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'I'm not this abrasive go-getter'
Kareena Kapoor all set to work with Govind Nihalani
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Subhash K Jha
Kareena Kapoor has been quietly inching her career forward.
"I have been keeping mum because I was being grossly misrepresented in my press interviews. I came across as this abrasive go-getter who would stop at nothing to get her way and who was so rigid about her price she didn't spare anyone. Well I have news for you."
Kareena who has two major releases, Suneel Darshan's Talaash and debutant director Surya's Khushi, in the next two months, says, "I will most probably work in Govind Nihalani's film. He has approached me. And in principle I have decided to do the film."
Govind Nihalani has earlier worked with actresses like Smita Patil and Tabu, and is planning to start a film in February on the police force with Amitabh Bachchan and Om Puri in the lead. If Kareena agrees to do Nihalani's film, it would be a big step forward for her.
Interestingly, sister Karisma has recently done Nihalani's colleague Shyam Benegal's Zubeidaa. "I don't know why I am constantly criticised for the price factor. Of course I charge my fee from producers who can afford it. Why shouldn't I? But I am certainly not fixated on my fee. In fact I am doing my mentor J P Dutta's LoC in which I am paired with Saif Ali Khan, for free. J Psaab gave me my dream launch in Refugee. And I can't dream of charging him. It's an honour to just be part of a film like LoC. I get to work with Saif for the first time. I am really looking forward to that."
Kareena flies down to Chandigarh later this month to complete her "small and sweet" role in JPs film.
About her heroes Kareena face brightens up. "It is an amazing how many people have commented on how good I look with Akshay Kumar in Talaash and Fardeen Khan in Khushi. Believe me, Fardeen is the surprise packet of Khushi."
Another surprise is the reinvented gentle sensitive and wounded character that Kareena plays in Sooraj Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. According to Karan Johar, "This is the film that will turn Bebo (Kareena) into the legend she aspires to be."
Laughing pleasurably, Kareena reveals, "This isn't the only film that revolves around me. I have just signed Dharmesh Darshan's Kajal to be produced by Boney Kapoor, where I play the title role. Believe me, audiences will be surprised when they see me as simple quiet girl in Kajal."
From Govind Nihalani to Dharmesh Darshan --- it looks like Kareena Kapoor has her career chalked out for 2003.