Born on June 2, 1974, in Mumbai, India, Karishma Kapoor began her acting career at a young age. She made her debut in the 1991 film Saugandh , but it was her breakthrough performance in Raja Hindustani (1996) that catapulted her to stardom. Her portrayal of the lead female character, Aarti, earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress and marked the beginning of her successful career.