Saif Ali Khan (pronounced [ˈsɛːf əˈli ˈxaːn]; born Sajid Ali Khan[1] 16 August 1970) is an Indian actor known for his work in Bollywoodfilms. He is the son of the cricket player and last titular Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan, and actress Sharmila Tagore, a great-grandniece of poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Having made his acting debut in 1992 with Yash Chopra's Parampara, Khan had his first success with the 1994 films Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Yeh Dillagi. After going through several years of decline throughout the 1990s, he rose into prominence with his performance in Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai (2001), which marked his professional turning point.[2] His work in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) won him theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor, and he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Hum Tum(2004).
Khan subsequently had further mainstream success with films like Salaam Namaste (2005) and Race (2008) and starred in critically acclaimed projects such as Parineeta (2005), Being Cyrus and Omkara (2006).[3] In 2009, Khan branched out into film production with his company Illuminati Films' first film Love Aaj Kal, which became a box-office success. These accomplishments have established him as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema.[4] He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2010.[5] Khan was married to actress Amrita Singh from 1991 to 2004, having two children together. In 2012, he married actress Kareena Kapoor on Oct. 16, 2012 after a five-year relationship.[6][7]
Kareena Kapoor (pronounced [kəˈriːnaː kəˈpuːr]; born 21 September 1980), also known as Kareena Kapoor Khan, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. During her career Kapoor has been noted for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary romantic dramas to comedies, period films to major Bollywood productions and less-publicised independent films.[1][2]
Born into a family where her parents, Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and elder sister Karisma were actors, Kapoor faced the media spotlight at a young age but did not make her acting debut until the 2000 film Refugee. Her melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...became India's highest-grossing film in the overseas market in 2001, and is one of her greatest commercial successes to date. After receiving negative reviews for a series of repetitive roles, Kapoor accepted more demanding parts to avoid being typecast and was recognised by critics for displaying greater versatility as an actress. Her portrayal of a sex worker in Chameli (2004) proved to be the turning point in her career, and she was later noted for her performances in the critically acclaimed films Dev (2004) and Omkara(2006). She went on to play the lead female role in the Imtiaz Ali-directed romantic comedy Jab We Met (2007, for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress) and the drama 3 Idiots (2009, the highest-grossing Bollywood film of all time). These accomplishments have established her as a leading actress of Hindi cinema.[3][4]
Influenced by her sister Karisma and Bollywood actresses Nargis and Meena Kumari, Kapoor's off-screen life is the subject of widespread media coverage in India. She is known for being publicly outspoken and assertive, and is recognized for her contributions to the film industry though her fashion style and her film roles (both of which have made her a trend-setter for young women). In addition to film acting, Kapoor is a stage performer and has launched her own clothing line (in association with retail chain Globus). Following a high-profile relationship with actor Shahid Kapoor, she married actor Saif Ali Khan in October 2012.