Even though most people think that Prem Qaidi was her first film appearance actually she can be seen in a glimpse in her uncle Rishi Kapoors 1987 film Pyar ke Kabil in the song Tere Jaisa Mukhda to.
Karishma Kapoor was formally launched with a small budget film Prem Qaidi which became a surprise hit and launched her career. But she was supposed to be launched with different film. There was a time when there were rumours that Karishma Kapoor wants to be launched with the RK Films home production Henna. But the problem was- Rishi Kapoor was supposed to be the lead actor of the film who was her uncle so the launch didn't materialise.
After this she was supposed to be launched with Bobby Deol in Barsaat which was in development since 1990 after Ghayal. The director was Shekhar Kapoor. But Shekhar Kapoor started shooting without a script and then left the film after shooting some scenes. Eventually the whole portion was scrapped. By this time Karishma got other offers and she left Barsaat (it is also said her rumoured affairs with Bobby Deol fell out)
Another intersting thing, her first co-star was actor Harish who was known for his South films but didn't succeed in Hindi films afterwards. After the success of Prem Qaidi Harish and Karishma worked in Jawab as pair but the film proved to be a disaster. After this Karishma kept rising as a star while Harish fell into oblivion. So in Coolie no 1 Harish was a supporting actor and Karishma was the lead opposite Govinda. Two years later in 1997 Harish was relegated to a cameo in Hero no 1 while Karishma was the lead actress.
A very interesting trivia. Karishma Kapoor when entered the industry she received a lot of criticism for her looks and acting . Infact she was voted as the worst actress in the poll of 1994. By 1996 she emerged as the top actress of the industry.