Bollywood and Formula One met in an unlikely way when Kareena Kapoor Khan sat down with McLaren driver and reigning world champion Lando Norris. Their chat on the sidelines of the Singapore Grand Prix covered cinema, racing, masala chai and Indian hand gestures. Google India shared the video on Instagram on Friday evening, October 9, 2026, and Hindustan Times reported the details.
The best line came first. Kareena opened by joking that her husband had won a "world championship" 19 years ago, a nod to Saif Ali Khan playing a champion racer in the 2007 Yash Raj film Ta Ra Rum Pum. Norris played along: "So, we're the same, basically."
Welcome to the Papaya Family
Kareena's Grand Prix appearance became public earlier that Friday, when McLaren F1 posted a photo of her on Instagram. "The newest member of the Papaya Family, Kareena Kapoor Khan," the team wrote, using the name for McLaren's global fan community. Hindustan Times reported that Kareena also shared photos from the paddock and circuit in her Instagram Stories.
For McLaren, it is a chance to reach the huge Indian audience that follows Bollywood stars. For Kareena, it adds a global sports moment to a year that has seen her name in several big film headlines.
Chai, gestures and a rapid-fire quiz
In the video, Kareena hosts what Hindustan Times called a "chai pe charcha" (a chat over tea). She serves Norris Indian masala chai and has him guess the meaning of common Indian gestures. That segment is clearly made for social media, and fans are already clipping it.
She also ran a rapid-fire quiz on his racing career and McLaren's history in Formula One. Hindustan Times wrote, with some humour, that the quiz came "much to the driver's dismay." The 26-year-old British driver has raced for McLaren since his debut in 2018 and won the world championship with the team in 2025.
Why the Ta Ra Rum Pum joke landed
Ta Ra Rum Pum, directed by Siddharth Anand, cast Saif as RV, an Indian racer in the American stock-car scene, opposite Rani Mukerji. It has become a nostalgic favourite, and the "world title" line works because Indian viewers instantly get the reference. Bringing Saif into the conversation also kept a family touch in the moment.
What Kareena is working on
Hindustan Times noted that Kareena was most recently seen in Daayra, an investigative drama directed by Meghna Gulzar and co-starring Prithviraj Sukumaran. The two play police officers dealing with juvenile crime in a film the makers said was "inspired by true events." According to Hindustan Times, it received mixed reviews and was a commercial failure.
What is next could be bigger. Our earlier report, "Kareena Kapoor Khan to Reunite With Shah Rukh Khan for King Song 'Daddy Cool' After 15 Years, Reports Say," covers her reported cameo in Shah Rukh Khan's King. Separately, the Times of India has reported that the 3 Idiots sequel will bring back the original cast, including Kareena.
Why the crossover is a big deal for F1 in India
Formula One has been trying to grow its Indian audience for years, and having one of Bollywood's best-known stars appear with the reigning champion is a rare promotional moment. India has not hosted a Grand Prix since the Buddh International Circuit races ended in 2013, so the sport depends on streaming, social media and star power to reach fans here.
A short, funny video with chai, gestures and a Saif joke is exactly the kind of content that spreads on Indian Instagram. It also introduces Norris to millions of people who may never have watched a race, which is likely why both McLaren and Google India promoted it on the same day.
FAQ
Did Kareena Kapoor meet Lando Norris?
Yes. She met the McLaren F1 driver at the Singapore Grand Prix, and Google India shared a video of their conversation on October 9, 2026.
What did Kareena say about Saif Ali Khan to Lando Norris?
She joked that Saif won a "world championship" 19 years ago, referring to his racer role in Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007). Norris replied, "So, we're the same, basically."
What is the McLaren Papaya Family?
It is the name for McLaren F1's global fan community. McLaren welcomed Kareena as its "newest member."
What was Kareena Kapoor's last film?
Daayra, directed by Meghna Gulzar and co-starring Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Cover photo: Prime Minister's Office, Government of India / Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India