Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met has become a cultural touchstone, inspiring many young women to embrace their authentic selves, much like Kareena Kapoor’s character Geet in the film. During the latest edition of Expresso, Taapsee Pannu, who was in college when Jab We Met hit screens, spoke about the film’s impact on her and how Kareena’s portrayal of Geet was a refreshing change from the typical picture-perfect heroines.

Taapsee said, “The relatability quotient for an actress has never been higher than that for someone like me at that point because here I was seeing everyone so picture perfect, dressed well and just looking like a million bucks and talking perfectly, everything that needs to be said in the right way. And Geet was someone who is so relatable because she is so improper but that was the reason why she was so enduring.”

She added, “She is so politically incorrect in a lot of situations so the relatability quotient of that heroine was so high. That is the reason for me to make it a part of my pop culture and hence it intrigued an audience like me. It made me ask, ‘Ye kisne banaya hai (Who has made this?)’ To make this kind of character loveable who is just so odd, hence the intrigue and knowing the brand called Imtiaz Ali and keeping an eye out for his work.”

Jab We Met follows the story of Geet (Kareena Kapoor), a vivacious young woman who encounters the somber, heartbroken Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) on a train journey. After they both miss the train, Geet brings Aditya to her hometown of Bhatinda, Punjab. However, after eloping for her boyfriend Anshuman, Geet realises Anshuman doesn’t love her anymore. A heartbroken Geet is then saved by Aditya, and the two eventually tie the knot and live a happy life. The film resonated deeply with audiences, striking an emotional chord and achieving significant success.

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