Kareena: I don't watch Hindi films

Kareena Kapoor Khan claims that playing a village girl was one of the big reasons why she signed up for her new film, Gori Tere Pyaar Main.

"What excited me most about this film was that it would be shot in a village. I don’t think I have done any film in which I go to a village or I am from there,” says Kareena.

While we can debate on that, Kareena talks to Sonil Dedhia about the new film, co-starring Imran Khan, life with husband Saif Ali Khan, and why she doesn't mind if Saif gets intimate with other heroines on screen.

You are working with Imran Khan for the second time after Ek Main Aur Ek Tu. Was it more comfortable this time around?

It has been a wonderful experience working with him. He is very charming.

He is unlike a lot of actors that I have worked with. He is unlike a typical Bollywood hero and that is why we look good on screen.

Ek Main Aur Ek Tu was modern, contemporary, based in Las Vegas. 

On the other hand, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is set in a village, so the atmosphere was completely different. We had a blast while doing it. We both look so good together.

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During the film's trailer launch, producer Karan Johar had mentioned that the chemistry between you two is so good, you should get married.

We do look good together. Imran makes me look good. For the first time, there is an actor who makes me look good. 

There is something nice about him. And people like to watch us together. We balance it out together well.

Even Saif has told me that we look fabulous together.

Are you saying Saif doesn’t make you look good on screen?

I think he looks good with everybody else. Personally, as long as he looks good with me, I have no interest with who he works with. He can work with whoever he likes.

Who is Saif’s best co-star?

Saif’s new film Bullet Raja is releasing so I hope it is Sonakshi (Sinha, his co-star in the film) and hope that Bullett Raja does well.

He should work with everybody and all films should do well.

Whenever his film is release, he should look good with that particular heroine.

Have you seen Bullett Raja?

No, I haven’t. I don’t watch Hindi films and even Saif doesn’t watch Hindi films.

The last Hindi film I saw was 3 Idiots. And the last film that he saw must be Dabangg or 3 Idiots.

You don’t watch each other’s films?

I sometimes watch Saif’s films. The Illumati Films office is the same building that we live in and the edit happens there. If he is there for editing, I go and watch it. I saw Cocktail three or four months before the release.

He doesn’t like to watch my films. At home we generally do not watch Bollywood films... I haven’t even gone to a theatre. 

You are in a profession where personal chemistry matters a lot. Do you and Saif ever feel insecure about each other?

No, not at all. My personal life has got nothing to do with my professional life. They are two separate areas of my life. We work with different actors.

Is there is no insecurity when you see Saif getting intimate with an actress on screen?

No.

He is an actor and that is his job. He should get intimate with other actresses.

If it is a romantic song, he should look like a romantic hero. He can’t look like a... He should look good all the time (with his co star). I want him to do that.

I recently interviewed your sister-in-law Soha Ali Khan and she said that films is not a part of dinner table conversation.

We don’t talk about Bollywood films and other actors at all. That is the rule in my house. That is why Saif and I are not filmi. I avoid going to film parties also.

Has Saif changed after marriage?

I don’t think he has changed. I hope he is happier. I hope he has not changed because I like him the way he is.

We are both very independent people. Our friends are from out of the industry. If you are working in the industry you meet the same people, you get stuck in that place. You need to meet different people, see different things.

I don’t go to any parties. During Diwali also you will not see Saif and me going for any party because we feel it is time to spend with your family.

How has Saif added to your life?

I think I have learnt to understand life a lot more... I realise that there is a life beyond films and it’s nice.

I like travelling now. I want to play a sport. I have never ever learnt to play a sport in my life.

I don’t read books too much but I Google facts about things, about museums or the arts. I’ve started doing that now. There is so much more to life.

Actors like Aamir or Shah Rukh Khan don’t shy away from accepting the fact that they are superstars. What do you think yourself to be -- an actor or a star?

I am just a person, who is very passionate about acting.

I don’t believe in any sort of tags. But when I fill in my immigration form at the airport, I write that I am an actor.

When I die, I want to be known as an actor. There are many stars but very few actors.

A lot of new young actresses have come in, but you are still very busy with work… 

There is work for everyone in the industry. I will always continue to work in films that I believe in and I would like to work in.

Even at the start of my career, if I didn’t want to be a part of a film, I was very vocal about it. In fact, I am sure there is no heroine who has rejected as many as films as I have (laughs).

In hindsight, do you regret not doing the films that you rejected?

Those who know me know that I never regret any of my decisions. I never look back.

You turned down Ram Leela. I am sure you have seen the promos of the film. How did you find it?

I loved the trailer of Ram Leela. It’s fantastic. I hope the film is a blockbuster. 

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an amazing director. The kind of hard work that was required for the film, I don’t think I would have been able to do it.

How does it feel doing films other actresses have turned down?

There is nothing wrong in doing a film that has been rejected by someone else. At the end of the day, as an actor, I choose scripts that excite me.

I don’t think other actresses think that because Kareena has said no to a particular film -- whether it is Ram Leela or Zoya Akhtar’s film -- we should not take it up. 

Is it true that you are doing a biopic with Farhan Akhtar?

I have been offered the film, but I am still in the process of reading the script so nothing is confirmed as of now.

You are contemplating working with Farhan but rejected his sister Zoya’s film. Does rejecting a film affect your personal relationship?

No, not at all. It’s an actor’s prerogative to choose the films that he or she wants to be a part of.

I am very close to Zoya and Farhan and just rejecting a film doesn’t change any equations.

There are reports that you are building six pack abs for your role in Shuddhi.

Are you mad! The size zero phase is over. People like me the way I am now.

You are paired with Hrithik Roshan again in Shuddhi.

I am excited to work with Hrithik Roshan. He is such a fantastic actor.

I am also looking forward to working with Karan Malhotra (director of Shuddhi). He is a brilliant director. 

Are you putting in a special appearance in Akshay Kumar’s Gabbar?

It’s not a special appearance. I am only doing a song.

My friend Shabina Khan produces the film and I have known her for 20 years. I did a small sequence in Rowdy Rathore for her too.

Your cousin Armaan Jain is making his acting debut in a film produced by Saif Ali Khan. Have you seen the rushes of the film?

No, I haven’t had any time. In fact, Armaan’s mother (Rima Jain) just called me yesterday and told me to see it.

The shooting is still going on. I am sure he is good as he carries the Kapoor genes (smiles).