Kareena Kapoor defines grace, glamour and grandeur. From making her presence felt in an ensemble cast in Prakash Jha’s 'Satyagraha' to a hard-core commercial film, Karan Johar’s 'Gori Tere Pyar Mein', Bebo has never gone unnoticed. “I consider myself very lucky,” she says, flashing her diva-like smile. Among all her filmmaker friends, Kareena shares a very special equation with KJo, even though their relationship has seen its fair share of ups and downs. “Karan is my friend, philosopher and guide. Every time he has offered me a film, I’ve never asked him for the script or discussed the length of my role. What works for us is our faith in each other.”
The superstar is very upbeat about 'Gori Tere…' In an industry that thrives on friendships and personal equations, it wasn’t surprising to see Bebo opting for this film instead of Sanjay Bhansali’s 'Ram-Leela'. Considering both were big-ticket projects, one tends to think it might have been a tough call for Bebo. “I confess that I’m mad. There have been times when I’ve signed a film and then felt it was wrong. Yes, I was supposed to do 'Ram-Leela' but I changed my mind. I decided to do Gori… instead. With me, it’s all about the mood.” Kareena admits that she has opted out of a few good films. “There are no regrets,” she clarifies, adding, “I’ve worked with some really good directors. I’ve missed the chance to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. But there’s always a next time.” On a lighter note she adds, “I’m the only actress who can boast of giving films to other actresses.”
So, is there a chance that her criterion of choosing a film is purely based on friendship? “I’m a professional who takes her work seriously. I take up a film purely on the basis of script. I agreed to be a part of Gori… because of the script and my love for Karan and Imran Khan.” There is no rulebook that she follows. “Like I said, I’m mad. I listen to my heart. I’ll do a film when I want to. I take off for a holiday as and when my schedule allows. I’m in a happy zone.”
There have some speculations about her upcoming films. “After the release of GTPM, I’ll start shooting for 'Shuddhi'. I’ve been offered two films with Farhan Akhtar — one is the role of Amrita Pritam in Sahir Ludhianvi’s biopic, and the other is Dev Benegal’s next film. I’m still in the process of reading the script. I haven’t yet made up my mind about them.”
And is it true that she’ll be getting a six-pack ab look for 'Shuddhi'? “Why is the world making a big deal about me getting six-pack abs? There is more to the film than muscle-toned bodies and good locations.”
Be it films or item numbers, Kareena is on top of every filmmaker’s list. How does it feel? “I take that as a compliment. But I’ll have to admit that I’m not the best dancer. I make do with my expressions. I don’t like songs that are professionally choreographed because it means days of rehearsals. If I don’t get to have fun shooting a song, I get bored. Yes, I’d like to act in good films. I don’t have any hang-ups about only playing women-centric roles. I can pull off a de-glam role and balance it out with a hard-core commercial one.”
Unlike several top actresses, the length of a role doesn’t hold much importance for her. For her, quality comes first. “I’ve played an author-backed role in Heroine and I’ve also been a part of 3 Idiots. Working with Aamir Khan, even if it means getting just a few scenes, is worth it. I truly believe that ‘stars’ come and go but an ‘actor’ will sustain forever. I want to be known for my work and not just my glamour quotient. That’s the reason I don’t limit myself.”
Kareena claims to be one of the coolest actresses in the industry and she insists that she has imbibed these qualities from Saif Ali Khan. “We’re very basic people. At home we’re just another husband and wife. We don’t discuss work. I’m not the type who’ll make umpteen phone calls to my husband to keep a check, or vice versa. Both of us have the liberty to make our career choices. I’m free to work with whoever I want to and it’s the same for him.”
