Karishma Kapoor was 17 years old when she faced the camera for the first time. Although it hasn’t been stated for sure, there are several reports that hint at the idea that she joined films in the first place because her family was going through financial struggles. Her father, actor Randhir Kapoor, who was the provider for her mother Babita, her sister Kareena and herself, had hit a slump in his career which drove Karishma to start working at a young age.
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Karishma Kapoor working in films was historical for the Kapoor clan because she was the first woman in the family to start working. Women in the Kapoor family were traditionally known not to work. Even though Randhir Kapoor was married to actor Babita and Rishi Kapoor was married to actor Neetu Singh, both of them stopped working after they got married. Karishma, in a way, paved the way for her sister Kareena to become a Bollywood A-lister.
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And my God, was she an incredible actor! From drama to comedy to dance numbers, the woman aced it all. She could do all of it and she was brilliant. So it makes sense for prestigious universities like Harvard to call her to speak at conferences.
According to Outlook, Karishma Kapoor was recently invited to Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, to speak at the India Conference at the Harvard Business School. She spoke on the ‘Soft Power of Bollywood’.
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However, a certain section of people on social media thought that Karishma didn’t deserve to be invited to Harvard because she wasn’t even a graduate. One such post went viral on X which questioned the standard of the university for calling somebody who didn’t even have a degree.
Standard of Harvard university that they called Karisma Kapoor as speaker 🙄
A Bollywood actress who is not even a graduate 🙄🙄 pic.twitter.com/mJAfqlLESn— Sheetal Chopra 🇮🇳 (@SheetalPronamo) February 27, 2024
However, several people online came to support Karishma, her experience and her wisdom on the topic she was asked to speak on. They pointed out that given her work experience, she is more than qualified to speak on the topic she was given. A few others also highlighted the sexism behind such online attacks.
Here’s a look at some of the responses online:
She was invited to speak about "The Soft power of Bollywood". Am assuming she is qualified to talk about that as an established Bollywood actress. Its not like she is running the richest cricket board in the world just because of who her father is? https://t.co/QsrVpHk7Ea
— TakeADeepBreath (@DeepTake) February 28, 2024
She can dance wearing a saree and in high heels and match steps with Govinda and be terrific at it. Those with so much talent to spread so much joy, Harvard ka baap also should invite her. Aap mat attend karo lecture. https://t.co/P8oHISGmi6
— somen mishra (@somenmishra0) February 28, 2024
Having a degree has nothing to do with knowledge. We can see people with educated but ignorant attitude. Knowledge comes from a deep realization of the true essence underlying the subject of knowledge. https://t.co/aqv7UHbUfO
— FindingNiche (@creaativesoul) February 28, 2024
She's one of the better actresses in Bollywood, acted in enough movies to have knowledge about what she's going to speak about. She is not a graduate, cause she started her career at 17 to help her family financially. Do NOT ever speak on her again. https://t.co/WJbV77EE1p
— 17's izzy (@BOLLYCHEOL) February 28, 2024
From Galileo Galilei, Michael Faraday and Thomas Edison to Steve Jobs & Bill Gates among various others. People can be successful without university degrees. Just saying. https://t.co/cIarjhnGAg
— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) February 28, 2024
so a man who sold tea can become the prime minister of this entire country but a woman who has been at the top of her game can’t speak about it at a university https://t.co/F2H6abQKEA
— ~G (@exovertt) February 28, 2024
Her experience in this industry , the insider knowledge that she has will always be higher than the ❄️ degree holders who rant on Twitter for engagement. https://t.co/1fU4DtDQpA
— Kru 🌟 (@Achari_Nimboo) February 28, 2024
Indians have a weird idea of education. A mechanic who is an encyclopedia of vehicles, skills and capabilities to make parts is called uneducated. Somebody who studies trivia about a war 1000 yrs back and has no skills to earn a living wage is a 'qualified graduate'. https://t.co/3iSz1wADZ6
— Programmer (@arafatkamaal) February 28, 2024
What are your views regarding this incident?