Ace actress Karisma Kapoor celebrates her 44^th birthday today. She stepped into Bollywood in 1991 with Prem Qaidi opposite Harish Kumar. The film was a moderate success but that did not stop Karisma from taking her career by the horns. Over the years she effortlessly proved her mettle in different genres of films ranging from comedy to romance to serious roles. From being written off and fueling controversies with her looks and dressing she managed to come back much stronger and catapulted herself to the echelons of Bollywood stardom.

Today, on her 44^th birthday let’s take a look at 6 of the best film roles of the versatile actress.

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Nisha –Dil To Pagal Hai

Karisma’s performance in Dil To Pagal Hai is probably one of her best performances. Starring alongside bigger stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit, she still held her own and managed to shine in the film. Her portrayal of Nisha who is a dancer and in love with Shah Rukh’s character earned her the National Film Award in the Best Supporting Actress category. She even matched dance steps with Madhuri who is well-known for her dancing skills and managed to outshine her. She also won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film.

Karishma/Raveena- Andaz Apna Apna

Andaaz Apna Apna is a laugh-a-riot film that did not do too well on its release but has since then achieved a cult status in popular culture. Karisma’s portrayal of a goofy and innocent character that comes to India in search of a suitable husband made everyone fall in love with her.  In the ensemble cast, she had much lesser screen time than Aamir Khan, Salman Khan or Raveena Tandon but she still managed to make an impression.

Aarti – Raja Hindustani

Karisma played the female lead in Suneel Darshan’s Raja Hindustani and starred opposite Aamir Khan. The film is known for giving Karisma a makeover and establishing her as a fashionista. The film established Karisma as a leading actress and marked a turning point in her career. Raja Hindustani was not only the biggest grosser of 1996 but also one of the most successful films of all time in India. The film’s story was outdated but Karisma shined in her performance of a rich girl married to a poor boy. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her role.

Zubeida – Zubeidaa

Zubeidaa was based on the life of the ill-fated actress Zubeida Begum , who married Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Shri Hanwant Singh Rathore of Jodhpur. The film was directed by Shyam Benegal and written by Khalid Mohammed who is the son of Zubeida from an earlier marriage. Besides, Karisma the film also starred Manoj Bajpayee and Rekha in pivotal roles. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and fetched Karisma a Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). Her portrayal of the actress married to a Maharaja earned her critical acclaim and accolades.

Pooja – Biwi No. 1

Biwi No 1 saw Karisma playa traditional and simple housewife in the first half of the film but then undergoes a huge makeover to come out as a modern woman when she discovers her husband having an extra-marital affair. It’s not only her wardrobe that changes in the film but Karisma’s attitude also undergoes a stark transformation. From the demure and submissive wife and mother she becomes the smart and savvy businesswoman. Her role won her another Filmfare Best Actress Award. Salman Khan, Sushmita Sen, Anil Kapoor and Tabu also starred in the film.

Fiza – Fiza

In Fiza, Karisma was highly praised. The film was written and directed by Khalid Mohammed and stars Karisma, Hrithik Roshan and Jaya Bachchan. The film was a major hit and gained critical acclaim as well as box office success. Karisma played the titular character, a girl called Fiza who resolves to go in search of her brother who disappears during the 1983 Bombay riots. The film won Karisma another Best Actress Filmfare Award.

Nandini – Shakti: The Power

In Shakti: The Power Karisma single-handedly breathes fire into the film. The film does not have a quintessential male lead and Karisma proved what a virtuoso performer she is. However, she was ably supported by Nana Patekar. The film was produced by late actress Sridevi and was based on the original story of the real-life escape of Betty Mahmoody. The film was based on the film Not Without My Daughter which was based on the book by Mehmoody of the same name. Deepti Naval, Sanjay Kapoor, Jaspal Bhatti also starred in the film. Shah Rukh Khan played a small but significant role in the film.