MAM
GoaFest 2025: “I am my own favourite” – Kareena Kapoor Khan rewrites stardom with self love
MUMBAI: If loving yourself was an art form, Kareena Kapoor Khan could well hold the copyright. In a sparkling fireside session titled “Main Apni Favourite Hoon: Not Just a Line. A Mindset” at GoaFest 2025, Kareena proved that her iconic dialogue from Jab We Met wasn’t just script gold, it was a life mantra with staying power.
Interviewed by celebrity host Atika Farooqi at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, the actress peeled back the layers on fame, family, and the fine print of self-worth.
“The line changed not just my career, but my life,” Kareena declared. Delivered 15 years ago, when ‘self-love’ wasn’t yet trending, it has since become a cultural rallying cry. “It’s a mindset, not a moment,” she said, explaining how the phrase empowered not just her but an entire generation of women to embrace their truth even if it meant standing alone.
Celebrating over 25 years in cinema, Kareena described her personal brand in two words: “Unapologetically herself.”
From iconic commercial blockbusters to gritty roles like Chameli, Dev, Omkara and more recently Jaane Jaan and The Buckingham Murders, she’s deliberately straddled both glamour and grit.
“If I can’t transform, I shouldn’t be doing this,” she said simply.
On longevity in showbiz, she boiled it down to a cocktail of talent, brave choices, and refusing to ride trends. “Success is not just about staying visible. It’s about staying true,” she mused.
Family life wasn’t left out either. Reflecting on her marriage with Saif Ali Khan and motherhood, she spoke candidly about the importance of mutual respect over sacrifice, calling Saif “a strong support structure.”
For Kareena, balance isn’t about keeping score; it’s about knowing when to step up and when to pause. “Work will come and go but the love you build at home is irreplaceable,” she said.
Asked whether she’d ever remake a Raj Kapoor classic, the answer was an emphatic no. “Some things are timeless. You don’t touch them, you preserve them,” she said, referring to her grandfather’s legendary legacy.
She also gave props to the changing cinema landscape. From OTT to regional crossover, Kareena’s game to learn new languages and new rules.
“Authenticity is the new glamour,” she said, crediting the likes of Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma for setting new performance benchmarks in today’s hyper-observant viewing culture.
What keeps her going? “Staying childlike. Staying curious. And yes being my own favourite,” she grinned.
From box office queen to boundary-pushing actor, Kareena’s session wasn’t just a rewind of her past, but a guidebook to staying relevant, radiant and real in a business that rarely forgives age, honesty or independence.
Brands
Mother’s Recipe launches Summerwala Sharbat range
Five nostalgic flavours priced at Rs 215 aim to tap summer refreshment demand.
MUMBAI: Call it a sip of summer nostalgia, Mother’s Recipe is bottling childhood memories and pouring them back into the present. The homegrown ethnic food brand has introduced its Summerwala Sharbat range, a five-flavour line-up designed to recreate the familiar tastes and rituals of Indian summers, while catering to modern consumption habits. The range features Mango Panna, Rose Syrup, Jeera Masala Syrup, Khus Syrup and Lemon Ginger Squash, each rooted in flavours that have long defined seasonal refreshment across Indian households. From the tang of raw mango to the cooling comfort of khus, the portfolio leans heavily into recall, not reinvention.
At a time when brands are increasingly leaning on nostalgia as a strategic lever, Mother’s Recipe is positioning Summerwala Sharbat as both a functional beverage and an emotional cue. The idea is simple: revive the small, everyday rituals post-play drinks, family gatherings, the clink of ice in a glass that once defined summer afternoons.
The products are packaged in 750 ml PET bottles and priced at Rs 215, targeting both routine household consumption and social occasions. Distribution spans leading e-commerce platforms as well as select offline retail outlets.
Mother’s Recipe executive director Sanjana Desai said the intent was to bring back flavours tied to “taste, routine and home”, while making them relevant for today’s consumers.
The move reflects a broader shift in the beverages market, where heritage-led storytelling and familiarity are increasingly being used to stand out in a crowded, innovation-heavy category.
With Summerwala Sharbat, Mother’s Recipe isn’t just selling a drink, it’s selling a season, one glass at a time.
