'I am constantly balancing, whether it's time with Saif, whether it's Taimur, whether it's with my mom-in-law, whether it's my own family, whether it's 30-35 days of doing brands, then 50 days of shooting a film... there's a lot going on...'
Kareena Kapoor's Good Newwz has released to good reviews, and it's mostly thanks to her.
"After Taimur was born, if I had to make a comeback, I would have said that I want heroine-oriented films only. I would want the cameras on me. But that's not the case," Kareena tells Patcy N/Rediff.com in the concluding segment of a two-part interview.
- Don't miss Part 1 of the Kareena interview here
How mindful are you about what your art represents? Will you ever play something that is not politically correct?
It has nothing to do with politically correctness.
I did Veere Di Wedding because when you talk about subjects like divorce or a man having an affair or whether it's an orgasm, everything is from the male point of view.
In Veere Di Wedding, for the first time, it came from the female point of view.
We never talk about a woman having an affair or a woman not having an orgasm in a marriage or a woman addressing divorce... they are always behind the curtain.
When I heard that subject, I was happy at least these topics were being addressed. That's why I wanted to be a part of the film.
The same goes for Ki & Ka. So many husbands don't work, but nobody talks about it.
They say, 'Don't say my husband doesn't work or sits at home and cooks.'
That concept -- that a woman is the breadwinner in a marriage -- was seen on screen for the first time.
Everybody has made films on men's friendships and the bro code, but nobody talks about sisterhood, at least in India.
In terms of Good Newwz, IVF is a topic people have started talking about now.
There will always be an underlying message, but it's not a documentary on IVF.
It's an entertaining film.
If you go back to my last couple of choices, you will notice that I am a little conscious now.
What type of films do you turn down?
The whole package needs to be interesting, not just a particular role.
Today, it's not just about your part, but it's the entire dynamics of the film.
Otherwise, after Taimur was born, if I had to make a comeback, I would have said that I want heroine-oriented films only. I would want the cameras on me.
But that's not the case.
The kind of films you are doing now are very different from what you did earlier, with song and dance. Is that because you have matured as an actress?
No. In Good Newwz, there are a lot of songs with Badshah and Hardy Sandhu.
That's something I love.
But that's why there are films like Laal Singh and Takht, which are so different from each other. One is a period film and the other is so different.
I do make that effort to pick and choose.
It's difficult because I am bound by time constraints.
I feel like I am living my life on one leg.
I am constantly balancing, whether it's time with Saif, whether it's Taimur, whether it's with my mom-in-law, like going for her birthday, whether it's my own family, whether it's 30-35 days of doing brands, then 50 days of shooting a film... there's a lot going on.
If I don't set rules and boundaries, it will just fall apart.
So as much as I would love to do three films, which are all different, it is not possible.
Does comedy come easily to you?
I think so.
I think there's an inherent comic timing because I am a funny person and very open.
Comedy is easy for people who are open, especially on screen.
But it's difficult to make somebody laugh.
Of course, with Akshay Kumar and Diljit Dosanjh around, it was very easy.
There is a pay disparity in our industry. Have you ever felt that?
Of course.
With Anushka (Sharma) and Deepika (Padukone) becoming producers, the conversation is slightly different now.
Producers are left with no choice but to involve the heroines on board because they bring in revenue too.
The atmosphere that was slightly uncomfortable earlier, I feel they are getting used to it now, and that's a good thing.
A 50-year-old hero gets to romance a 21-year-old, but a 50-year-old actress doesn't get to do that...
But now at least with Badhaai Ho, things are changing.
I will definitely do that kind of part and break that norm.
People do fall in love.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are of different generations, but they fell in love.
Saif and me are of different generations, but we fell in love.
But yeah, the producers's mindset has to change.
Karan Johar recently said he regrets making item songs because they objectify women. What do you think?
I don't know if I will do it today.
But I can't run away from the fact that I have, it's a part of my repertoire.
Whenever you go to any shaadi, the first song they play is Fevicol and Chikni Chameli... you have danced to those songs, na?
We shouldn't be pretentious about it.
We have done it, it's fine.
It's not a crime.
Maybe we live and learn and not do it again.
But I have enjoyed doing them.
What will attract you to the OTT platform?
I have not thought about that because somebody at home (husband Saif Ali Khan) has really broken boundaries, in terms of putting India on the global platform with Sacred Games.
So obviously, it will be difficult now because there will be natural comparisons.
Now, he's doing an amazing show on Amazon with Ali Abbas on a grand scale.
For me to go there, it has to be something outstanding.
I will be doing Dharmatic's Poo Diaries. They have not written it yet.
I am looking forward to it, but I am also scared to get on this platform.
When will we see you on social media?
There will be an official page at some point.
It will be about my work, but no personal stuff -- maybe just one or two pictures of Saif and me on a family holiday.
