Zareen Khan On Katrina Kaif Comparisons: ‘It Backfired Badly’ After Veer Debut

Zareen Khan recently shared insights into her Bollywood journey and the challenges she faced, particularly concerning comparisons with actress Katrina Kaif. In a candid conversation on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, Zareen reflected on her career, addressing how these comparisons impacted her standing in the industry.

The actress made her Bollywood debut alongside Salman Khan in the 2010 film Veer, which she described as a significant yet challenging experience. “Life after Veer was very difficult for me,” Zareen shared in Hindi. “The film was a big milestone, but it also brought a lot of criticism. Initially, I was thrilled to be compared to Katrina Kaif because she’s incredibly beautiful. However, this comparison ended up backfiring.”

Zareen Khan explained that despite being seen as a positive thing initially, the comparisons created misconceptions about her in the industry. “For someone who struggled with being overweight, being compared to Katrina was a big deal,” she said. “But within the industry, it had the opposite effect. I was unfamiliar with many people here and only knew producers and directors by name, not by face. This lack of familiarity made some think I was arrogant, especially since Salman Khan had launched me.”

Zareen’s candid remarks highlight the difficulties of navigating the Bollywood landscape, especially when facing expectations and perceptions shaped by external comparisons.