Though former flames Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor had parted ways on a bitter note, they buried the hatchet over the years.
At a recently held promotional event of the film, reportedly, a super excited Shahid was overheard encouraging his co-stars to “go all-out and fly high doing various stuff to promote the film”. And apparently, that’s when Bebo quipped, “Oh you are one to talk Shahid! You don’t drink or smoke so how can you fly high?” LOL.
Mr. Kapoor is a teetotaler and a non-smoker and therefore, used to guzzle a lot of coffee to stay high during the shoot of some scenes in Udta Punjab.
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The Enduring Friendship: How Kareena Kapoor’s Signature Wit Lightened the Air for Shahid Kapoor

Bollywood history is replete with iconic pairings, both on and off-screen. Yet, few former couples have managed to maintain a dynamic as mature, professional, and, at times, humorously cordial as Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor. For years, the two actors’ public appearances together were a subject of immense media scrutiny, often leading to awkward silences or polite distance. However, a significant turning point in their equation was marked by their collaboration on the film Udta Punjab, where they consciously chose to move past their history. It was during the promotional circuit for this very movie that Kareena Kapoor Khan, with her signature sharp wit and endearing candidness, perfectly exemplified her ability to “pull Shahid Kapoor’s leg” and lighten the air for the whole room.

While the most widely quoted and factual example of this good-natured teasing dates back a few years, its spirit perfectly encapsulates their mature, albeit occasionally cheeky, professional relationship, which continues to evolve with their even more recent, heartwarming reunions.

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The Iconic Quip: When Kareena’s Wit Took Flight

The much-discussed incident of Kareena pulling Shahid’s leg took place during the promotional activities for their 2016 film, Udta Punjab. The movie was a milestone for the duo, as it was their first professional collaboration years after their highly publicised breakup and the release of their cult-classic, Jab We Met (2007). The atmosphere at their joint press events was naturally tense with anticipation, but a moment of genuine, spontaneous humour from Kareena broke the ice completely.

Setting the Scene: The Udta Punjab Promotions

The film Udta Punjab dealt with the grim subject of drug abuse in the state of Punjab, requiring intense and serious preparation from the entire cast, which also included Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh. As a consequence of the film’s sensitive nature and the high-profile reunion of its lead pair, the promotional events were highly anticipated by the media and the public.

During one such interaction, Shahid Kapoor, who was known to be incredibly enthusiastic about the film’s unique marketing approach, was reportedly overheard passionately encouraging his co-stars to “go all-out and fly high doing various stuff to promote the film”. Shahid’s choice of words, using the phrase “fly high,” provided the perfect opening for Kareena’s impromptu jab.

The Punchline Heard Round the Internet

Kareena Kapoor Khan, quick to pick up on the slight double-entendre in Shahid’s motivational words, responded with a perfectly timed and good-natured retort that instantly turned a potentially serious press interaction into a viral moment of laughter.

Kareena’s famous quip was:

“Oh you are one to talk Shahid! You don’t drink or smoke so how can you fly high?”

This humorous remark was a direct and playful reference to Shahid Kapoor being a teetotaler and a non-smoker. It playfully undercut his high-energy, “fly high” metaphor by pointing out his clean living. The laughter that followed was not just from the media and the audience but also, notably, from Shahid himself.

Why the Joke Landed So Well:

• Honesty and Context: It was an honest, unguarded moment in an otherwise carefully orchestrated public appearance, showing a glimpse of the easy camaraderie they once shared.
• The Ice-Breaker: The self-deprecating nature of the joke, aimed at a universally known fact about Shahid, instantly diffused the built-up tension surrounding their reunion, confirming to the world that they were, indeed, on cordial terms.
• Kareena’s Brand: The remark was classic Kareena: witty, spontaneous, and delivered with a charming lack of filter. It reminded fans of the beloved character ‘Geet’ from Jab We Met, who was famed for her quick tongue and carefree spirit.

The incident went viral, not just as a piece of celebrity gossip, but as a symbolic moment of two professionals celebrating their past while confidently embracing their mature present.

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A Decade of Maturity: The Evolution of Their Dynamic

The Udta Punjab event established a baseline of respect and professional cordiality between the two. In the years that followed, their dynamic has only matured, moving from a professional working relationship to an occasional, friendly interaction based on shared life experiences—most notably, parenthood.

Reunion at the School Play (December 2024)

More recently, in a widely circulated moment that charmed the internet, Kareena and Shahid were spotted attending the annual day function of their children’s school. The sight of the two former flames in the same venue, along with their respective spouses, Saif Ali Khan and Mira Rajput, was a testament to their healthy and evolved personal lives.

• Shared Space, Shared Joy: Videos showed Kareena, accompanied by Saif and Karisma Kapoor, cheering for her sons, Taimur and Jeh, while Shahid was seated just behind her with Mira Rajput, supporting their children, Misha and Zain.
• The New Norm: This non-dramatic, family-oriented sighting underlined that their relationship has transcended any past issues, evolving into the most ‘normal’ kind of co-parenting-adjacent interaction. They are now part of the same parent community, sharing the simple, universal joy of watching their kids perform.

The IIFA 2025 Cordial Embrace

In March 2025, their friendly bond was further cemented at the IIFA press conference in Jaipur. Sharing the stage with other dignitaries and co-stars like Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan, Kareena and Shahid exchanged a warm hug.

• Viral Moment: The video of the actors greeting each other with a hug and a brief conversation went instantly viral, with fans calling it the “moment of the year” and fondly recalling their iconic Jab We Met pairing of ‘Geet and Aditya’.
• Downplaying the Hype: Shahid Kapoor himself addressed the frenzy, downplaying the media hype and saying, “This is nothing new; we keep meeting each other. Today, we met on stage, and we keep meeting here and there, but this is a very normal thing for us. If people like it, then it is good”. This statement solidifies the fact that for them, the public interest is far greater than the actual event—their equation is now simply cordial and professional.

This latest interaction, while lacking a direct, witty ‘leg-pulling’ quote, perfectly illustrates the final chapter of their public dynamic: one of mutual respect and easy professionalism. The ability to share a stage, a moment, and a laugh—whether it’s an improvised joke about ‘flying high’ or a simple, warm hug—speaks volumes about their maturity.

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Beyond the Banter: The Jab We Met Legacy

No discussion of Kareena and Shahid’s dynamic is complete without acknowledging the film that cemented their on-screen chemistry and, ironically, coincided with the end of their relationship: Jab We Met (2007).

The characters of Geet (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) are etched into Bollywood history, representing a transformative journey from a heartbroken man to a lively soul, and from a carefree girl to a mature woman. The film’s enduring popularity ensures that every time they meet, fans immediately get a wave of ‘Geet and Aditya’ nostalgia, which adds an extra layer of meaning to their real-life public interactions.

The film’s legacy and their real-life maturity have created a rare narrative: a classic on-screen couple whose off-screen separation has only led to a more dignified and respectful friendship in the public eye.

In conclusion, Kareena Kapoor Khan’s famous leg-pulling moment, rooted in the Udta Punjab promotions, was a brilliant display of her spontaneous humour and a pivotal moment in normalising her equation with Shahid Kapoor. Their subsequent interactions, from co-parenting-adjacent school events to warm hugs at awards functions, confirm that the lightheartedness was not a one-off. It set the tone for a mature friendship that is a positive example of professionalism and mutual respect in the often-dramatic world of Bollywood.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: What was the specific joke Kareena Kapoor Khan made to pull Shahid Kapoor’s leg?

A: The specific, highly-quoted joke occurred during the promotions for their 2016 film, Udta Punjab. When Shahid Kapoor was passionately encouraging his co-stars to “go all-out and fly high” for the film’s promotion, Kareena Kapoor Khan playfully quipped, “Oh you are one to talk Shahid! You don’t drink or smoke so how can you fly high?” This was a lighthearted jab at Shahid being a teetotaler and a non-smoker, which instantly broke the tension surrounding their public reunion.

Q2: Have Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor met recently?

A: Yes, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor have had several cordial, recent interactions.

• IIFA 2025 Press Conference: In March 2025, the two were seen sharing a warm hug and a friendly conversation on stage in Jaipur, a moment that went viral and was dubbed a “Jab We Met 2” reunion by fans.
• Children’s School Event: They were also spotted together in December 2024, sitting near each other at their children’s school annual day function, which they attended with their respective spouses.

Q3: What movies have Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor done together?

A: Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor have worked together in several films throughout their careers:

• Fida (2004)
• 36 China Town (2006)
• Chup Chup Ke (2006)
• Jab We Met (2007)
• Milenge Milenge (delayed release in 2010)
• Udta Punjab (2016)

Q4: What is the current relationship between Kareena and Shahid Kapoor?

A: The current relationship between Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor is professional, cordial, and respectful. Both actors are happily married to different partners—Kareena to Saif Ali Khan and Shahid to Mira Rajput—and have children. They are known to maintain a healthy equation, occasionally crossing paths at school functions for their children, who attend the same school, and at industry events. Shahid Kapoor has stated that their interactions are “totally normal” for them.

Q5: Why did the Kareena and Shahid hug at IIFA 2025 go viral?

A: The hug between Kareena and Shahid Kapoor at the IIFA 2025 press conference in Jaipur went viral because it was a rare and warm public interaction between the former couple after years of maintaining a polite distance. The moment delighted fans who hold immense nostalgia for their on-screen chemistry as ‘Geet and Aditya’ from the cult-classic film Jab We Met. The friendly exchange was seen as a beautiful testament to their personal maturity and professional respect.