Written by Navya KharbandaNew Delhi | September 21, 2025 05:54 PM IST 2 min readOn Kareena Kapoor Khan’s birthday today, I, a GenZ viewer, watched the 2003 movie Chameli. The Kareena Kapoor and Rahul Bose starrer is not your typical Bollywood film. With the opening scene itself, the Sudhir Mishra directorial establishes itself as one of a kind film.Set over the course of a single night in Mumbai, the film captures life’s simplest truths in their purest form. It follows Chameli, a sex worker, who meets Aman, a banker stranded in the rain after his car breaks down. Over the span of that night, we get to witness empathy, human connection, and redemption.Felt real, theatricalEvery actor’s performance felt strikingly real. The mood of each scene was raw and not unnecessarily polished. With characters entering, enacting their parts and exiting, the film carried a theatrical vibe, almost as if I were in an auditorium watching a live play. What stood out most was how Chameli broke the mould of cinematic perfection—it never glamorised Kareena’s role. It was also one of the first films of the early 2000s to keep its runtime to just 90 minutes.Risk taking lead actor – Kareena KapoorThe most commendable aspect of Chameli was Kareena Kapoor Khan’s performance, one that truly deserved a National Award. At just 22, she took a bold risk early in her career by portraying such a complex and edgy character. In contrast, today’s leading stars often hesitate to take on unconventional or daring roles, which may be one reason why the professional growth of many A-listers has stagnated.Rahul Bose still underratedI miss watching the brilliant Rahul Bose in titular roles. These days, he mostly appears in key supporting parts rather than as the central character. In Chameli, however, alongside Kareena Kapoor, he delivered a believable performance. As a Gen Z viewer, it was refreshing to see him in more than just a fleeting role.Bonus lesser-known fact: The original director of Chameli was Anant Balani, who passed away at 41, due to heart attack in August 2003, just two days into the film’s shoot. Right after, director Sudhir Mishra took over the project to complete it.Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Kareena Kapoor Khan