“I have got more than what I could have ever imagined not only as an actress, but also as far as my personal life is concerned”

KAREENA KAPOOR

Today Kareena Kapoor is celebrating her 40^th birthday. Yes. Bebo has really become a 40 karat gold today. To wish her , we atbollyy.com and Mayapuri reproduce this old interview of KAREENA KAPOOR by JYOTHI VENKATESH taken eight years ago on the eve of the release of Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Heroine. This correspondent knows Kareena Kapoor right from the time she used to come to the sets of her elder sister Karisma Kapoor as a little kid over 25 years ago. In this interview KAREENA KAPOOR talks at length about her role as Mahi in HEROINE and confesses that she is a family girl who is quite satisfied with the way her career has shaped from REFUGEE till HEROINE.

What is your gut feeling about your film HEROINE?

I should say that HEROINE is a very special movie for me and it was a brilliant experience working with Madhur. HEROINE is going to carve a different niche in my career.

Is it true that the film was actually offered to you first before it went to Aishwarya Rai?

I should say that the film HEROINE was in my destiny. It had come first to me but then I could not afford to accommodate the dates that Madhur wanted because I had committed myself to Saif for AGENT VINOD and Karan for EK MAIN AUR EK TU.  It was quite difficult then. When Madhur approached me again, I was glad that I managed to give him the required dates. I could not be part of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s RAM LEELA too because there were contractual issues which did not work out mutually.

How would you describe your role in HEROINE?

I play the role of Mahi Arora. Mahi is a little more aggressive, edgy and ‘satakleli’ than I am. She is thodi hatke too.

Did you try to get into the shoes of any real life actress, like Vidya Balan replicated the role of the late actress Silk Smita in THE DIRTY PICTURE when you set out to portray the role of the protagonist in HEROINE?

At the outset, let me make it very clear to you that neither has anyone else got into my shoes nor am I getting into anyone else’s shoes. First of all, HEROINE is not another THE DIRTY PICTURE. THE DIRTY PICTURE was just a biopic which was made around an item girl of the 80’s whereas HEROINE is about the rise and fall of a heroine in 2012. I feel that it will be very unfair to compare the two films. In fact, I would say that it is senseless to compare the two films.

In what way is Mahi of HEROINE different from you in real life?

The main difference between Mahi and me is that while I always make it a point to think and only then act, Mahi does not believe in thinking and acting. I am also emotional and at times quitesanki too. I am not at all the kind of an actress who believes in rehearsals. We shot a couple of scenes in real brothels too.

Is the sizzling hot item number Halkat Jawani an answer to Katrina’s Sheela Ki Jawani?

Oh No! Let me also re-iterate that my song Halkat Jawani isn’t an answer to Sheela Ki Jawani at all. I would not call it an item number because in the first place it is not an item number done by another actress in the film.

Is it true that you have postponed your marriage?

I have stopped reading the morning newspapers of late. I do not want to tell anything about my marriage and would rather wait till Saif announces our marriage date. At the moment all that I can say is that I am thankful to God that I have been extremely lucky to have got a unique man like Saif Ali Khan by my side, whose ‘thinking’ is quite different from that of other average Indian men. Saif has supported me as far as my work is concerned. Today women can challenge the world and it is more about working women and I am happy that Saif has always encouraged me to work.

With BARFI Ranbir has entrenched himself firmly in Bollywood as a star who can deliver the goods!

I know that Kapoors will rule the box office. I am quite happy that Ranbir has emerged as a star in his own right. I am very delighted and also proud that after a long time, a boy from the Kapoor Khandaan has been able to make it big in Bollywood.

How much of a family girl are you?

I do not mix my personal life with that of my professional life. I am a fun loving and family oriented young girl and love spending time with my friends and family. I love Karisma’s kids Samaira and Kiyan Raj. I consider them my kids. Samaira is exotic. She has big eyes like Lolo. Kiyan Raj is a lady killer with his grey eyes. I dote on Saif’s kids Sarah and Ibrahim too.  

How do you feel when you look back at your career?

I have absolutely no regrets at all with whatever has happened, in my journey as an actress from Refugee till HEROINE. I feel that my journey has been very colorful as an actress. In fact, I have got more than what I could have ever imagined not only as an actress, but also as far as my personal life is concerned. I never wanted to be known as a glamour girl. I can count on my films like OMKARA , KABHI KHUSHI KABHIE GHAM, JAB WE MET, CHAMELI , besides of course 3 IDIOTS, which was my triumph as much as it was Aamir Khan’s because I was noticed in the film, in spite of the fact that it was a hero-centric film, which had three leading men.