Uh oh, guess who's traveling light these days? Minus the excess baggage. And finally she's flying. After all that talk that it was finito for Kareena Kapoor, she's back with a double whammy—Ram Gopal Varma's Time Machine with Shah Rukh Khan and Zoya Akhtar's next with Hrithik Roshan. It's raining movies, hallelujah, it's raining big movies in her KK's backyard. The preview circle buzz about her Desdemona role in Omkara (working title) is heartening too. And with Abbas Mustan's 36 China Town ready to roll off the rack soon, KK aka Bebo's on to a swinging new start. Let the competiton back off please.
And just as her career is ready for its new avatar, Kapoor herself is going through a metamorphosis. A positive attitude is her new-found mantra. So pen-pushers get off right here. No red hot scarlet confessions nor scabrous attacks on her colleagues. Okay, so the new improved Bebo is, well, a bit of a drag. Hey, but bully for Bebo. Not surprisingly then she treads with caution this time round. At 25, after six years in the movies, Kapoor has learnt one thing: Talk too much, get chopped to size by the industry. No wonder she says, "I've my fingers crossed about my movies. I know I have a bunch of great movies. Hope everything goes well. I don't want to say anything right now but I'm happy. I've learnt from my mistakes. It never pays to tom tom about yourself. But I was just 19 when I came in. I was young and also very insecure. You must realise it was my defense mechanism speaking. I know I made a lot of brash statements. But all that's in the past now."
The present is Omkara and Omkara is the present. Her fervour is unmistakable when she talks about the movie. It's a movie beyond her realm, she admits. "You'll have to see to believe what Vishal (Bahrdwaj) has done. It will blow your mind," she gushes. "He's a genius, man. Take it from me; it's going to be the movie of the decade. And I'm so glad he chose me to play Desdemona."
Bebo is no stranger to strong characters. But playing Desdemona was definitely a different kettle of fish. Says she, "I've read Othello. But Vishal's interpretation of my character Dolly is something else. If I'm sounding excited it's only because I'm so overwhelmed by my experience. I've played a lot of good roles but this leaves me gasping for breath. I'm so glad I'm doing it."
She intones, "Two years back, Vishal Bhardwaj came to me with the script of Mr Singh & Mrs Mehta. At that time he told me he was planning to make Othello. And he told me that he saw his Desdemona in me. I just nodded. But when Mr Singh & Mrs Mehta didn't work out, he said, 'Let's do Othello.' I was in Chennai; he flew down and narrated the script to me. When I heard his version of the play, I was blown. I just wanted to be in the movie. As far as I was concerned the role was tailor-made for any heroine. And I was plain lucky that Vishal thought me suitable. I believe this is the first time someone has tapped my potential so completely. I just transformed into Dolly. I've done great roles like the ones in Dev and Yuva earlier on, but this is in a different league altogether."
Ask her if Omkara will be her Black and she begs off comparisons. She pitches it just right, "It's certainly one of the best roles I've played. And I won't deny that I have a lot of expectations from the film. But Black and Omkara belong to different genres. You can't compare them. Omkara will be a cult film. At least I hope it'll be one. And I'm already looking forward to working with Vishal once again. Because as a director he's second to none in the country."
Coming up soon, of course, is the light and frothy 36 China Town opposite Shahid Kapoor. Her eyes light up like twin bulbs at the mention of the movie. After all, she's often claimed that Abbas-Mustan are her favourite directors. "36 China Town is as different from Omkara as chalk from cheese," she smiles. "36... is cool, sleek and rocking. Shahid is fantastic. And even though I say this myself, I think we look great together. It shows me in a completely different light."
Then she adds, "The fact is that I can play a prostitute, a college kid and Desdemona in Othello must surely mean something."
Bang on. Sure it does. That she can stretch herself way beyond the girl-next-door roles and has a fast improving knack for selecting the right projects. Gone are the days when she'd refuse a Karan Johar. Today she'd never dream of doing that to Ram Gopal Varma. It's a name that'll definitely ratchet her career up another notch. And she knows it.
Mention his name and she clarifies, "Yes, I've had a meeting with Ramuji. He narrated the subject to me. But I haven't signed on the dotted line. I'd love to work with Shah Rukh Khan and Ramuji. I'm waiting to sign the film."
Also in the pipeline is a Zoya Akhtar's movie with Hrithik Roshan. And I want to know how she's feeling about doing a movie with him again. Does she anticipate a tense ambience on the sets? Will there be good vibes between them? Questions galore. But she quells them with a piercing stare. She curls up her bee stung lips and says, "More than coming together it's about doing a good role. We have mind-blowing roles so we're doing the film. Earlier we weren't offered any good movies so we didn't work together. There's no tension between Hrithik and me. It was all media created. We're friends and it'll be fun to work together."
This is another film she seems mighty excited about. "Zoya is young, cool and enterprising. And her team too is young and raring to go," she says excitedly. "That's a good thing for an actor. Besides, whatever interaction I've had with Zoya, has been great. My role is stunning and I'm really looking forward to working with her."
So what if she comes face to face with Amisha Patel tomorrow? She detonates a laugh, "You guys never let go, do you? Of course, I'll promptly go and talk to her. See, I have no problem with anyone. And all that happened was a long time ago. As I said, it was my defence mechanism. I wanted to get to the world before it got me. I've changed in the last two years."
She once again harps on her brand new positive attitude. She sallies, "I refuse to see anything negative in anyone. At home everyone is tired of me and my think-positive attitude. They are like, 'O God, stop it now.' But it makes me feel good so why should I? It works for me. Right now, I'm looking at life sunny side up. Even though I don't eat eggs. I'm a pucca vegetarian now."
You've guessed it. That's Shahid's influence too. Our conversation then swings to the very person. And I want to know where their relationship is headed. Are they planning to make it official? "Oh shut up," she snorts. "We aren't getting engaged or married. Why should we when the going is good? I want to work for the next 5-6 years with blinkers on. We are there for each other. But I want him to concentrate on his work too. My career is my priority and I want his career to be his priority. Shahid is my world. No one can take his place. But everything has its time. Right now, it's work that's important."
She claims she's truly happy both on the home and the work front. Even sister Karisma Kapoor has patched up with hubby Sanjay Kapur. So there's no tension even on that front. She trills, "Lolo is a special girl. And she deserves all happiness. I'm so happy that things have turned out well for her. Everyone's prayers have worked for her. It was distressing to see the media go after her with such vengeance. I just hope the media gives her space to live her life. She's lost weight and she's looking stunning. Touch wood! She's happy."
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