‘I auditioned only because of Aamir Khan’
One of the few Indian actresses to have worked right through her pregnancy and resume work after a short break post-delivery, Kareena Kapoor Khan has always been known to do things her way. One of the finest actresses in the country, Bebo, as she is fondly called, has not only notched up the glamour quotient in mainstream films such as the Golmaal franchise and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham among others, she has given us ample display of her acting prowess in films like Omkara, Chameli and Udta Punjab.
While last year, she opted for the girl-bonding film Veere Di Wedding to mark her return to the big screen post her baby, she ended the year with a bang with the drama comedy Good Newwz. With a variety of movies up her sleeve now – Angrezi Medium with Irrfan Khan, Laal Singh Chaddha (official adaptation of Forrest Gump) with Aamir Khan and the period drama Takht – the actress has an exciting year ahead of her.
Did shooting for Good Newwz remind you of the days when you were pregnant with Taimur?
Yes, sort of (smiles). I had to wear the pregnancy stomach which looks really natural on screen. It was made like a swimsuit and Kiara and I, both had to wear it under our clothes. But this was pregnancy without the parathas! (laughs) During my pregnancy, I would eat 5-10 parathas a day.
Since the topic you are dealing with in the film is to do with IVF and pregnancy, did you have to ensure that there is nothing controversial or insensitive being said?
There is nothing like that in the film. It’s just that the sperms get exchanged and there is comedy in that. But the film again turns on its head in the interval. And eventually, you see that the women take the story forward. I’m very proud of a monologue where my character explains to Akshay’s character about what a woman goes through and what the man’s contribution is. I think people will really remember that scene.
Your chemistry with Akshay Kumar has always been appreciated. He recently said somewhere that you were nine years old when he first met you…
Yes! It was the first time he was facing a camera. The shoot for Deedar was happening in a bungalow in Madh Island and I was there in my school uniform! (smiles) I love Akshay because he’s a true blue superstar. The phase he is right now, is something that probably only Mr Bachchan has gone though. But he doesn’t let it go to his head and that’s what I really love about him.
Roles for women in Hindi films are getting substantially better and bigger. You have worked in content-driven cinema like Chameli and Omkara yourself. Do you welcome this change?
I think the entire content and dynamic has changed. Look at Badhaai Ho. It’s been such a game changer. Today, you don’t need a mainstream actress to pull off the main character. It’s all about content and that’s what I have been saying for a long time, that it’s not just about your part in the film. The entire story has to work. Take a film like 3 Idiots or Talaash for that matter. The pivotal part in the latter is when you find out that the girl is a ghost. So even if you are working with a Khan, you have to make sure that your part is relevant. A film like Forrest Gump may be about Forrest Gump, but it is a love story. The girl is driving the film. So, in that sense, a conscious decision is very important and you have to take that stand.
Not all stars feel comfortable auditioning, but you auditioned for Laal Singh Chaddha. Were you hesitant about it?
In 20 years, nobody has ever told me to read scenes. Even if it was for Hollywood, I don’t think I would have auditioned. I have done it only because of Aamir Khan, because I know his intent. He will create a world and he wants to be 100 per cent sure of that world. While I was reading the scene, I knew I had nailed it because I am this character. Aamir also said that midway I knew that yeh toh ho gaya! (laughs) Earlier, the concept of auditioning wasn’t there. When I told Saif, he said we should all do it. In Hollywood, everyone from Al Pacino to Meryl Streep auditions, so I said, why not?
Will you ever do a role that’s not politically correct?
It has nothing to do with being politically correct. I did a film like Veere Di Wedding because topics like divorce or extramarital affairs are usually told from a man’s point of view, but here, it was from a female point of view. We never talk of married women not having an orgasm or women addressing divorce - that’s only spoken of behind the curtain, but when I heard the subject, I thought, at least we are talking about this. And that’s the reason there would always be a conscious effort. Even when you talk about IVF, it’s a topic that’s rarely been seen in Hindi films, but we are doing it in Good Newwz. So, there will always be an underlying message, but it won’t be a documentary. If you look at my last few choices in movies, you will see that element.
Many female actors have spoken about pay disparity. What’s your take on it?
Of course, there is. But I do feel now things are changing. With actresses like Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone turning producers, the conversations are different now. Producers are left with no option than to
invite the heroine on board to get some kind of feedback, because they are bringing in that amount of revenue. This stems from a societal change. The film fraternity is just a small fraction of the entire scene. For that, there has to be some dramatic change in terms of one’s DNA. For that matter, even the way a man looks at a woman on the street has to change. I’m just glad that at least a small part of it is being acknowledged.
While the male actors continue to romance actresses 20-30 years younger to them, it’s still rare to see older actresses and younger men. You did it in Ki & Ka with a younger Arjun Kapoor…
That’s the mindset. Hopefully, when I’m older, I will break that norm too. People do fall in love, irrespective of their age. Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas are different generations. Saif and I are different generations. But yes, the producers’ mindsets have to change.
Saif’s Sacred Games was a game changer. How inclined are you towards the OTT latform?
In our home, somebody has really broken the boundaries and put India on the map. It will be a natural comparison he’s made it a lot more tougher for me! (laughs) So, I don’t know. It has to be something outstanding.
Karan Johar recently said in a chat show that he regrets making item songs/special songs. You have featured in quite a few. What’s your take on the subject?
I don’t know if I would do them today and I can’t run away from the fact that Ihave done them. It’s very much a part of my repertoire. Every time I go to a wedding, there’s a Chikni Chameli or a Fevicol playing and everyone is dancing to it! So, I don’t think we should be pretentious about it. Maybe we live and learn and not do it again. But I enjoyed it (laughs).
