KARISMA in Good Housekeeping&Vogue India Oct 2011 - Page 2

Five years since she got married and had two kids, Karisma Kapur is back in films with Dangerous Ishq. It's been almost two months since Lolo began shooting, and she talks to BT about how excited she is to be back on the sets.

How has the experience been since returning to films? Fantastic! I am happy to be at work and on the sets again. Though I've been doing endorsements and television shows while on a break, working on a film is a totally different feeling. I am doing what I love; acting is what I love best after being a mother.

Do you share your experiences with Kareena? Kareena and I have always shared everything! She's been very excited for me ever since I signed Dangerous Ishq, and has always encouraged me to get back to acting. In fact, she's been coming to my set and watching the shoot often. That feels really nice!

What was the first shot you did? Director Vikram Bhatt kept the first shot very simple. It was an emotional scene and he thought the best way to dive into the movie was by doing this scene. Shooting in 3D is different on a technical level.

Were you nervous on the first day of the shoot? I was more excited! Acting is like driving; you can never forget it, and it's in my blood. Also, it was the script that excited me. It's very different from the roles I've done before and will take me to the next level in terms of performance. When I faced the camera on the first day, I kept getting distracted thinking about my kids. Then I started getting into the routine in a nice way. Now I am glad I am doing it. I have also returned to acting for my kids. I want them to know what it means to me. It's a big part of who I am.

Did you miss it after you got married? No. Maybe that was because I had worked so hard from the time I was 16, and for so long since, that I wanted to take some time off and do my own thing. I am a very private person. I was enjoying marriage and motherhood.

Dangerous Ishq is about reincarnations. Do you believe in that? When Vikram offered me the film, I didn't believe in the concept but was intrigued. Before shooting started I read a lot on the subject and discussed it with many people who have done things like past-life regression. It has been an intriguing experience for me to learn so much! The audience will get to know more about past life and how our karmas are connected. Now I believe in reincarnation because I've met so many people who have gone through that. I do believe in a soul connection today.

How do you juggle time as a working woman and a mother? It's all about balancing everything right. As long as you have your priorities right, you can balance out everything. I wasn't ready before and my kids needed me too. Vikram has been extremely accommodating with timings and holidays whenever I've needed a break. Becoming a mother has been the best experience of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Why have you signed just one film till now? I've been reading many scripts and you'll be hearing of my next film pretty soon!