Zarine Khan (born 14 May 1987) is an Indian actress and model who appears in Indian films, mainly in the Hindi film industry. She has also appeared in Tamilfilms. Khan has been noted for looks very similar to Katrina Kaif and Elli Avram.^[1][2]

Khan made her screen debut with a lead role in the 2010 Anil Sharma's period film Veer co-starring with Salman Khan for which she was nominated for Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut.^[3] Khan garnered recognition from her item number, "Character Dheela" in Ready which was the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2011. In 2012, she earned commercial success in Bollywood with Sajid Khan's Housefull 2 which was the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2012. In late 2013, Khan made her debut in the Tamil film Naan Rajavaga Pogiren in which she did an item number in song "Malgove".

As of May 2013, Khan has several projects in various stages of production. She is filming Partner 2, (which is the sequel to Partner) and Tamil film Karikalandirected by Gandhi Krishna. She is also going to made her Punjabi film debut with Rohit Jugra's Jatt James Bond!. In addition to acting in films, she is active in humanitarian work and has a number of endorsement deals.

Khan was born on 14 May 1987 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.^[4] She speaks Hindi, Urdu, English and Marathi. She completed her intermediate at Rizvi College of Science, Mumbai.^[5][6]

Zarine walked the ramp as Showstopper for jewellery brand YS18 at India International Jewellery Week(IIJW),2012.^[7][8]

Khan wanted to be a doctor but joined acting. Her acting career began while visiting the set of Yuvraj^[9] at Subhash Ghai's film school Whistling Woods. Salman Khan noticed her and decided to cast her for his friend Anil Sharma's film Veer because, he said, "She looks the character — the sweet princess she is playing in Veer".^[10] After a screen test, Khan was given the lead role of Princess Yashodhara. She gained eight kilograms in order to be more convincing as a 19th-century princess.^[11] The film revolves around the 1825 Pindari movement of Rajasthan, when India was ruled by the British. Veer did not do well at Box office, however her performance was praised by both critics and public. Khan went on to nominate for Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut.^[12]

In 2011, Khan did an item number "Character Dheela", with Salman Khan in Anees Bazmee's Ready, parodying characters from Mughal-e-Azam, Sholay and Shri 420 and it was the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2011.

Khan's second release was, Sajid Khan's Comedy film Housefull 2, sequel of Housefull and Hindi remake of Malyam film Mattupetti Machan. The film revolves around two cousins Henna and Bobby, the two daughters of the Kapoor family who hate each other very much, a model Jlo love interest of Jolly the son of Jagga Daku and four Best friends Sunny, Max, Jolly and Jai who fall in love with . Khan played the role of JLo a model who is in love with Jolly, played by Ritesh Deshmukh and featured her alongside an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Asin, John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez. Khan earned critical acclaim for her performance, with Taran Adarsh stating that, "Zarine act more as eye candy. she appears typical sultry and enticing selves; and is befit in her own space." ^[13][14] Housefull 2 was the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2012.

Khan made her Tamil debut with 2013 Vetrimaaran's Naan Rajavaga Pogiren in which she did an item number in song "Malgove" alongside Nakul Jaidev. She was appreciated for the song. Taran Adarsh commented," Zarine Khan's song is high on energy."

As of March 2013, Khan has several projects in various stages of production. She is all set to appear in Tamil film Karikalan directed by Gandhi Krishna, in which she is playing the lead role of Velir Princess opposite Vikram. She has also sign two Bollywood films, David Dhawan's Partner 2, which is the sequel to Partner, in which she will star alongside Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Govinda and Remo D'Souza's Amar Must Die opposite Rajeev Khandelwal. Khan will be apart of upcoming Punjabi film Jatt James Bond!, directed by Rohit Jugra opposite Gippy Grewal.

Khan is the brand ambassador for Sweet Dreams Lounge wear, a popular Relaxed Clothing in India. She is also the brand ambassador for prominent education center Samalkha Group of Institutions, which rank no. 6 private management college in North Zone[disambiguation needed].

Khan has participated in a number of concerts and award ceremonies. She took part in 11th IIFA Awards with actor Salman Khan. In late 2012, she performed atDubai Festival City's Ahlan Bollywood Concert with Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Sophie Choudry, Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sohail Khan. In 2013, Khan performed at GR8! Women Awards with other Bollywood actors (including Asin, Raveena Tandon, Reema Kagti, Bhagyashree Patwardhan, Richa Chadda, Farah Khan and Disha Vakani).

Khan has graced the covers of several major magazines including Vogue (February 2011), Perfect Woman Magazine (March 2011), Exhibit (July 2012), Beauty(August 2012) and Femina (April (2013).