Dear Karisma Kapoor, You Will Always Be The Icon For Every 90s Kid Out There

The last time you graced the screen was in 2012 with a film that did little justice to you and talents, and it has been six since then and we have successfully erased all traces of Dangerous Ishq from our minds, but what we could not erase from our brains and heart mostly was the reigning queen of Bollywood in 90s who gave us our favorite dance steps and an icon we look up to for fashion even to this date.

However, it is not just dance and fashion that we look up to you for. You have always been so much more.

Just when the nepotism debate broke out in the industry, one of the first thought that came to me was how ironic you must be feeling about it. You, belonged to the most celebrated and decorated family of Bollywood and even though your surname could have opened every door for you in the Bollywood, it was perhaps the biggest hurdle that you had to overcome. Although the story of your struggle to break free of the ironclad rule of your family that did not allow girls to work in the movie business is something we all know about, the strength that you displayed in being persistent about wanting to follow your dream gave a little wind to the wings of every 90s girl out there.

One successful movie after another, you became what you became simply relying on your talents and hard work and managed to climb heights that not only few can boast of, but in going against your family to follow your dreams and gain gaining unparalleled success at that, you also became a little bit of the wind under our wings.

It is not just about the success, but it is also about the path that you choose to achieve that success and what you made out of it. You busted the myth that ‘good performances’ are only reserved for what we used to call art film or parallel film back then. By bringing your exceptional acting chops alive in hardcore commercial cinema you truly enriched Bollywood’s favorite genre of typical masala entertainers.

Among all your work, a personal favorite would always be Nisha from Dil To Pagal Hai. With Nisha, you gave us a romantic character in a Bollywood film in the 90s that were so relatable. A character that could have come across as depressing or jealousy-ridden became one of the most refreshing characters of Bollywood ever. The National Award for that role was truly well deserved.

Even now after your long absence from the silver screen, we are still obsessed with what you wear, what you eat and what you do. If that is not the testament to our love and fandom for you, then what is?

Even after a stormy personal life, the dignity and elegance with which you have handled some of the murkiest aspects of your life sets an example for all of us.

On your birthday, we just want to thank you for constantly inspiring us and telling us that it does not matter what we are but the only thing that matters is what you did.