Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor’s like sweet and sour sauce. She’s different. While other star aspirants crave to be launched in leather-skirted style, Kareena prefers splendour of the silken kind. What truly takes me aback at our first one-to-one interface is her self-confidence. Karisma Kapoor’s sister is no pushover, that’s for sure. At an age when other girls have difficulty deciding what dress to wear to an evening at a discotheque, Kareena, with considerable help from her capable Mamma, Babita, and successful sister, Karisma, is selecting the creamiest parts available to leading ladies in Mumbai. And what do you know! She’s enjoying every minute of her pre-debut stardom...

Everyone from JP Dutta to your sister Karisma feels you’re different from all other heroines on the scene. How does that make you feel?
It makes me feel wonderful when people say I’m different. I know I’ve made an effort to be different from the other heroines today. I feel people are becoming smothered by monotony. Every film looks identical, as does the lead pair. It’s becoming too much to bear.

Do you see yourself and Abhishek Bachchan as ushering in winds of change?
Completely, I do. I’ve the confidence to do so.

You’re far more confident than Karisma was in the beginning of her career.
I guess when she started out things were a little different. She had to go through her own struggle.

A lot of people tried to pull her down. I feel I’ve had it easier only because of her. It’s like she worked hard to grow the tree while I’m enjoying the fruits.

Karisma once told me you advised her on her career moves instead of the other way around.
(Laughs) That’s true, actually. We’re inseparable, the two closest persons I’ve ever come across. We share most things most of the times. Yeah, she’s my best friend.

Is it possible for two actresses to be friends?
You want me to speak the truth? I think it’s impossible for two actresses to be friends. Even if I make an effort, I’d be faking it. Because the competitive edge is always there between two actresses, no matter how well they manage to smother or conceal it.

But I do believe in being competitive mind you. If I don’t believe in competition, how can I be the best? I do believe in healthy competition. It’s the only way to strive towards excellence.

Is it easier to be friends with male co-stars?
Yes definitely. I’m very friendly with Abhishek. Actually he was so protective of me during the shoots of Refugee, it was almost a pain! He behaved like an elder brother throughout the shoot. He’s one of my closest friends. I kept telling him I didn’t know what I’d do when I didn’t have him as a costar in my other films.

Fortunately, there’s Akshay Kumar. He’s equally concerned and protective. You know, when he faced the moviecam for the first time in his life, I was no more than a child. Now I’m his costar. It’s so wonderful to have him stand protectively over me on the sets of Abbas-Mustan’s Ajnabee. He tells me how to stand, how to sit. He’s a gem of a guy. I’m lucky to have such wonderful guys for costars.

In Abbas-Mustan’s Ajnabee you play a wife. Isn’t that an unusual role for someone so young?
Yes. But I actually play an 18-year old wife. So I’m playing my own age.
But please, don’t get me wrong. I’m not draped in a demure sari. It’s a thriller, and so I have to enact alien emotions. But otherwise, I dress and speak normally. Bindaas, is the word. That way, identifying with the role was easy. Ajnabee, which is going to be my second release, will be completely different from Refugee.

No running around trees in Ajnabee?
Not even in that. Though it’s certainly a more conventionally glamourous role than the one in Refugee, it isn’t the run-of-the-mill heroine’s role, I can assure you. I have a very very powerful role. It was a pleasure working with Abbas-Mustan, who’ve given me such a good role. They are very different from JP Dutta, yet brilliant in their own way. Abbas-Mustan come from a different school of filmmaking. They’re more conventionally commercial in their approach. Working in the thriller so early in my career has been an enjoyable experience.

Watching such master technicians at work are you becoming interested in the technical side of filmmaking by any chance?
No not at all. It’s too tedious to tackle technique. I don’t know how they do it. I’m just enjoying doing my job. I’m going to be acting for some years. But I won’t overstay my welcome in the film industry. I won’t wait for people to wonder, "Isn’t it time for her to leave?".

Have you signed Mahesh Manjrekar’s film as well?
Yeah, yeah. I am doing his film. I play a blind girl in love with a blind man, played by Sanjay Dutt. I’m very excited about Mahesh. I think he’s b-r-r-iliant. I’ve seen his Astitva, it was just fabulous. He has given me the kind of role that generally deserves an award-winning performance.

You’re supposed to be beautiful while the hero is supposed to be ugly. How on earth is Sanjay Dutt going to swing that one?
I know! He’s so smashing looking.

Do you sense a Kareena wave in the offing in the film industry?
Is there such a wave at all? I don’t know how to react to such talk. I know people are talking well of me. But I don’t know what to do about it. Let Refugee be released and then we’ll see.

I’m pretty confident about myself. But I don’t know how to react to the expectations when people call me the millennium star, the next superstar, or whatever. I don’t only have to live up to the Kapoor standards but more directly, I have to live up to the standards set by my sister who’s a major star. So I have to really work hard to prove myself.

What happened to the film called Chori Chori, which you’d signed?
At the moment, it seems delayed. Right now I’m concentrating on the films I’ve already mentioned.

And I’m looking forward to Subhash Ghai’s and Karan Johar’s forthcoming films. In Subhash Ghai’s Yaadein I play a very young, exuberant girl who falls for a middle class guy. It sounds like the run-of-the-mill romance. But I’m sure Subhash Ghai’s treatment will make all the difference. It’s a challenge for me as well as him because he has known my parents for years. A lot of people have asked him why he has chosen Kareena Kapoor instead of launching a new girl. I’m sure he’s going to surprise everyone. I feel Yaadein will be the best film of my career after Refugee.

In Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, you’ll be facing Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya, Shah Rukh...
Of course, each time I meet Shah Rukh, I’m like completely stunned. I’m ballistic about Shah Rukh. I don’t care about any of the other Khans. I’m a diehard fan of Shah Rukh’s. I think he knows it, though I’ve never had a chance to tell him so directly. He’s the best. No one can touch him. I think besides Shah Rukh it’s Abhishek who’s going to be a lasting sensation. I’m very very sure about that.

Don’t you like any of the actors from your father’s generation?
Amitji, of course. And Dharamji. They’re the tops. These days, I’m going back to their films. I love watching old films. For me, Meena Kumariji and Nargisji, are the ultimate actresses. There can never be anyone to equal them. I watch all of Meena Kumari’s films. If there’s one showing on television, I refuse to go out.

That’s the kind of elegance and beauty JP Dutta sees in you.
I hope I can revive the era of Meena Kumari.

But then I hope you can also do a Karisma Kapoor.
(Screams) Yeah! Of course! People are going to see me do that as well. Though I must tell you I hate dancing.

Oh God, it’s a pain. When it comes to dancing I’m no Madhuri Dixit or Karisma Kapoor. No way. I know dancing is very essential these days. But so what if I can’t dance well? Even Meena Kumari and Nargis were no dancers. Even Madhubala, for that matter, wasn’t.

Watch out, here comes another Madhubala.
Oh I hope so. I’d love to be like her.

Are you mobbed already?
Plenty. But not in Mumbai, only outstation.

Autographs?
Yeah. I sign an average of three every day. I’m around for five years at least to sign as many autographs as I like. But I don’t want people to get tired of me.

When do you see yourself married?
Oh that would be like it’s too far away to think about. I have to find the p-u-r-r-r-f-e-c-t partner.

Suppose you find someone before your sister does?
In that case, I’ll wait. Right now, my career is more important.

Your father must be very proud of you?
Definitely. Although he doesn’t take an active part in my career, he is definitely proud of me.

Randhir Kapoor once said you’re going to "chew up" all the other heroines.
Yeah, he did say that (laughs). I don’t know whether anyone needs to feel threatened by me. I’m not here to threaten anyone.

Do you relish being interviewed?
Well, I liked talking to you. I only like people who praise me! So you’re in my good books, (laughs). As long as you compare me with Madhubala, I’m not complaining.

Subhash K Jha