From her first film Boom in 2003 to her last screen appearance in Tiger Zinda hai n 2017 Katrina Kaif's Bollywood journey is nothing less but inspiring. At the beginning of her career, Kat was questioned for her acting abilities and lack of Hindi speaking skills. Despite trolls, mockery and negative feedback, she still enjoys major fan-following amongst the audience as well as amongst her peers who swear by her sincerity, diligence, and hard work.

Katrina, who was born Katrina Turquotte in Hong Kong and holds a United Kingdom citizenship is the most famous actress of foreign origin to reign in mainstream Bollywood in last decade. The actress celebrates her 35^th birthday today and is one of the top-notch female actors in the industry, a place that she has managed to hold on to for quite some time now.

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Katrina’s career took a dramatic turn for the better in the year 2007. She managed to deliver four back-to-back hits in the year with Namastey London, Apne, Partner and Welcome. Katrina managed to impress people with her portrayal of the high-spirited but confused Jazz in Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Namastey London opposite Akshay Kumar.

In 2008, Katrina played a beautiful seductress who later turns out to be an accomplice to the main antagonist played by Akshaye Khanna in Race. Although, Kat was not the main female lead (that was played by Bipasha Basu) she impressed more with whatever screen time she got. Her screen presence was much appreciated and she looked breathtakingly beautiful in the film.

Katrina’s portrayal of Maya in Kabir Khan’s New York in 2009 earned her a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress. Katrina proved her mettle in the socio-political drama that was made on the treatment meted out to non-Americans after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Her act was praised by one and all and even though there were still a few detractors, many ate their own words and conceded that the actress has improved magnificently in the acting department.

The same year Kat added another feather to her cap when she walked the ramp as a real-life Barbie for the ‘Barbie All Doll’d Up’ show. The doll in the likeness of Katrina Kaif happened to be a special single exclusive piece in the world!

Katrina impressed once again with her command over Hindi in Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti. In a film that had such powerful and stalwart actors like Nana Patekar, Manoj Bajpayee, and Ajay Devgn, Katrina managed to impress with her acting skills too and did not get lost in the ensemble cast. The film also starred Ranbir Kapoor who was at the time still in the early stages of his career. Belting out difficult Hindi words and emoting while those words do not make up your internal psyche must have been a task for Kat but she once again rose to the challenge and proved that she is here for the long run.

Her dance moves in Sheila Ki Jawaani and Chikni Chameli are the highpoints of the film Tees Maar Khan and Agneepath. The former was a box office debacle while the latter was a hit but Katrina stole all the thunder with her sensuous dance moves. With these dance numbers, Katrina proved that she is probably the best dancer around and her sensuous dance moves neither look vulgar or titillating, something that not many actresses can boast of.

Dhoom 3 starring Aamir Khan might be a big box office hit but it is Katrina’s dance moves in the song Kamli Kamli that stays with you even after all these years. Not to mention that Kat is probably the only actress who matched dance steps with Hrithik Roshan in Bang Bang. The last couple of years saw her in powerful roles in films like Fitoor, Baar Baar Dekho, Jagga Jasoos and she has time and again proved mettle as a performer.

All in all, you might criticize Katrina for whatever reason, but you can’t deny the fact that the actress has tremendous screen presence and has managed to lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.

Here’s wishing Katrina a very happy birthday!