It has been 22 years since Kareena Kapoor Khan portrayed her career-defining titular role in Chameli. In this film, directed by Sudhir Mishra and produced by Pritish Nandy, who sadly passed away on January 8, 2025, the actress played the character of a young sex worker alongside Rahul Bose. Additionally, Rinke Khanna concluded her acting career with this film, which was her final project before her marriage.

Plot of Chameli and character dynamics

The narrative centers on an evening spent between an investment banker and a sex worker. During a fierce rainstorm, a young woman engaged in sex work finds herself in Mumbai's red light district alongside an investment banker whose vehicle has malfunctioned.

Career-defining role for Kareena Kapoor Khan

Ameesha Patel declined an earlier iteration of Chameli, expressing that it did not resonate with her character. Subsequently, Kareena Kapoor Khan was cast in the role, which proved to be a pivotal moment in her career. The film's director, Anant Balani, passed away on August 28, 2003. As the project faced the possibility of cancellation, Pritish Nandy contacted Sudhir Mishra to take over the directorial responsibilities. Utilizing a revised script, the new director successfully completed the film.

Kareena previously mentioned that her parents had discussed the leading role in Chameli with her, offering their support as they viewed it as a bold concept that would significantly enhance her career. Additionally, she expressed concern that if she did not seize this opportunity, she might become trapped in an idealized version of herself.

At just 22 years of age, Kareena's portrayal of Chameli raised questions about her ability to embody the character, yet her performance proved effective. The film achieved considerable success during its release. The actress believes it is essential to embrace a diverse range of roles at this stage of her career.

Sudhir Mishra’s reflection on Chameli

Mishra reflected on the fact that many held opinions regarding Chameli, prompting him to seek clarification. The film was directed by Anant Balani, a film institute alumnus with two directing credits to his name, who tragically passed away just two days into the filming process. Pritish Nandy, who was producing Chameli at the time, was also engaged with the project Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. To ensure the film's completion, he reached out to Mishra for assistance.

Regarding Kareena, the seasoned filmmaker expressed that she possesses remarkable talent. Individuals in mainstream cinema are typically accustomed to receiving scripts daily, complete with pre-written dialogues. Bebo hails from a lineage of esteemed actors and is well-acquainted with the expectations of directors and the filmmaking process. Mishra noted that he often found it difficult to instruct her to stop after delivering her lines, as she would continue performing without pause.

He further remarked that her discipline guarantees her ongoing success, even in the absence of directorial cuts. Additionally, she would often surprise him with actions he had not requested. Mishra amassed a collection of photographs capturing Kareena's expressions, emphasizing that Chameli has become secondary—she is the true star of the film. Observing her remarkable discipline during numerous rainy rehearsals within such a brief timeframe was profoundly motivating.

Jabilamma (2008), featuring Navneet Kaur and Rajeev Kanakala, serves as the Telugu adaptation of this film.

Where to stream Chameli

Chameli is available to stream on multiple OTT platforms, including Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV (OTTplay Premium), and Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium).

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