You've come a long way Bebo

Kareena Kapoor has always been a bit of a brat. Even before she signed her first film she found herself surrounded by controversy. She was reportedly kicked out of Hrithik Roshan's debut vehicle – Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai – because her tantrums were… well… some tantrums. Anyway, here's Kareena before she made a big splash.

"I think I'm sure, very mature. I take my own decisions." That's the diva at 20. Call her arrogant or stubborn but there's no denying her single-minded determination.

Kareena had confessed to signing films without looking at the script. Obviously, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai was one of them. The film bombed big time. But this film was to be one of the earliest in her long string of flops. Thankfully Kareena didn't blame the producer.

Kareena's claim to fame in the initial years was Karan Johar's K3G. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kajol, SRK perhaps only inflated her ego. And the media bore the brunt of her attitude.

Surprise, surprise! The Barjatyas signed her on for Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. Kareena wasn't exactly the 'ideal' Rajshri heroine. A miserable script ensured that the film flopped at the box office.

Bebo shrewdly decided to travel the 'alternate' path. Both Chameli and Sudhir Mishra were a safe bet. Besides, almost all B-town heroines have played a prostitute at some point in their careers. Despite her spate of flops, she succeeded in convincing the critics about her acting abilities.

At one point she wondered why the failure of her films didn't impact her market value. But Bebo darling could there be better fodder for journalists than being caught kissing on a camera, going ga-ga over Shahid, dumping him unceremoniously and having the eligible Saif Ali Khan sporting tattoos in your name?

Then Omkara happened. It was a film that had some very big stars. And insiders believe the foundation stone for the Saif-Kareena relationship was laid (no pun intended) during the Omkara days.

Shahid is a vegetarian, a fitness freak and basically a homebody. Once the newness of the relationship wore off, Kareena was getting bored out of her mind. Marriage to Shahid would have become the final nail in her professional career. At an opportune moment, Bebo gave Shahid the royal heave-ho and latched on to Saif.

Unfortunately, Kareena's professional and personal lives seem to be at loggerheads. Jab We Met (2007) became a blockbuster and Tashan (2008) with latest loverboy Saif has been a box office disaster. Not just that, critics have even panned her onscreen chemistry with Saif.

In the pre-Tashan days, all we heard about was Kareena's bikini, Kareena's relationship, Kareena's weight loss and the Kareena tattoo on Saif's arm. But all this and more could not save the film from disaster. Jab We Met, with ex beau Shahid is still the biggest hit of both their careers.

The only time Kareena managed to subdue her arrogance was when she was in a relationship with Shahid. Today she is back to being l'enfant-terrible. And despite her bratty ways, the audiences and producers don't seem to get enough of her.