Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor's Warm Hug Steals the Show at IIFA 2027 Press Meet
Former co-stars and ex-partners Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor sent fans into a frenzy on Thursday after sharing a warm hug on the red carpet of the IIFA 2027 press conference in Mumbai, ANI reported. The friendly exchange, captured on video, quickly became the talking point of the star-studded event — and it comes with a Gulf connection: the 27th IIFA Weekend and Awards are set to take place at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on Yas Island on January 22 and 23, 2027, according to event announcements reported by Lokmat Times.
A hug years in the making
Kareena and Shahid were one of Bollywood's most talked-about couples in the 2000s, ANI noted, and they starred together in Fida, Chup Chup Ke and the beloved Jab We Met. ANI reported that they parted ways before Jab We Met was filmed. Years later, Kareena married Saif Ali Khan and has two sons, while Shahid married Mira Rajput and now has a son and a daughter, ANI added.
MoneyControl reported that when reporters asked Shahid about meeting Kareena, he said "nice, it's nice," suggesting that such occasional meetings were not unusual. Salman Khan, who also attended the Mumbai press meet, shared a warm greeting with Kareena, MoneyControl added.
The Abu Dhabi connection
As per an IIFA press release reported by ANI, the 2027 edition marks IIFA's fourth showcase in Abu Dhabi, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Miral. For the region's huge Bollywood audience, that makes this hug more than a nostalgia moment — it is a preview of a home-turf celebration.
ANI reported that actor Varun Dhawan will host the awards ceremony alongside Ananya Panday, joined by Karan Johar and Manish Paul. Performances are expected from Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, while Rashmika Mandanna is set to make her IIFA debut at the upcoming edition. Other celebrities at the Mumbai press conference included Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna, Abhishek Banerjee, Ali Fazal and Pankaj Tripathi, ANI noted.
The moment that melted the internet
Lokmat Times described footage showing Kareena, upon noticing Shahid, leaning in to greet him with a hug and an air kiss, after which the Jab We Met co-stars exchanged a few pleasantries before proceeding with their engagements. ANI noted that Kareena opted for an all-black ensemble with stylish sunglasses, while Shahid looked dapper in a classic white suit.
Such rare public interactions between the two have consistently drawn major media and public interest, Lokmat Times observed, echoing a similar cordial moment between them at last year's IIFA press conference.
Sources: ANI; ABP Live; MoneyControl; Lokmat Times; New Kerala.