: THE ORIGINAL ‘IT GIRLS’ OF BOLLYWOOD: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Bipasha Basu, and Karisma Kapoor were setting trends long before it became popular; Here’s their story
I wouldn’t be lying when I say that I breathe Bollywood, and that’s how my entire life is painted. My wallpaper has a movie poster, my laptop screen has a still of a movie scene, and naturally, my feed is filled with filmy edits to die for. It was over the weekend when my Instagram algorithm just toggled my way and vigorously started showing me cinematic edits of those divas who stood at the top dias of Hindi cinema—once.
I parallelly noticed the internet’s vigorous use of the term ‘It Girl’ and it clicked with me immediately that didn’t we already have queens as such but just without any pompous tag or label?
To start with, I might sound biased but my love for ‘Bipasha Basu’s Era’ is an obsession in its own hold. I mean imagine me playing Teri Dulhan Sajaungi in full volume – on loop, especially on days my heart felt too filmy. I was mad, and so was everyone else. The Bengali beauty not only made Bollywood but the world dance to her songs creating an item-girl phenomenon that was surely a fresh breath of air.
While Bipasha was a huge success as an actor, her songs primarily pushed her career to a level that, I bet, is still unbeatable. Songs like Don’t Touch Me, Ishq Di Gali, Beedi Jalaele, and a song just by her name, it was a phase when she ruled like a goddess.
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This reminds me that actress Kareena Kapoor Khan also had a song on her name and that’s just a tiny bit of all that Bebo achieved in her glorious career. I remember watching her film Heroine and wondering how Madhur Bhandarkar would have explored this side of Kareena – which we all are thankful that he did.
Her expressions, her aura, and the DEMURE are still to die for and Bebo would be defined no less than an ICON even after 100 years from now. Well, it was something in the Kapoor genes I feel because next on my list is her sister Karisma Kapoor.
I recall at the peak of her career, Lolo was all over the place and for good. Every other director wanted to work with her; she was everyone’s favorite co-star and the audience’s ultimate ethereal on-screen beauty. She created one such space that was a revolution on its own and no words would ever be enough to describe her magnetic existence.
These are my three Bollywood’s OG ‘IT Girls’. Who are yours? Tell me @pinkvilla I am all eyes and ears tonight.
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