Time to say hello, Dolly

Time to say hello, Dolly Kshama Rao/ HT City July 24, 2006

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A white T-shirt and denim, bloodred painted nails and an occasional full-throated laugh — it all adds up to the Kareena Kapoor effect.

Glowing all through (we are sure it's plenty of TLC from a certain Mr Kapur that's working wonders), Kareena is all set for her newest offering — the Vishal Bhardwaj-directed Omkara in which she plays the desi Desdemona, Dolly.

Predictably, Kareena is gushing about the film and lead actor — Ajay Devgan. She tells us how Omkara is going to set a benchmark in her career and write a significant chapter in the history of Indian cinema. She sings praises for director Vishal Bhardwaj.

Kareena Kapoor's Omkara releases on July 28

"Vishal's sensitivity as director is absolutely unmatched," she says. But is he a tough taskmaster? "No. He's too soft. He can't yell at anybody."

Now didn't she say something similar about Sooraj Barjatya a couple of years ago during Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon?

The Barjatya-effect sure seems to have worked, as Kapoor weighs all her words carefully, to the point of being boring. But it's refreshing to see her calm and composed.

Ask if her definition of love has changed over the years? Would she want her man to flex his muscles to prove his love, like her on-screen beau in Omkara?

She rolls her eyes and giggles.

"I don't like the tamasha types, definitely not the marne-maarnewala filmi kind. I would like my man to be dignified in whatever he does and not do things just to impress me."

She takes the conversation back to Dolly. "Interestingly, Dolly is very much like me. She is rock-steady in her love for Omi. She sticks by his side come hell or high water. That's exactly what I am," she offers.

Those who have seen the rushes of Omkara vouch for the Omi-Dolly chemistry. Apparently, the actress was supposed to work with Ajay in Raincoat.

"I'm glad none of those films worked for us and we had to wait till Omkara. Ajay is amazing. I think we have great chemistry."

Doesn't she share good chemistry with other costars. "Yes, but Ajay is special," comes the instant reply from the sultry actress.

She adds, "I don't want to do just about any film. Especially those which have me sleeping halfway through the narration. I have to be extremely careful about what I do next. I haven't signed a single film except Akhtar's next."

A long pause follows, and then, "I have had my share of commercial films so unless it's something truly great, I don't want to step on to the sets. Why not wait for a great film rather than just spoil it for something worthless."

Apart from Omkara, coming up next is her Helen number in Farhan Akhtar's version of Don. "It's a very small part. I absolutely enjoyed dancing to Helenji's number," she says.

We ask her about the rumours surrounding her sister Karisma's marriage? She replies stoically, "No comments."

Thanks for sharing. Im looking forward to OmKara 😳