Kareena Kapoor Khan may have established herself as one of Hindi cinema’s most successful actors, but she says there is one choice from her younger years that she continues to regret, giving up on her education.Kareena revealed that she left her studies after Class 11 when she entered the film industry. Although her decision ultimately led to a hugely successful acting career, she admitted that not completing her education has remained a lingering regret.“I never finished my education, and that was something that kind of stayed with me. Even though I had the opportunity, I got into movies and didn’t study any further after Class 11,” she said in an interview with Hanuman Dass.Kareena acknowledged that her decision to leave school could invite criticism, but at the time, she was focused on establishing herself as an actor and following her instincts.“I know a lot of people can make fun of that or say whatever they want, but I wanted to prove myself as an actor. That was something I wanted to do — to follow my heart,” she said.Despite building an acclaimed career, Kareena said she still wishes she had completed her education.“Education is something I do regret not completing,” she said.That experience has also influenced how she approaches her own children’s education. Kareena said she wants her sons, Taimur and Jeh, to pursue whatever makes them happy, but believes completing their education should come first.“That’s why I have pushed my boys to finish their education first and then follow their hearts,” she said.Kareena has been associated with UNICEF India since 2014 and has used her platform to advocate for girls’ education, gender equality and better access to quality education for children.The actor also opened up about her philosophy around philanthropy. For Kareena, charity is most meaningful when it comes from a genuine personal connection to a cause, rather than from a desire to make those efforts public.“I think charity is something that should come from what you believe in and what you genuinely want to do,” she said.She added that she can sometimes feel uncomfortable discussing charitable initiatives because acts of giving can easily be misunderstood when they become public conversations.“That’s why sometimes I feel awkward talking about it. Some of the things we do, we don’t necessarily like to talk about. Whether it is Saif and me together, I feel it is more from the heart than from words,” she said.Recalling a cricket-related charitable initiative during the summer, Kareena said she appreciates opportunities where sport can also be used to support a good cause.“Actions speak louder than words. In our own way, we try to do things that lead us to doing some good in our lives,” she said.Saif Ali Khan recently participated in a charitable match between Luton Town and the Indians Cricket Club in England. Kareena and their sons, Taimur and Jeh, were also present at the event to support him.Kareena also spoke about motherhood and how raising two boys has been a completely new experience for her. Having grown up with her sister Karisma Kapoor, she said she never experienced what it was like to grow up alongside a brother.“I’m officially a football mom and I’m officially a cricket mom,” she said with a laugh.“Me and Karisma were two sisters, so having two boys is completely different. It’s almost like an out-of-body experience because I never grew up with a brother or a boy sibling. So for me to see Tim and Jay is amazing. And I’m learning each day.”For Kareena, however, the most important lessons she wants her children to carry through life have little to do with fame or achievement. She said compassion and kindness are the qualities she values most.“The only things I always want to see in my boys are compassion and kindness. Those are two things that can take you the longest way,” she said.Kareena also revealed that Taimur is increasingly passionate about sports and currently dreams of becoming either a cricketer or a footballer.“When Tim says he wants to be a football player or a cricketer, of course, because he is so into sport right now, that’s what he wants. And I say, ‘Yeah, of course, why not? If that’s what you want to do,’” she said. According to Kareena, Taimur has ambitions that go beyond simply playing for fun.“He says, ‘I want to play cricket or football on a global stage.’ And I’m like, ‘yeah, then you have to make it happen,’” she added. While Kareena and Saif Ali Khan both come from prominent film families, the actor stressed that their children will not be pressured into joining the movie industry.“We have to encourage him and push him in the right direction. Who knows, maybe he changes his mind later, and that’s fine too. It’s not like because we come from a film family or because we’re actors, he has to become an actor,” she said.Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan began dating after working together on Tashan and married on October 16, 2012. They welcomed their first son, Taimur Ali Khan, on December 20, 2016, followed by their younger son, Jeh Ali Khan, on February 21, 2021.
