Bebo's old interview

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Kareena Kapoor simmers

Her presence spreads like sunshine. At Mehboob studio, where she's shooting for Sooraj Barjatya's Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, heads turn. Fan types stop in their tracks to stare. Nudge-nudge, wink-wink. The way she moves is mesmersing. And you can see the bystanders fall under her spell. True to character, Kareena Kapoor doesn't even notice. She's on a different octave after Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. The world's hers for the taking. If the buzz is to be believed, film-makers are so busy throwing scripts in her direction that they'll shortly have to be treated for tennis elbows. Inside her make-up van, Kareena is more fun than a circus full of jokers, more giggles than a classroom of girls. There's a whole lot of everything in her. Sensuality, intellect, graciousness, style and of course, beauty. She swears when she feels like it. And when she's angry, it's no teary, pouty display. It's full on ire. Her flippancy, charm and mischievousness make her extraordinarily good company. You find yourself laughing a lot around her. Put her in front of the camera and she touches a chord. She brings to the screen a dreamy radiance. And what she lacks in technique, she makes up for in magic.

You said you'd become a national craze after Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
I'm not a national craze, I've become an international craze now. The kind of feedback I received for K3G was just out of this world. The role was nothing. I just had six scenes and two songs. Yet I stole the limelight. I stood out amongst superstars like of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Jaya Bachchan and Kajol. I proved my worth. Recently, while I was shooting in Jaipur the entire town went hysterical seeing me. There was a lathi charge to control the crowd. They were calling me Poo. I called Karan Johar and made him hear the hysteria on the phone. He was in tears. Of course, a lot of people have been jealous of my success. Some sneered that I acted like Archana Puran Singh. Big deal. At the end of the day, I was nominated for my role. I can say with conviction that no other heroine could have played Poo the way I did.

Don't you think it's outrageous to make such statements?
No. Whatever I said has come true. I've been highly appreciated in all my movies. I was liked immensely even in Asoka Yaadein and Refugee. It would have been outrageous if my statements hadn't come true. If I was making false statments you could accuse me of being pompous. But right now, I'm rising above my statements.

Has success gone to your head?
Please give me break. My entire family is a success story. Each and every member of my family has achieved success. I've grown up seeing it at close quarters. It can't go to my head. Success goes to the head of nouveau heroines. I've seen enough of them.

You realise that you just have one hit to your credit. K3G was hardly your film.
Yeah. But I got the maximum credit for K3G. As for the solo hit, I agree with you. I had the biggest flops with Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. Yet I won the award for being the most popular star. I still have producers lined up outside my house waiting to sign me for an unheard sum. Why aren't they casting actresses who've given two hits in a row? Why do directors like Sooraj Barjatya, Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai want to work with only me. Sometimes I wonder why there's a hype about me. Asoka and Refugee were big flops. It's because they know my worth. They know I'm talented. And out here that's what matters. My film-makers have accepted me. They know I'm in a league of my own. Madhuri Dixit gave her first hit after nine years. Sridevi never had a historical hit. And yet they were the top actresses because they were immensely talented. The same goes for me too. I don't make any bones about my flops. And why single me out? The biggest of heroes and heroines have had the biggest of flops. Atleast, I don't have to crow from rooftops that I've given two consecutive hits in a row. My flops are more talked about than other actresses' hits. I'm glad I don't have a Mother India or Pakezaah to my credit. Who'll want to see me after 5-6 years if I have them so early in my career?

Is that a hint at Amisha Patel?
I don't have to make hints. I say it like it is. I'm completely honest about my feelings. Why have you been making nasty statements about Amisha Patel then?

Why have you been making nasty statements about Amisha Patel then?
Listen, I have no problems with Amisha Patel. In fact, I even called her up after Gadar. I thought she was good and I told her so. Even at one of the award function I went up to her and said hello. If that's not graciousness then what is? What more can I do to make peace? On the contrary, her mother has been bitching about me to all and sundry. She's been going around saying that who does Kareena Kapoor think she is. She has given only flops. She'll never make it. Fine. So what happened to Amisha Patel's Zindagi Ka Safar? If Amisha's so confident of her talent then why is she screaming about her hits? Okay so I have given only flops. But why am I still being paid more than her?

Go on
It's only talent that matters here. Raj Kapoor sold off his last shirt while making Mera Naam Joker. But he's considered the greatest showman even today. I have the talent. I'm confident. And I know I'll be remembered always. I don't want Amisha Patel's history hits. I don't want to be mediocre in hit films. I rather be brilliant in flop movies. I want to come up the hard way like my sister.

Haven't you too made statements like who am I to say that Amisha Patel is a bad actress?
I said that only because I was categorically asked whether she's a bad actress. So I said who was I to make such a statement. Who am I to judge her? I have never bad mouthed Amisha Patel. She's a colleague. She's working with my sister. But when I hear rubbish spoken about me, I won't tolerate it.

It's said that you take potshots at her only because she's a threat to your position.
What nonsense? I carried Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai on my shoulders. Zindagi Ka Safar was riding on Amisha's shoulders. What happened? See, I'm not fighting for the No. 1 slot. If she wants the No 1 throne, she's welcome to it. If she wants, I'll even sit at her feet. If that makes her happy, I'll be happy. I'm not competing with her. There's no comparison. We don't even do similar kind of movies. She can never do the movies I've done.

Apparently, you refused to go on a world tour of stage shows with Amisha Patel. So the organisers had to replace her?
(Smirks) If she was a bigger star than me, I would have been replaced. So I rest my case.

It's said that you have an attitude problem?
I don't understand why people say that. I'm so sweet with people. I get along with all my co-stars. I'm on very best terms with Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan. I have no qualms about complimenting any actress. In fact, if I like them I make it a point to congratulate them. So I can't understand why everyone says that I have an attitude problem. I can't be mean to people. Okay, I'm brutally honest. That's the way I am. I rather say it on your face than bitch behind your back. I'm a professional. I have a sister who's equally professional. She keeps me in check. I don't have late night, neither I'm drunk in the discos. I'm never late on the sets. My producer and directors love me. So what's this attitude problem that everyone's talking about? On the contrary, I've heard nasty stories about other heroines. And the kind of tantrums they thorw on the sets. Strangely, they go scotfree. Ask my film-makers if I've ever thrown a tantrum.

Does it give you a heady feeling to know that producers wait for hours outside your van, are willing to pay an unheard of sum just to get you to sign their movies?
No. I don't like to make any one wait for me. I won't be able to shoot if I knew that some one was waiting for me. It doesn't make me feel good, it makes me feel horrible. I feel terrible for making anyone wait. Yeah, I'm getting my price. Producers are even willing to pay me more than what I ask. But unfortunately, I can't do every film. So I have to turn down offers. (Laughs) Chalo, at least this way others get work.

What are movies you are banking on now?
(Grins) I banked on Yaadein and Asoka and see what happened. So no more banking on any project. Though I must say I've worked hard on Khushi . Even Sooraj's Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon and Yash Chopra's Mujhe Dosti Karoge are looking good.

You've made up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali?
I always wanted to work with Sanjay. I was angry when he screen-tested me for Devdas and didn't sign me. But I realised later that I was too young to play the role of Paro. He wanted an older actress. Recently, we met at Sikander's party. We sorted out all the misunderstanding. Yeah, he'll write a film for me. I don't know when though.

You also have a problem with Bobby Deol?
I never had any problem with Bobby Deol. You kow, I did Ajnabee because of him. He was to be my sisters first co- star. I'm really fond of him. There was a small misunderstanding that turned into a big thing. Actually, there was a problem with his wife. She didn't behave properly with my mother. And I didn't like that. I feel bad that we can't work together any more. Frankly, I'm ready to patch up if he is. But we haven't met socially after Ajnabee.

Okay, let's say you meet him in a lift. Would you say 'hi' to him?
Why just 'hi', I'll have a full-fledged conversation with him. See, I have no problems to say 'hi' to anyone. If I've done something wrong, I never hesitate to apologise. My mother has always taught me to accept my fault. Because I'm so fond of Bobby, I'll go upto him and say 'hi', even though I'm not at fault.

You're doing a film with Vicky Nihalani. Weren't you seeing each other at one point. Is there a feeling of awkwardness?
No. No. Vicky is like family. We've known each other since long. There's no question of feeling awkward. In fact, the atmosphere on the sets of Talaash is very picnic like. I love working with Suneil Darshan.

Reportedly, you were paid a bomb for Talaash. Then why aren't you doing his next film? Weren't you supposed to do two films with Pahlaj Nihalani?
It's true I was paid a bomb. But I didn't have the dates for his next film. But no sweat. Lolo's doing that film which is being directed by Abhishek Kapoor.

Weren't you supposed to do Shah Rukh Khan's home production directed by Farah Khan. News is that she has signed Amisha Patel?
No. Farah never approached me for the movie. See, she's the director, so she's the best persos to know who's suited for the role. Though she'd met we at a party and had casually mentioned the movie to me. But I never heard anything from her after that. I'm glad she's signed Amisha. Anyway, I have no dates.

The rumours about you and Hrithik Roshan haven't doused.
So? they are just that rumours. The media has hyped up the entire thing. I enjoy working with Hrithik. We hit it off from our first film. Since we are doing so may movies together, we're very comfortable with each other. Had I been working with any other actor, the comfort level could have been the same. Hrithk is a fine humanbeing. He has a good soul.

Where do you get your bindaas attitude from? Certainly not from your sister, she's so careful with her words.
I've always been like that. I like to be clear cut. I can't be diplomatic. What's in my heart is on my lips. Of course, my sister gets angry with me for speaking so much. Even mom tells me that I shouldn't be blunt. But then she's taught me to be so honest.

The inside talk is that you aspire to be like Tabu.
I like Tabu very much. But that's it. I have an icon at home. My sister has taught me everything that I know about professionalism today. If at all I want to be like my sister. I want to be the perfect blend between art and commercial. On second thougt, I don't want to be like anyone. I want others to be like me.

You realise how 'big' you've become?
I don't want to realise it. The day I do, my down-fall will begin. I've been her only for two years. Already, I've worked with the best of directors. People out here have to wait for 10 years to make it. I've been lucky. What more can I ask for.

Anuradha Chaudhary