Rajneeti to Merry Christmas: Katrina Kaif's 8 most underrated performances that deserved more love

Written By: Alice Topno | Updated: Jul 16, 2026, 10:06 AM

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Happy Birthday Katrina Kaif! From Merry Christmas to Zero, revisit eight of the actress's most underrated performances that showcased her acting talent beyond the glamour.

Katrina Kaif turns 43: Revisiting her most underrated performances in Bollywood — Katrina Kaif turns 43: Revisiting her most underrated performances in Bollywood

For years, Katrina Kaif has been one of Bollywood's biggest stars, known for chartbuster songs, blockbuster films, and an effortless screen presence. While her dance numbers and entertainers often grab the spotlight, some of her finest acting has quietly gone under the radar. Over the years, she has taken on emotionally layered characters that showed a different side of her as a performer, even if they didn't always receive the attention they deserved. On Katrina Kaif's birthday, it's the perfect time to revisit a few performances that proved there was much more to her than glamour. These roles showcased restraint, vulnerability and confidence, reminding audiences why she continues to be one of Hindi cinema's most popular leading ladies.

Katrina Kaif as Dimple Dixit in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan showcased her comic brilliance and charm — Katrina Kaif as Dimple Dixit in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan showcased her comic brilliance and charm

Katrina Kaif in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan was fun, wild, and bubbly. Her energetic, unpredictable performance as Dimple showed her comic timing and screen presence. The role allowed her to move beyond the typical romantic heroine image.

Katrina Kaif in Rajneeti as Indu Pratap wins hearts with a mature performance — Katrina Kaif in Rajneeti as Indu Pratap wins hearts with a mature performance

In Rajneeti, Katrina stepped away from her usual image and played Indu, a woman who evolves into a powerful political figure. She handled the transformation with confidence, balancing vulnerability, and authority. Sharing screen space with a stellar ensemble, she held her own and delivered a performance that deserved far more appreciation.

Katrina Kaif as Aanya Khan, the dreamy diva of Tees Maar Khan — Katrina Kaif as Aanya Khan, the dreamy diva of Tees Maar Khan

Katrina brought charm, confidence, and effortless glamour to the role of Aanya Khan, adding her own quirky energy to the comedy. Though the film received mixed reactions, her lively screen presence and memorable performance stood out. The character showcased Katrina’s ability to balance humor, style, and entertainment with ease.

Katrina Kaif in Zero delivers a raw performance as a heartbroken Babita Kumari — Katrina Kaif in Zero delivers a raw performance as a heartbroken Babita Kumari

While Zero received mixed reviews, Katrina's portrayal of actress Babita Kumari stood out. She played a flawed, lonely, and emotionally conflicted superstar with surprising honesty. The role allowed her to poke fun at celebrity culture while revealing the insecurities hidden behind fame, making it one of her boldest performances.

Katrina Kaif in Merry Christmas as Maria shines with quiet intensity and cleverness — Katrina Kaif in Merry Christmas as Maria shines with quiet intensity and cleverness

In Merry Christmas, Katrina embraced a restrained style of acting that perfectly suited the film's mysterious atmosphere. Rather than depending on dramatic dialogues, she conveyed emotion through silence and subtle reactions. The performance earned praise from both critics and audiences for its maturity and understated charm.

Katrina Kaif in Phone Bhoot — Katrina Kaif in Phone Bhoot

Comedy has never been easy, but Katrina showed impeccable timing in Phone Bhoot. As Ragini, she embraced the film's quirky humour with confidence and energy. Her willingness to laugh at herself added freshness to the character, proving she could comfortably handle comic roles alongside drama.

Katrina Kaif in Jagga Jasoos as Shruti, the quirky journalist who added charm to the adventure — Katrina Kaif in Jagga Jasoos as Shruti, the quirky journalist who added charm to the adventure

Playing the clumsy yet spirited journalist Shruti, she perfectly matched the film's adventure comedy tone. Her charm and ability to navigate the quirky adventure earned her significant critical appreciation.

Katrina Kaif plays Maya Sheikh, evolving from a vibrant student into a resilient wife in New York — Katrina Kaif plays Maya Sheikh, evolving from a vibrant student into a resilient wife in New York

Released in 2009, New York gave Katrina one of her strongest roles. Playing Maya, she brought warmth, heartbreak, and quiet strength to the character. Instead of relying on dramatic moments, she let subtle expressions do the talking, making the emotional scenes feel genuine. Many fans still consider this one of the finest performances of her career.

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