Zareen Khan

Early life

Khan was born into a Muslim Pathan family on 14 May 1987 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She speaks Hindi, Urdu, English and Marathi. She completed her intermediate at Rizvi College of Science, Mumbai.

2011: Film debut

Khan wanted to be a doctor but joined acting. Her acting career began while visiting the set of Yuvraj at Subhash Ghai's film school Whistling Woods. Salman Khan noticed her and decided to cast her for his friend Anil Sharma's film Veer because, he said, "She looks the character — the sweet princess she is playing in Veer". After a screen test, Khan was given the lead role of Princess Yashodhara. She gained eight kilograms in order to be more convincing as a 19th-century princess. The film revolves around the 1825 Pindari movement of Rajasthan, when India was ruled by the British. Veer did not do well at the Box office; however, her performance received mix reviews from both critics and public. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama observed that "Zarine resembles Katrina Kaif, but wears one expression all through". Nikhat Kazmi of Times of India concluded that "Zarine is unimpressive". Rediff.com mentions that "Zarine is average". Critic Subhash K. Jha called her performance a "Zarine's charm adds to her adorable screen presence." Khan was nominated for Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut.

In 2011, Khan did the item number "Character Dheela" with Salman Khan in Anees Bazmee's Ready, parodying characters from Mughal-e-Azam, Sholay and Shri 420 and it was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2011.

2012–2013: Breakthrough

Khan walked the ramp as showstopper for jewellery brand YS18 at India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), 2012.

Khan's second release was Sajid Khan's comedy film Housefull 2, a sequel of Housefull and Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Mattupetti Machan. The film revolves around two cousins Henna and Bobby, the two daughters of the Kapoor family who hate each other very much, a model Jlo love interest of Jolly, the son of Jagga Daku and four Best friends Sunny, Max, Jolly and Jai who fall in love with her. Khan played the role of JLo, a model who is in love with Jolly, played by Ritesh Deshmukh and featured her alongside an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Asin, John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez. Khan earned critical acclaim for her performance, with Taran Adarsh stating, "Zarine act more as eye candy. She appears typical sultry and enticing selves; and is befit in her own space." Housefull 2 was among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2012.

In 2013, Khan made her Tamil debut in Vetrimaaran's Naan Rajavaga Pogiren, in which she did an item number in the song "Malgove" alongside Nakul Jaidev. She was appreciated for the song. Taran Adarsh commented, "Zarine Khan's song is high on energy."

2012–present

Khan's first release of 2014 was Rohit Jugraj's Punjabi film Jatt James Bond, her first role outside Bollywood. She featured in the role of a Lalli, an innocent Punjabi woman alongside Gippy Grewal. The film received positive reviews from critics, and her performance was particularly praised. Film critic Komal Nahta wrote "Zarine Khan delivers an award-winning performance. She is extraordinary and lives the role of Lalli, making every scene in which she appears immensely watchable for her brilliance!"

As of March 2014, Khan has several projects in various stages of production. She is all set to appear in Tamil film Karikalan directed by Gandhi Krishna, in which she is playing the lead role of Velir Princess opposite Vikram. Khan's upcoming films are David Dhawan's Partner 2, which is a sequel to Partner, in which she will star alongside Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Govinda, Remo D'Souza's Amar Must Die opposite Rajeev Khandelwal and Hate Story 3 opposite Sharman Joshi, Karan Singh Grover and Daisy Shah. She has also signed for her second Punjabi film titled Ishq My Religion opposite Arjan Bajwa. Khan appeared in a music video "Pyaar Manga Hai" with Ali Fazal. Khan has also began shooting for Aksar 2.