Bipasha Basu And Kareena Kapoor’s Ajnabee Controversy: The 2001 thriller Ajnabee featured Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Bipasha Basu.
While the film attracted attention for its suspenseful storyline, its leading actresses also made headlines over reports of an alleged fallout during the shoot. The controversy reportedly began over fashion designer Vikram Phadnis and soon became one of Bollywood’s widely discussed celebrity disputes.
Years later, the actresses’ own statements offered a clearer picture of what happened.
How Did The Ajnabee Controversy Begin?
Reports suggested that the disagreement started when Vikram Phadnis, who was working on Kareena Kapoor’s costumes, also helped Bipasha Basu with her wardrobe. This reportedly upset Kareena and led to an argument involving the designer and the two actresses.
However, the film’s producer, Vijay Galani, later played down the incident in an interview with Bollywood Hungama. He explained that the same designer was working on both actresses’ clothes and that minor disagreements had been exaggerated by the media. He also said the reported tension did not affect the film’s shoot.
What Did Bipasha Basu Say About Kareena Kapoor?
In a 2001 interview with Filmfare, Bipasha addressed the reports and explained that the disagreement was not originally about her. She said, “I think this is a case of making a mountain out of a molehill. There were never any problems with me. She had some problems with the designer. I don’t know why I was pulled in. It was quite childish.”
Bipasha also said that she did not want to work with Kareena again because the two did not interact off-screen. Meanwhile, rumours that Kareena had slapped Bipasha and called her “Kaali Billi” circulated in the media. These claims should be treated as allegations rather than established facts.
Kareena Kapoor’s Response To The Fallout
Kareena later shared her side of the story in a 2002 interview with Filmfare. Responding to Bipasha’s comments, she said, “She just doesn’t seem to have any confidence in her own talent. In a four-page interview, she spoke about me for three pages. Why not talk about your work? I think her only claim to fame is that she fought with me during Ajnabee over dress designer Vikram Phadnis. She’s given statements that I called her uncharitable names. Now, that’s a figment of her imagination.”
Her remarks showed that the disagreement continued to attract attention even after the film’s release.
Did Bipasha Basu And Kareena Kapoor Move On?
The actresses eventually appeared to move past their reported differences. In 2008, Kareena invited Bipasha to Saif Ali Khan’s birthday party, which was seen as a sign that their strained relationship had improved. The controversy remains a memorable chapter in their early Bollywood careers, but the available accounts also show how reports of a disagreement can grow into a much bigger story.