Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has delivered spectacular performances and won several awards during her career. But today, the actress is also being trolled on social media over her appearance and weight gain after pregnancy.
Behind the glamorous image, however, lies a journey filled with rejection, struggles, criticism, heartbreak, and determination.
This week on Flashback Friday, let’s revisit Katrina Kaif’s interesting journey from a young model to one of Bollywood’s most recognised actresses.
A childhood filled with struggles
Katrina’s mother, Suzanne, is a foreigner, while her father is from Kashmir.
Katrina Kaif was born on 16 July 1983 in Hong Kong. She was one of eight siblings, with one brother and six sisters.
When Katrina was young, her father left her mother and their seven children. Her mother then worked hard to support the family. Katrina Kaif had an incredibly nomadic childhood, living in and traveling to nearly 18 different countries before she finally came to India.
Graphic Credit: Anas.
Because her mother, Suzanne Turquotte, was deeply involved in charitable work and social causes, the family was constantly on the move. Because of this, the family frequently moved between countries, including China, Japan, France, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, Hawaii and London.
Katrina could not have a regular school education because of the constant travelling. She and her siblings were instead taught at home by tutors.
At just 14, Katrina won a beauty contest. This brought her jewellery and modelling assignments. She later became a model at London Fashion Week.
A trip to India changed her life
During her modelling days in London, Katrina met an Asian girl who encouraged her to visit India. Katrina took the suggestion seriously and booked a ticket to India when she got the opportunity.
During a fashion show, filmmaker Kaizad Gustad noticed her and offered her a role in the Hindi-English film Boom.
The film ‘Boom’ featured Amitabh Bachchan, Gulshan Grover and Jackie Shroff.
For Katrina, this was the beginning of her Bollywood journey.
Two hours of practice for a bold kissing scene with Gulshan Grover
In the film ‘Boom,’ Katrina played a model who gets caught up in diamond smuggling. The film included a bold kissing scene with Gulshan Grover, which had to be shot in Amitabh Bachchan’s presence.
As Katrina was new to the industry, director Kaizad Gustad suggested that the actors practice the scene before the final shoot. Gulshan and Katrina reportedly practised it for around two hours in a closed room.
Boom was released on 19 September 2003 but failed at the box office. Katrina also faced criticism for her British accent.
Despite the failure, she continued getting modelling assignments and film offers. She walked the ramp for leading designers, including Rohit Bal, and appeared in advertisements for brands such as Coca-Cola, LG, Fevicol and Samsung.
The rejection that left Katrina crying
Around 2000, when Katrina was about 18, she was offered a role in Anurag Basu’s Saaya, which starred John Abraham in the lead. It was expected to be her first Bollywood film as a lead actress.
On one night, Katrina was called for a shoot where she had no dialogue or expressions and only had to give a passing shot. She was called the next day again and shot a scene.
Soon after, producer Mahesh Bhatt reportedly told the team to remove her from the film.
When Katrina was informed, she broke down and left the set crying. She felt that her acting career was over before it had even started.
That evening, she met Salman Khan and cried in front of him too. Salman reportedly laughed at first. Katrina was upset and asked how he could laugh when she had just been removed from her first film.
Salman then encouraged her and told her that she would go very far.
Interestingly, Saaya later failed at the box office, while Katrina’s career began taking a different turn. Salman Khan’s family became close to her
During the early stage of her career, Katrina became friends with Salman Khan’s sister Alvira. The two met at a step class and often worked out together.
Katrina reportedly ate peanut butter and bread even while working out, which initially surprised Alvira.
Later, Alvira invited Katrina to Salman Khan’s birthday party at Galaxy Apartments. Katrina arrived to find Salman shirtless after a workout. He was reportedly surprised to see her because he did not know Alvira was bringing a friend home.
After this awkward first meeting, Katrina began visiting the Khan family more often and became close to Salman.
A South film gave her another chance
While her Bollywood career was still struggling, Katrina got an opportunity in the Telugu film Malliswari with Venkatesh in 2004.
She reportedly received a fee of ₹75 lakh, which was considered very high compared with the fees paid to South Indian actresses at the time. The film became a hit and brought her more offers from the South. But the experience was not always easy.
During the shooting of a song, Katrina struggled because she was unfamiliar with Indian dance. After several retakes, the choreographer reportedly criticised her publicly and called her a complete zero who could not dance.
Katrina did not argue. Instead, she used the criticism as motivation and began working on her dancing skills.
Years later, she became known for dance performances in songs such as Sheila Ki Jawani, Chikni Chameli, Afghan Jalebi and Ishq Parcheen.
Salman helped her get her big Bollywood break
After seeing some of Katrina’s audition clips and work, Salman Khan recommended her name to director David Dhawan for Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya.
David Dhawan was looking for a new face for the role of a suicidal model. He screen-tested Katrina and eventually cast her.
At around the same time, Katrina also got a role in Sarkar, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan.
Both films were released in July 2005. Although Katrina had limited screen time in Sarkar, she received a Zee Cine Award nomination for Most Promising Debut. She won a Stardust Award for Best Breakthrough Performance for Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya.
The film made her popular across the country, while its songs also became major hits.
Graphic Credit: Anas.
She once cried and left a film set
Katrina was later cast opposite Akshay Kumar in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye. It was one of her first major films as a leading actress.
On the first day of shooting, after working for around three hours, Katrina reportedly became exhausted and started crying. She left the set and called the designer, asking whether this was how shooting normally worked.
She almost left India after ‘Namastey London’
Katrina was next cast with Akshay Kumar in Namastey London.
When the film was completed, there was talk in the industry that it would fail. Director Vipul Shah invited Katrina to watch the film.
She reportedly did not like what she saw and believed the film would flop. She became so convinced that she started packing her belongings to leave India.
However, after receiving a call from Vipul Shah’s assistant, Katrina called the director and praised the film. She decided to stay in India until its release.
The film eventually became a success and brought her more opportunities.
Katrina Kaif became the first Bollywood actress to have an official Barbie doll modeled in her likeness by Mattel India.
Rumours about Salman and Katrina
After Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, rumours about Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s relationship became widespread. Katrina also appeared with Salman in films such as Partner and Yuvvraaj.
When Salman was jailed in the blackbuck hunting case in 2007, Katrina reportedly visited him at Jodhpur Central Jail along with Alvira and Arbaaz Khan. She later visited Ajmer Sharif.
Katrina continued building her career with films including Welcome, Singh Is Kinng, New York, and De Dana Dan, establishing herself among Bollywood’s leading actresses.
When Salman reportedly slapped Katrina
During the shooting of ‘Ek Tha Tiger,’ a major controversy erupted when a Cine Blitz magazine report claimed that Salman Khan publicly slapped Katrina Kaif on set. The report alleged Salman was furious at seeing her in short clothes.
While the incident sparked intense media speculation, Salman later addressed it on ‘Aap Ki Adalat.’ He clarified that Katrina wasn’t wearing short clothes, but rather the outfit’s fit was inappropriate, prompting him to ask her to change.
Notably, Salman did not outright deny the physical altercation, hinting instead that PR teams often fabricate such dramatic stories for movie publicity.
The Ranbir Kapoor chapter
While shooting Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Katrina and Ranbir Kapoor’s link-up rumours began.
In August 2013, Stardust published private holiday photographs of Katrina and Ranbir. Katrina objected to the publication and called it a breach of privacy.
Their relationship continued to attract attention, with reports of the two living together. Kareena Kapoor Khan also famously referred to Katrina as her ‘bhabhi’ during an appearance on Koffee With Karan.
However, Katrina and Ranbir eventually broke up in 2016.
Finding love with Vicky Kaushal
After her relationship with Ranbir ended, Katrina eventually found love with actor Vicky Kaushal.
Karan Johar played an interesting cupid role in bringing their names together. During Koffee With Karan, Katrina was asked which actor she would like to work with. She named Vicky.
At the 2019 Star Screen Awards, Vicky publicly asked Katrina why she did not find a Vicky Kaushal and get married.
When Karan told Vicky about this, he jokingly reacted dramatically.
During the Star Screen Awards ceremony, Vicky directly asked her, ‘Mujhse shaadi karogi?’ Katrina replied, ‘Himmat nahi hai.’
The moment became even more memorable because Salman Khan was present at the event.
The couple eventually married on 9 December 2021 at Six Senses Resort in Sawai Madhopur.
The couple had an intimate destination wedding attended by close friends and family.
From Bollywood star to embracing motherhood
Katrina and Vicky welcomed their son Vihaan on 7 November 2025. The couple has not publicly shared photographs of their son.
Katrina was last seen in Merry Christmas in 2024 alongside Vijay Sethupathi. Today, she is enjoying motherhood while also focusing on her beauty brand.
Katrina Kaif’s story is a reminder of how a career can change after one rejection and how persistence can turn setbacks into milestones.
