Firebrand Kareena Kapoor looked gorgeous in a white outfit with splashes of colour at Kambakkht Ishq’s first promotional event. The superstar actor spoke to StarBoxOffice about working with Akshay Kumar, wearing a swimsuit again, her glamorous clothes and why Saif will always be on top.
Your character in the film is called Simrita Rai. Tell us more about her.Simrita is a feminist. She doesn’t like love, she doesn’t like men and she doesn’t like relationships. The reasons for all this are established in the film. Actually, what happens to her and how and why she falls in love forms the story of Kambakkht Ishq.
This is the seventh time you are working with Akshay Kumar. How did it feel?
I love working with Akshay and feel very comfortable with him. I have known him since I was a kid. Akshay gave his first shot with Karisma in the film Deedar. I was in my school uniform when I saw him give the shot. Today, I am working with him. He is one of India’s biggest superstars. He feels like family to me. I am good friends with his wife Twinkle. It is great fun to work with him. He is my favourite co-star and one of the biggest superstars in India. He is India’s true action hero. I want him to be at the top. All my wishes and prayers are with him.
If you want Akshay to be at the top, what will happen to Saif?
Saif is at the top anyway!
How was it working with your best friend, Amrita Arora?
Working with Amrita is fun. I worked with her in Golmaal Returns and it did well, so I hope KI does well too.
Tell us about your look in the film.
Aki Narula has styled my look in the film. He bought the clothes, which are non-filmy, from Rome and Milan. There are no sequins and bling and stuff you normally see in Hindi films. The costumes are very chic, understated and classy, which you don’t normally see. I love shoes. Everyday, there were sixty pairs of shoes to choose from and I picked the best for the shot. I get lots of messages on my phone about the look. I am glad people like it.
How different is Kareena Kapoor from Simrita Rai?
Simrita Rai is a feminist, I am not. Simrita is a tough nut to crack, which I am not and she is very insensitive, which I am not. To play characters that are very different from our true selves-that is where the fun lies.
Weren’t you apprehensive about working with Sabbir Khan, who is a new director?
I have always worked with new directors. Even when I worked with Imtiaz (Ali), he was a new director as Jab We Met was his second film. My faith lies in the script more than anything else. Anybody can make a good film. Sabbir has done a great job.
The film has words like ‘Bitch’ and ‘Bastard’ which the Censor Board had a problem with. Do you think it’s justified in the film?
Definitely! It fits perfectly in the film. You will know when you see the film. We see English films all the time, and the language is foul, so why are we making such a big deal of the dialogues of KI.
How was it shooting in Hollywood with a Hollywood cast and crew?
I love Los Angeles and the weather was great. We had a Hollywood crew; they were very helpful. I just have one scene with Denise Richards and two with Sylvester Stallone. They are as normal as normal can get. It was amazing talking to Sylvester Stallone about movies and just sitting next to him was such an honour.
Tashan also starred you and Akshay and there was a lot of focus on your look in the film. So how was making KI different from making Tashan?
Tashan was tiring as I had to maintain a figure that sent the national economy in a tizzy. I challenged myself to do action and also changed my body type for it. Nobody expected that. KI is different. The girl needed to be more fashionable with a fuller and voluptuous figure. I wore a bikini in Tashan and have worn a swimsuit in KI. I don’t know why it is such a big deal because people don’t wear jeans when they go swimming. I will mould myself according to my roles.
We have heard the title song and it’s great. What is your favourite song in the film?
A song in the movie has my name, Bebo, in it. That is my favourite.
Bebo, Bebo, aye Bebo Bebo! Wasn’t there a song like this which was a bit hit in the discos? Here’s hoping Kareena has the same luck with her new film.
