Then came a few lean years. Kareena featured in six films in next two years - Mujhse Dosti Karoge! , Jeena Sirf Merre Liye, Talaash: The Hunt Begins, Khushi, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, and LOC Kargil - all of which were commercial failures.
But come 2004, she silenced her critics by playing a prostitute in Sudhir Mishra's Chameli. Kareena's performance was well-received and she won the Filmfare Special Performance Award that year.