Kareena, nicknamed Bebo, is the granddaughter of legendary actor-director Raj Kapoor. She is the youngest daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita and sister of actress Karisma. The Kapoor family also includes several other actors - her great-grandfather Prithviraj, grand-uncles Shammi and Shashi, uncles Rishi and Rajiv, aunt-by-marriage Neetu, and cousins Ranbir and Armaan Jain.
As children, both Kareena and Karisma dreamed of becoming actresses. However, the Kapoor women traditionally did not act.
Mother Babita and aunt Neetu had both quit their acting careers after getting married. But Babita supported her daughters' cinematic dreams, leading to conflict between her and Randhir Kapoor. In the end, she won a victory in the male bastion of Bollywood's first family. Karisma became the first Kapoor actress, followed by sister Kareena.