kareena sets the record on Saif

"There're so many false stories about Saif and me. But it's okay. I understand the need to know what's going in our lives. Are we married... are we not married? Please! Fortunately, I've learnt to take all this unwanted speculation in my stride. The best thing is to just do my work and not get affected by the loose talk," says Kareena.

Below is an excerpt from an interview

What's this about you being the highest paid actress in India?

I don't know what other actors get paid. And I don't care. I get what I deserve. I've slogged right from "Refugee" to "Jab We Met" and "Tashan". An actor is signed for what he or she can deliver.

Is your price flexible?

I've always been flexible with my fee. The hunger is for the right roles.

There were lots of heightened expectations from your last release Tashan because of you and Saif.

We just did what the script required us to. I don't think people should've gone to see Tashan as Saif and my love story. What does that mean! We're playing characters. That's why 'Jab We Met' worked. The characters worked. I had earlier done many films with Shahid while we were seeing each other. They didn't work.

Why?

You tell me.

Today it's the script that works. All actors are hungry for the right scripts and characters.

All the attention given to your relationship with Saif - does that scare you?

I can't stop living my life the way I want to just because of the attention. As long as I don't let my family down, I'm not scared. I'll always retain my values. But, yes, at times this endless attention does get scary. There're so many false stories about Saif and me. But it's okay. I understand the need to know what's going in our lives. Are we married... are we not married? Please! Fortunately, I've learnt to take all this unwanted speculation in my stride. The best thing is to just do my work and not get affected by the loose talk.

Are you fully comfortable in your relationship with Saif?

Yes. But only the two people in a relationship know what is going on. I don't think people have the right to know what's going on in my private life. They've my films to judge me by. I don't need to give explanations about what happens behind my closed doors. Right now I'm loving it. The paparazzi is doing their job. We're doing ours. Both Saif and I understand that.

The two of you don't have that much work together.

No, after "Tashan" we only have Renzil d'Silva's film together. Both of us are too sensible to sign films just to spend time together. Saif is way too mature and extremely understanding. He respects the kind of work I like to do as I respect his work. And we keep our careers apart. Saif knows that right now my career is the most important thing to me. And that I need the space to work. To my family and me my career is top priority because I've worked really hard to get where I am. You as a friend have watched my struggle. My family and friends know how much I've slogged. I won't give it up for anything.

So career wins over love?

There's no comparison between the two. When I'm working, I'm working. And when I'm with him (Saif), I'm all there. Besides, Saif is a superstar himself. He's so busy.

How do you rate him as an actor?

I think he's a 10 on 10. The way he can make audiences laugh and cry is amazing. And his one-liners are extremely entertaining. And we're both moody. So that's fine.

How excited are you about your current assignments?

All my current assignments are completely different from one another. I'm so excited about working with Aamir Khan in Raj Kumar Hirani's film. "Idiots" is a comedy with a social message.