Katrina Kaif (born on 16 July 1984) is a British-Indian actress and model who has appeared in Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam films in India.

Born in Hong Kong to a Kashmiri Muslim father, Mohammed Kaif, and a British Christian mother, Suzzane Turquotte. Her mother, a Harvard graduate, was a lawyer but later became involved in charity work. Her parents separated when Kaif was very young. Kaif has seven siblings. She was raised in Hawaii and later moved to her mother's home country, England.
Katrina Kaif, one of the most sought after actresses in Bollywood, debuted with a bang through "Boom", a movie about models getting caught up with the underworld. Though the movie bombed, people couldn't easily forget her angelic face and voluptuous figure. Not many have gained the fans and popularity as a new entrant as Katrina has done.

Her father is an NRI and her mother is English, which makes her poor at Hindi. Initially critics were very harsh on her for her poor Hindi. But she has worked hard on it and started taking dancing lessons - both very essential to survive in the industry. Now she has started dubbing on her own. She has done few movies down south and is a popular face there already.

She started off with photographer Atul Kasbekar. Later she got offers from Lakme, LG, Cola, Fevicol, Pantene, Veet, Kodak, and L'Oreal. She was chosen as the face of the year for the Lakme India Fashion Week (2005). The Lakme commercial made her very popular. Soon Kaizad Gustad, the director of "Boom" noticed her and offered her a role in the film. Since it was the role of a model, she promptly agreed.

She has done two Telugu movies - Malliswari(2004) and Allari Pidugu(2005) and a Malayalam film (Balram vs. Taradas). In 2005 she starred in "Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya" opposite Salman Khan and Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar". "Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye" with Akshay Kumar followed.

At age fourteen she was approached by an agent and began modeling; her first job was for a jewelry campaign. She continued modeling in London, under a contract with the Models 1 Agency and did campaigns for houses like La Senza and Arcadius and even walked on the London Fashion Week.

Kaif's London modeling work led to her discovery by London-based filmmaker Kaizad Gustad, who gave her a part in his film Boom (2003). She moved to Mumbai and was offered a number of modeling assignments. However, filmmakers were initially hesitant to sign her because she could not speak Hindi.

She has lots of exciting projects lined up. One of them is "Partner" with boyfriend Salman Khan and Govinda. She is also doing "Apne" in which real life father and sons Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol all star together, for the first time. Then there is Anees Bazmee's "Welcome" with Akshay Kumar. Another film with Akshay Kumar "Namaste, London" is all set to release on March.

Kaif saw success with the 2005 film Sarkar where she played the bit part of Abhishek Bachchan's girlfriend. Her next release, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), where she was paired opposite Salman Khan, earned her the Stardust Breakthrough Performance Award.

In 2007 Katrina appeared in the hit movie Namastey London, wherein she starred as a British-Indian girl alongside Akshay Kumar for the second time after the box office dud Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006). Since then, she had appeared in a series of box office hits that include Apne, Partner and Welcome.

2008 saw her play a negative role for the first time in Abbas-Mustan's success action thriller Race. She played the role of Saif Ali Khan's secretary who is secretly in love with his hostile stepbrother played by Akshay Khanna.

Kaif's second release of the year was Anees Bazmee's production Singh is Kinng, opposite Akshay Kumar. Upon release the film was a big success at the box office. Kaif's final release of the year, Subhash Ghai's Yuvvraaj, was a critical and commercial failure.

Kaif's first release for 2009, New York, with John Abraham was a critical and commercial success. Kaif's performance was highly appreciated with critic Taran Adarsh writing, "Katrina gives you the biggest surprise. Known for her glamour roles, Katrina proves that she can deliver if the director and writer offer her a role of substance. She's outstanding. In fact, people will see a new, different Katrina this time.

Kaif was voted Asia's Sexiest women in 2008 by Eastern Eye and was also the most searched celebrity of 2008 on Google India. Kaif was also recently seen on the Reality Show 10 Ka Dum, along with Neil Nitin Mukesh for the promotion of her film New York. Kaif appeared on the singing talent show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa with Salman Khan to promote her film Yuvvraaj. Kaif is the model for Mattel's Bollywood Barbie, which will be released in September 2009.

Now she is working with Ranbeer Kapoor in Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani and De Dana Dan with Akshay Kumar.