Kareena Kapoor Khan on Why 'Laal Singh Chaddha' Did More For Her Than 'Singham Again'

In an industry often obsessed with box-office numbers and commercial success, Kareena Kapoor Khan remains a refreshing anomaly, consistently valuing personal relationships over the success or failure of a film. While Bollywood often gets a bad reputation for celebrating only the latest hits, there are still those who rally together during a project’s low points. One such example is Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), a film that was met with commercial disappointment.

During The Hollywood Reporter India’s Actor’s Roundtable 2024, Kapoor Khan opened up about how she coped with the film’s lacklustre reception, focusing not on failure, but on the relationships that endured beyond it.

"I reached out to Advait (Chandan, director) and Aamir (Khan) after Laal Singh Chaddha, and told them I don't judge my relationships, my friendships, or my talent based on one film’s performance," Kareena shared. "The most important thing for me is that we made that film, and I am proud of it."

Asked how she developed this mindset, Kareena reflected, "Over the years, I’ve learned that the longevity of an actor has nothing to do with box-office numbers. In fact, the focus on box-office can actually hinder an actor’s career because it puts you in a trap: this film must make X amount, and the next one must make even more. It becomes exhausting."

She continued, emphasising on the beauty of Laal Singh Chaddha: "The film was heartfelt and honest. And with someone like Aamir, a legend who truly believed in the film, I felt privileged to be part of it. Of course, Aamir was disheartened by its reception, and I remember when he told me, “Picture nahi chali humari na, tu baat toh karegi na mujhse?” (Our film didn’t work, will you still talk to me after this?). I had to remind him that we, as actors, don't define our success by numbers. I’m incredibly proud of (my character) Rupa. Because Rupa has done more for me than even a Singham can do — because she taught me more than even the most commercially successful roles."

Kareena also touched on the challenges they faced during the making of Laal Singh Chaddha, especially the unexpected hurdles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “When I found out I was pregnant during the pandemic and was halfway through the film, I didn’t know what to do,” she explained. “I called Aamir and told him, ‘I’m pregnant, we’re halfway through the film, and I don’t know what to do.’ I was nervous about how he would react. But his response was heartwarming. He said, 'I'm so happy for you, and we're going to make this work together.'"

Her experience during the making of Laal Singh Chaddha not only reinforced her belief in professional relationships, but also in the importance of personal decisions. "There are people in this industry who value you as a person, and it’s so comforting to know that. Aamir supported me through that phase, and I’ll never forget it. Whether the film was loved or not... life goes on.”