Katrina Kaif is a British Indian actress and model who has appeared in Bollywood, Telugu and Malayalam films. Kaif was born in Hong Kong to Mohammed Kaif, and Suzzane Turquotte. Her parents divorced when Kaif was very young. Kaif has seven siblings. She was raised in Hawaii, United states and later moved to her mother's home country, England.
At the age of fourteen she was approached by an agent and she began modeling; her first job was for a jewelry campaign. She continued modeling in London, under a contract with the Models 1 Agency and did campaigns for houses, such as La Senza and Arcadius and even walked on the London Fashion Week.
Kaif's London modeling-work led her to discover by London-based filmmaker Kaizad Gustad, who gave her a part in his film Boom (2003). She moved to Mumbai and was offered a number of modeling assignments. However, filmmakers were initially hesitant to sign her because she could not speak Hindi.
Kaif saw moderate success with the 2005 film Sarkar where she played the bit part of Abhishek Bachchan's girlfriend, and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), where she was paired opposite Salman Khan.
In 2007, Kaif appeared in her first major hit movie Namastey London, wherein she starred as a British-Indian girl alongside Akshay Kumar for the second time after the box office letdown Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006). Her hit films stride continued with Apne, Partner and Welcome.
In 2008, she played a negative role for the first time in Abbas-Mustan's hit action thriller Race. She played the role of Saif Ali Khan's secretary who is secretly in love with his hostile stepbrother played by Akshay Khanna. Kaif's second release of the year was Anees Bazmee's production Singh Is Kinng, opposite Akshay Kumar. Upon release the film was a big success at the box office. Kaif's final release of the year, Subhash Ghai's Yuvvraaj, was a commercial failure, but its script has made its way into the Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for artistic merits, original screenplay with a substance and the film as a whole.
Kaif's first release for 2009, New York, with John Abraham was a critical and commercial success. Kaif's performance was highly appreciated with the critic Taran Adarsh writing, "Katrina gives you the biggest surprise. Known for her glamour roles, Katrina proves that she can deliver if the director and writer offer her a role of substance. She's outstanding. In fact, people will see a new, different Katrina this time." She next appeared in a bit role as a biker chick in the multi starrer action film Blue, popularly known as India's first underwater thriller,performed decently at the box office. At the year's end, she appeared in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Ranbir Kapoor and De Dana Dan with Akshay Kumar. Both films were commercial successes.
Kaif's first film of 2010 was Raajneeti which released on June 4, 2010. Appearing opposite Ranbir Kapoor, the film did extremely well at the box office, receiving a blockbuster status. She is currently filming for Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan along with Akshay Kumar, which is set to release on 24 December 2010.
