Kareena Kapoor ‘better performer’ than Deepika Padukone, says Imtiaz Ali: ‘Very tough but…’

Imtiaz Ali was asked to choose between Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, and the director looked quite guilty when he chose one actor over another.

kareena kapoor and deepika padukone
Kareena Kapoor in Jab We Met and Deepika Padukone in Cocktail.

Imtiaz Ali’s 2007 film Jab We Met is still remembered as one of his most loved films. When the film released back in 2007, it wasn’t the biggest hit of its time but soon after, it became a cult film that is now seen as the best rom-com from this era of Hindi movies. Kareena Kapoor, who played Geet in the film, is often associated with that role and many call this film her life’s best performance. In a recent interview, when Imtiaz was asked to be choose the better performer between Kareena from Jab We Met and Deepika Padukone from Cocktail, the director had a hard time voicing his thoughts.

In a chat with Connect FM Canada, when Imtiaz was asked to choose the better film out of Jab We Met and Cocktail, he chose Jab We Met. Cocktail was directed by Homi Adajania with a script written by Imtiaz. The film starred Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan and Diana Penty. When asked to choose between Kareena in Jab We Met and Deepika in Cocktail, Imtiaz chose Kareena and said, “Very tough but let me say Kareena because I was the director.”

Even though Kareena gave one of her best performances with Imitiaz Ali’s film, the two never collaborated again. During the promotions of Jaane Jaan, Kareena mentioned that despite the many diverse roles that she has done, she is only recognised as Poo (from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham) and Geet (from Jab We Met). She also mentioned that the impression of these roles was such that people assumed Kareena to be the same in real life. “Everyone thinks Poo and Geet means Bebo,” she said during a chat with Indian Express earlier.

Imtiaz Ali is now looking forward to the release of Chamkila, which is the biopic of Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra in lead roles and will release on Netflix on April 12.