Katrina Kaif, one of the most sought after actress in Bollywood, debuted with a bang through ‘Boom’, a movie about models getting caught up with the underworld. Though the movie bombed, people couldn’t easily forget her angelic face and voluptuous figure. Not many have gained the fans and popularity as a new entrant as Katrina has done.

Katrina is half Indian and half British. Her father is and NRI and her mother is English, which makes her poor at Hindi. Initially critics were very harsh on her for her poor Hindi. But she has worked hard on her Hindi and started taking dancing lessons—both very essential to survive in the industry. Now she has started dubbing on her own. She has done few movies down south and is a popular face there already.

She has done two Telugu movies - Malliswari(2004) and Allari Pidugu(2005) and a Malayalam film (Balram vs. Taradas). In 2005 she starred in ‘Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya’ opposite Salman Khan and Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Sarkar’. ‘Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye’ with Akshay Kumar followed.

Katrina was born on July 16, 1984, in Hong Kong, grew up in Hawaii and then moved to London. Even at the young age of 14, she got modeling offers and started out by modeling for a jewelry campaign. She was attracted to her father’s native land and the moment she landed in India she was flooded with modeling assignments.

She started off with photographer Atul Kasbekar. Later she got offers from Lakme, LG, Cola, Fevicol, Pantene, Veet, Kodak, and L’Oreal. She was chosen as the face of the year for the Lakme India Fashion Week (2005). The Lakme commercial made her very popular. Soon Kaizad Gustad, the director of ‘Boom’ noticed her and offered her a role in the film. Since it was the role of a model, she promptly agreed.

Although she wears bold outfits on films and ads, she is very particular about her clothes and she feels more comfortable in not-so-revealing clothes in personal life. And unlike others in her field she absolutely hates wearing make up.

Although she has been seeing Salman Khan for sometime now, she still refuses to talk about him in the media. She has made it clear that her personal life is not meant to be known to all and that no one has a right to pass any kind of judgment on it.

She has lot of exciting projects lined up. One of them is ‘Partner’ with boyfriend Salman Khan and Govinda. She is also doing ‘Apne’ in which real life father and sons Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol all stars together in the movie, for the first time. Then there is Anees Bazmee’s ‘Welcome’ with Akshay Kumar. Another film with Akshay Kumar ‘Namaste, London’ is all set to release on March.

Katrina Kaif Trivia

Born on July 16, 1984 Katrina Kaif is one of eight siblings, all girls, from a mother who is a Caucasian of British Nationality, and a father who was formerly from Kashmir, India, but who has since acquired British citizenship.

Katrina grew up in Hawaii, but was brought up in London, UK. She started modeling accidentally when she was in Hawaii at the tender age of 14, when she was approached for a jewelery campaign. Thereafter she continued modeling in London.

Continuing to model was the reason she got her break in a Bollywood movie "Boom" offered by none other than film-maker Kaizad Gustad.

She was flooded with modeling assignments the minute she set her foot on Indian soil, especially with her innocent expressive face, hour-glass figure, and drop-dead gorgeous looks.

Professionally she started off as a model with photographer Atul Kasbekar, and upon being accepted, she received offers from LG, Cola, Fevicol, Lakme, & Veet. It was the Lakme commercial that got her noticed. She retained Matrix as her Manager to accept work on her behalf and at the price she deserved.

Moving to different culture and country was not much of a culture shock for her, as she states that no matter where you come from, the bottom line is that everyone wants to be loved, respected, and cared for.

Unlike other artistes from foreign lands, Katrina did not experience any difficulties in getting a visa nor of getting it extended in India.

Although linguistically challenged, Katrina puts on a bold face and states that other Bollywood artistes like Sridevi, who did not know Hindi, did get offers from Bollywood film-makers, and she is no different. She is taking Hindi and dancing lessons to fit in with the Bollywood culture. She likes to display a picture of her learning Kathak dancing where she used to dance 7 hours a day non-stop.

Despite of her soft gorgeous looks, she is not easily intimidated, but admits that she is very emotional, almost an incurable romantic, wears comfortable non-revealing clothes when at home, hates to do her hair, and above all dislikes make-up. Admitting to being lonely in the beginning, but now has several nice friends who she can hang out with.

Although her first movie "Boom" was panned by the critics and shunned by the audiences, two other Telegu movies "Malliswari" and "Pidugu" did get her noticed. She grossed Rs.70 lakhs for Malliswari - making her top the list of the highest paid actresses during a South Indian movie debut.

Not done with South Indian movies, she has been signed in a Tamil movie "Bheema" opposite National Award Winner Vikram.

Voted recently as the lady with the most luscious lips in the film industry

She has received good reviews for her part in "Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya", as well as a brief appearance in "Sarrkar".

Katrina Kaif Filmography

Welcome (May 2007) (Under Production)
Apne (May 2007) (Under Production)
Nanhe Jaisalmer (April 2007) (Under Production)
Namastey London (March 9, 2007) (Under Production)
Race (2007) (Under Production)
Hello (2007) (To Go On Floor) ...... Special Appearance
Partner (2007) (Announced)
Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye (April 14, 2006) (Released) ...... Jia Yashwardhan
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (July 15, 2005) (Released) ...... Sonia
Sarkar (July 1, 2005) (Released) ...... Pooja
Boom (September 19, 2003) (Released) ...... Rina Kaif Aka Popdi Chinchpokli

Katrina Kaif Quotes

"I can read and speak Hindi quite well now and that’s quite an achievement considering I didn’t know the language at all when I came down here"

"Salman Khan is a senior actor and I have learnt a lot from him during the making of the film. He is very focussed and dedicated."

On being voted the most luscious lips in the film industry:"It’s feels funny to hear such things"

"I find a face beautiful, good looking, attractive, and all the terms you want to use, once I know them. "

" Although I haven't met Madhuri Dixit in person, I find her very beautiful on screen. I also find Manisha Koirala beautiful."

"I am Moody... and a Cancerian to the boot. Even a small thing can change the entire mood, but I'm working on that. Besides, I'm also loyal and possessive"

On avoiding talking about Salman Khan "We respect each other's privacy. I'm answerable to the media for my professional life, not my personal life."

"It's not my style to either wear minimum clothes, to strip or to even be comfortable with a sex-symbol label. I just want to do good work instead of sporting such meaningless tags. Sex sells, but to a small extent, not always. And this is what filmmakers have to accept. The exposure has to be relevant to the film and its characters and not forced for the sake of titillation. On the contrary, some of the greatest Indian films have been devoid of all these sexual trappings. I know my comfort zone in today's Indian culture and society."

"I have no complaints. I think I'm especially lucky. As you said, I've come from outside and I'm not even anywhere closely connected. But I have absolutely no problem here. People have been more than welcoming, even before I was ready."

" There was a time when I felt that I need to take time to understand more about the industry, the workings of it. I was doing my modeling, which I really wanted to do at the time. So that's why even my entry into films was later than people expected."

"I've been very blessed, I think, or what do you call it... mmm... lucky to get at this stage what I have. It's not like I've come from acting school and done work at an academy or something. I feel I've been given a very huge chance and opportunity."

Katrina Kaif has a buzz about her. She has this gravitational pull that defies all laws. She grew up
in Hawaii, moved to London and is now so happy that she has struck a good wicket that she has made Mumbai her base. India is where she will be for a while and she doesn't mind singing and dancing around trees in Bollywood while she's at it.

One of eight sisters n 1 brother, Katrina was born to a Kashmiri father and English mother. She started modeling by accident when she was in Hawaii. She was 14 and she was approached for a jewellery campaign. After that she continued modelling in London. Even though she was brought up in London, moving to Mumbai was not a culture shock. Katrina's philosophy is that no matter what part of the globe you come from, at the end of the day every person just wants to be loved and cared for.

Born: July 16, 1984
Hong Kong