Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan is happy to be experimenting with stories that she hasn't attempted earlier. Asked about her upcoming film, Veere Di Wedding, she says, "It's not even close to Sex In the City, adding that it's not the quintessential chick flick and the story promises dollops of emotions and entertainment.
After essaying various characters onscreen in her 18-year long career, Kareena Kapoor Khan is content to have done a variety of films. Even when the mainstream heroines didn't necessarily make unusual choices, she took up roles like Chameli (2004) and Geet from Jab We Met (2007).
In a candid chat, Kareena talks about her movie choices, experience in the industry and more:
Do you look at movies from a different perspective now, given your experience?
Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have done films such as Ki and Ka or Udta Punjab (2016). I was happy to play a character five years old to Arjun (Kapoor) as I am. I will always try to choose films which are different from each other. Because being a mainstream commercial actor, you are always like what is my part, and what am I doing'. So it's a different experience for a mainstream actor to actually be part of this kind of movie. Rhea (Kapoor) was like I don't think Kareena will do the film'. When I met her I told her why she thought that I won't do it.
Have you ever prepared for your characters or played it by ear?
Every character comes with a background and the director guides you through the film as to what they want out of you. I believe the film is not an actor's medium. It is a director's medium as it's their vision on screen. We are just doing our job in terms of performances. So I'm a director's actor and like to be guided. As for my acting process, I've always been pretty spontaneous and I prefer that. For this particular character, we didn't do any workshops because it didn't really need.
Are film promotions an effort for you?
100 %. For me at least, because I don't believe in it. When I don't believe in something I am just like you've to do it because you've to do it, because I have nothing to say as I feel a promo of a movie does everything. When you see a trailer, you decide whether you want to a film or not. So no matter how much I talk or what I say, it is not going to change your opinion. Pehle bhi toh films chalti thi na and it's not because of digital advent. And most of the times we are not talking about the movie, we are talking about 100 other things. That bores me, because I don't really enjoy talking about my life or giving interviews. I am a bit private about a lot of things and I like it like that way. I am not out there.
What excited you about Veere Di Wedding?
It's about four women at different stages of love in their lives. One is getting married, one divorced, one is already married with issues, and the other is commitment phobic. It is different space for me to be a part of and a fun film. People are used to me seeing me in big-budget movies, like the ones with the Khans. This story is different as it's about four women. I wanted to be part of this world. My character is commitment phobic and doesn't want to get married. But she is also in love. She is completely different from the way I think.
You seem to be secure with your screen timings. You've played title roles as well as characters where you were not the protagonist, be it Bajrangi or Singham Returns (2014).
I think the story should matter, if you're doing a title role then it is different. Bajrangi... was a lovely script, I wanted to be part of a beautiful story. It's not that the three hours of the movie has to be only about me, I don' think that way.
Anupamaa
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