Known For:

Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), Namastey London (2007), Partner (2007), Welcome (2007)

Notes:

Model turned actress, Katrina Kaif's father is of Kashmiri origin and mother is a British. She was born in Hongkong, raised in Hawaii and later moved to London. She is one of eight siblings, seven sisters and one brother.

Her mother and father split while Katrina and her seven siblings (six sisters and one brother) were very young, " for reasons my mom would like to keep private." Her father Mohammed Kaif is an affluent businessman. Her mother, Sussane Turquotte, runs a charity in Nilangarai, Tamil Nadu that rescues female infants. She and Katrina meet frequently but both are passionate about what they do.

Katrina's younger sister Isabelle is training to be a thespian in New York. The rest of Katrina's family is in London.

Katrina says she has no idea where her hometown in Kashmir is. Her father didn't have any influence on the upbringing of the children – their religious or social or moral bearings - "and not out of choice." The children were brought up entirely by their mother.

Katrina didn't grow up in London as is widely believed, but led a nomadic existence as her mother, who had dedicated her life to social causes, moved from one country to the other. Born in Hong Kong, while growing up her family spent time in China, Japan, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Hawaii and finally UK. In addition, they stayed for short spells in many East European countries.

Katrina has lived in UK for just three years, that too not in London. Her mother is originally from Bath, UK.

Having achieved success as a model, Katrina had no ambitions of being an actress but sauntered into Bollywood through happenstance learning Hindi and working hard on her diction.

Modeling

She started modeling at age 14 in London.

Bollywood Debut

In 2003 filmmaker Kaizad Gustad discovered her and she debuted in his film Boom, which proved to be Box Office dud.

However, Katrina moved to Mumbai. She had difficulty finding work in films because she could not speak Hindi. Whatever films she did, her voice was dubbed.

Her first big hit was 2005 romantic comedy Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya in which she teamed up with Salman.

A string of hits followed including Namastey London (2007, in which for the first time her voice was not dubbed.), Partner, Welcome, Singh Is Kinng and the critically acclaimed New York.

She acknowledges that much of her success so far is perhaps attributable to the experienced directors that she has worked with, but she has honed her skills during the journey.

"New York was the first film I felt free, felt that I could also contribute, felt a little more confident, you know. I kind of had a feel for things now, I was comfortable. So, for me, things are different now... it's all been continuous after then. It's now that I've started to enjoy my work, to love the art of what I'm doing, rather than just being – at 7 o' clock, I've to be at the sets with my make up and a nice costume, you know?" she say.

Personal Life

She is said to be dating actor Salman Khan but she has never acknowledged the relationship to the press.

Katrina is appreciative of Salman because he believed in her talent at the start of her career.

"Salman had been always there, more than anything to guide because I didn't know anything about the industry. What would remain special in my mind is that from the very beginning Salman told me that I will achieve this success in the industry. And at that point it was too far off," Katrina told IANS in an interview in May 2010.

"That time I couldn't see myself one movie ahead, forget 15 movies ahead. I think that he believed it genuinely," the 25-year-old actor said.

Endorsements

Titan Watches (January 2012)

Wrigley's Doublemint (August 11, 2011)

Uni-ball Pens (Japanese' writing major Mitsubishi Pencil's, February 2011)

Slice, Pantene, Kodak, Panasonic, Olay, Yardley perfume, Etihad - Abu Dhabi airline