Today, Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor finally came face to face with her brand new wax figure at Madame Tussauds Blackpool. Kapoor travelled to Blackpool after attending the Ra.One premiere in London. Kareena told BollySpice that the statue has been ready for over two and a half months, but she kept pushing the unveiling date back for various reasons.
The unveiling marked the launch of the attraction’s all new Bollywood exhibition, which will be at Madame Tussauds until January 2012. Kareena, star of over 40 films, and whose last three films feature in the top five Bollywood box office blockbusters of all time, is an icon in the world of Bollywood and over 1,000 fans came to meet her at the launch in Blackpool yesterday. Fans travelled from across the globe just to get a glimpse of her this morning, showing the loyalty of the global megastar’s fans.
The look of her wax statue, which was widely discussed in the industry and amongst fans, is from the popular song ‘Mauja Mauja’ from Jab We Met, a film that changed Kapoor’s career. Speaking to BollySpice reporter Sunny Malik, the 31-year-old actress said: “I think, I am asoociated with a lot of song and dance and it is better to be in that look for my statue.”
Kareena first saw her statue in person a day before the unveiling. While she loved the statue and had seen pictures before, a source told us that she was not particularly happy about its hair style. She told Madame Tussauds that her stylist Pompy will do some changes to the statue’s hair and make-up, which he did. Pompy Hans who has been working with Kareena for years now told us that it was a proud moment for him to do the honourable deed.
The Ra.One actress arrived on the red carpet with her mother Babita Kapoor, a former Bollywood actress. “Mum is really proud and she had tears in her eyes. She has been sitting there and wondering that her daughter is actually waxed. There are no words for the thought and feeling that one is going to live forever. I think it’s her achievement her as well, more than mine. She has put in a lot for me and that’s why I wanted her to be here today with me,” said Kapoor.
Kareena also said that everyone from her fans and industry peers have messaged her, congratulating her on the statue. Saif Ali Khan, who has been dating Kapoor for over four years, told her that he wished he was with her in Blackpool. Kapoor said: “I wish he was here too. Of course, I miss him. This is my profession and my work and he is out there working.”
A special Bollywood room has been created within Madame Tussauds Blackpool just for this special exhibition, which will be at the attraction until January, before moving to Bangkok. Other Bollywood figures on show include Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh Bachchan and an all new figure of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Speaking about the exhibiton and retorting to reports that her figure will be placed in a small town branch Kareena said: “Five of us are travelling to Las Vegas, Berlin, Sydney, Bankog, Shanghai, Tokyo. That is the biggest thing ever. Then, the statue will be placed in London.” Kareena Kapoor’s statue will remain at Madame Tussauds Blackpool until Christmas 2011.