural; it was meant to be,” she added.
“Jaane Jaan” is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on Kareena’s birthday, September 21. The film is produced by 12th Street Entertainment, Northern Lights Films in association with Kross Pictures and Balaji Motion Pictures.