Kariena Kariena

Pratiksha Arora

Loved, Loathed.

Admired, Envied.

Applauded, Ignored.

A jigsaw puzzle with different pieces, Kariena Kapoor is having the last laugh.

She's unafraid of taking risks. After walking out of Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, she played a woman with flinty integrity as she donned on a childlike stubbornness in Refugee. Then, she did a double take with a glamorous, seemingly calm yet silently expressive teenager, carrying her second film to super hit status squarely on her shoulders.

She is mystified by envy and gossip. After a spate of diplomatic actresses, here is one who doesn't just call a spade, a spade but a shovel.

Kariena Kapoor is a phenomenon whose stars continue to rise. The audience is putty in her hands. And with Emperor Ashoka's epic, will she emerge as the industry's new queen?

Here's what the industry bigwigs have to say.

Vashu Bhagnani

Unlike other 20-year-olds, who walk into the industry with a certain fear of failing, Kariena is extremely confident. She believes that she knows everything… and the best part is that she does. Like most good actors, she is a split personality - completely different in front of the camera and off the camera. Personally, I think she has filled the gap left behind by Madhubala and Vyjantimala.

While people might say that success has gone to her head because she is doing the best films and has signed up with the biggest banners, I don't think it has affected her at all. She belongs to the Kapoor family and has seen success and failure at close quarters.

Manish Malhotra

I have known her for nine years, ever since I began designing for Lolo. She was observant even then. She even tried Karisma's costumes a number of times. Kariena represents the glamour of the 60's. She has a persona and is in the genre of actresses like Rekha and Mumtaz. She has a certain persona on screen, an energy that is indefatigable. I think she is electrifyingon screen.

As a fashion designer and stylist, I think she can carry off anything that she wants to. She is someone who can look good in jeans and in an Indian outfit.

Kariena is humourous, very friendly and transparent. And if there is something on her mind, she will let the world know. She cannot keep quiet about it. She is very moody, but she dare not show them to me. As a friend, while I am much older than her and reserved and more like Karisma, she is someone who is very open and tells you things the way she sees them.

Jackie Shroff

Her weakness is her heart. She could lose her heart to a butterfly and it shows.

She is a complete natural. She may be outspoken, but she is very disciplined and comes from a family that is one of the best and most respected film families in this country.

Farah Khan

She has too many preconceived notions of what she can do and what she can't do. She was petrified of dancing before I started working with her on Asoka and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

As far as being brash goes, she was very careful in how she dealt with me. Because I am somebody who is very no-nonsense and will give it as good as I get. Though, as an actress, she is a delight to watch out for.

Mickey Contractor

From what I have seen of Kariena on camera, she is lovely and very beautiful. She is not in the classical mould of a Sridevi or a Madhuri. I personally think that she looks even more beautiful without any makeup.

She is very professional… On time, giving it all to a shot and doing everything she can. And with the kind of movies in her kitty, her confidence level is at an all time high.

Tusshar Kapoor

She is a very chilled person. To watch her get into the skin of the character she's playing is awesome.

She is so vibrant and she's completely into the character on cue, that as a costar it makes you even more eager to perform. I think she adjusted a lot for me while shooting MKKH, made allowances for the fact that I was debuting.

Her strengths: She has the looks, the talent and someone who is very natural… she's perfect.

She was never very outspoken.

Boney Kapoor

She's a part of my next film because I think she fits the role perfectly and has a huge potential to add something to the role. She is very spontaneous, full of life and very talented. Besides, she has been accepted by the audience right from her first film. She has proved herself in her first film like Esha is going to prove in my next film.

I think she is well behaved. She has been very easy to deal with.

Karan Johar

I signed her for KKKG because she fit the role of an upmarket, vivacious personality, that I needed for the film, completely. She is outstanding in the film.

Even though the industry considers her to be very outspoken, I think it is a part of her personality that she should not change. She has her head firmly stuck on her shoulders and is a very sensitive person. She wears her heart on her sleeves all the time.

She has a sense of achievement because of all the big films that she is doing, but you will be surprised at how mature this 20 year old is. As a friend, she is the most crazy, mad person that I have ever known.