25 years of Bebo

Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor. / Image- Instagram/ Kareena Kapoor

When Kareena Kapoor fell in love with Saif Ali Khan and the two got married, she just told him one thing— “I want to continue working.” And what a body of work she had put together over the years. This 44 year old has just been lauded internationally for her film The Buckingham Murders which released in September. Being a powerhouse of talent, beauty, charm and chutzpah-Kareena Kapoor Khan has proved she is like the finest wises. Never having taken her Kapoor legacy for granted, Kareena has made sure the is always ahead of the game honing her talent and redefining her star-status each time.

With 25 grand years completed in this industry Kareena has ensured her next chapter is always more interesting than her last one. She spoke exclusively to Bollywood Insider about all things that makes her herself! Read on to know about her career her rules, her films, and her actor husband Saif Ali Khan and her two children.

Two and half decades as leading lady of the film industry and now you have turned producer?

I remember having grown up on my sister Lolo’s (Karishma Kapoor) sets and hearing words like box office numbers and collections etc. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be on the big screen. Acting is in my blood, I don't know anything else and coming in front of the camera is something I live for and it is my passion and I want to keep doing it forever. The Buckingham Murders is one film that became very special to all of us. In what language the film is made is insignificant, what’s important is the story that you are telling. I have to also thank Ekta Kapoor who has always been pushing me to do more.
She truly has been the backbone. I loved the script of The Buckingham Murders and decided that people would like to watch a good crime thriller. A few years ago, I had done a film with director Sriram Raghavan called Kurbaan, which was a spy story – that’s the closest I have come to this genre and later, I did Jaane Jaan. For me, there was also the lure of playing a detective.
You have done a whole paradigm shift for Punjabi kudi characters you have played. Both Geet in Jab We Met and now playing Jazz in The Buckingham Murders are Punjabis, but they couldn’t be more different from one another… how does one actor do justice to both?

The job of an actor is to stay true to your character. Every character has a back story, even if it is not shown in the film. It would have been blasphemy to play two characters the same way. There is no overlap whatsoever between Geet and Jazz. Just because I have successfully played a Sikhni from Bhatinda, I won’t play Detective Jaspreet Bhamra the same way. I am Jazz Bhamra in this film. It’s important for an actor to showcase themselves, appropriately to the parts we are playing. I played a prostitute in Chameli and also in Talaash but again they were both completely apart. I would like to think that this variety that I can offer, is what makes my fans love me.
You have worked with very diverse directors from Rohit Shetty to Imtiaz Ali and now Hansal Mehta, what is the trick to work with such different temperaments?

Every director has a different vision and the director is responsible for creating that atmosphere of the film. The vibe of the film or milieu is his responsibility. What he requires from the artist he will convey. Some like to prepare and some are impromptu and I enjoyed working with Hansal because he has a very clear vision and somehow, we both think alike. He is very instinctive and I too am very spontaneous as an actress. Together we gelled well, and it helped to get the characters to come to life.
Ekta Kapoor and you have worked together on four projects; what is your chemistry like?

We both have collaborated on some wonderful projects and as I said earlier who better than Ekta to bond with. We have known each other for years now and we are both comfortable with what we bring to the table.
Were you influenced by Kate Winslet’s character from Mare Of Easttown?

This script came to me before Mare Of Easttown was out. I am a huge fan of Kate Winslet’s work. As an actor we always draw inspiration from different actors and why not? If it makes you perform better, what’s wrong in being inspired? We need to be inspired as we can do better. This role is my interpretation of the character.
You have a fabulous body of work so far. Is there a thirst for more?

An actor can never be complete. I want to work until my last breath. As long as I am not satisfied I am sure I will keep doing good work. I hope to keep on acting and always pray for good roles to come by.
Actors and actresses are always under pressure to look good. Does it burden you?

It’s an ordeal and task to constantly look good. But then it’s our job. I think whether it’s mainstream cinema, OTT or parallel cinema, everyone has to give their best for posterity. We have to take our jobs seriously.
Jab We Met, Asoka and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham went on to be iconic films for your career. Did you anticipate that?

I never expected that. I did these films because I went with my gut feeling mostly. I was shooting for Jab We Met and Tashan simultaneously and I was so busy that I was not prepared for the huge success that Jab We Met turned out to be. Asoka was a special film as I was opposite Shah Rukh Khan for the first time, that much was enough for me to sign the film. During Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham I was so young and people thought I was like Poo in real life. I think the only thing I thought was that it was a big film for me. Then I went on to do Omkara but Saif took away all the accolades for that film, rightfully so. For me each and every film was still special. Then came 3 Idiots whose whole purpose for me was to work with an actor like Aamir Khan. What a pleasure that was!
I have had successful films with all the heroes but for me the catch was about leaving a legacy. I come from a family that is talented and loved, so I had to challenge myself hard to leave a mark for myself somewhere amongst my family members. I think it is also important to reinvent yourself every few years.
Is there any film from the yore that you would like to remake, especially that of your mother’s?

I think I would love to do films like Aradhana and Abhimaan. They are my personal favorites. Amongst my mother’s films there was one with Rajesh Khanna called Raaz, I liked that, and even Kismet and Farz.
She was once considered a lucky charm and worked with all the superstars of her time you for one have done many films which can be best described as male- centric. How did you keep yourself relevant in those films?

I have completed 25 years and for me that is unbelievable, in these years I have done a variety of work. When I started out, I was just 17, at that time my constant thought was all about proving myself. Did I think about whether or not I am doing a male-centric film? – absolutely not! Yet, with time I strived to sustain myself and achieve certain landmarks that other actresses have done for themselves. How did I do it? How did I keep myself relevant? Well, I guess I have that X-factor which goes well with my talent and also, I cannot deny good luck too!
You lucked out in love too…. What’s your favorite thing about Saif?

If there was just one, it would not have been worth marrying him, right? There are lists and lists of things that I admire in him.
It has started becoming increasingly difficult to keep a marriage going, what’s your take on it?

You need love and respect, if you have that, I think you can circumvent any problems that may arise. However, one also has to understand that marriage is a lot of compromise and adjustments too. Which is easy if you love each other enough to accommodate the other.
How much do children help in a marriage?

They help in cementing your love.
Are you the kind of mother that limits their screen time etc?

Of course, children today are born with phones. They are just so intelligent that you cannot just command them to keep the phones, they will be the first ones to turn around and ask why are you holding your phone if they are so bad? So I read hooks with them or play board games. I try to spend as much time as I can with them.
Have your children seen any of your films?

People tell me to show them Jab We Met and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, maybe someday I will.
Your children have been constantly clicked by the media. Does it worry you?
They are very young and we are concerned. I have been requesting the media all the time to leave them alone. It’s not good for them, Taimur understands now and he tells them not to click. Its not good for him but we can’t help it.

You are amongst the first actresses in Bollywood to have a Film Festival dedicated to you, how does that feel?

I am thankful to my fans for supporting me and giving me so much love. Just the thought that I completed 25 years in this industry feels great. I am hoping for the coming 25 years also, I am blessed with all this love! My work for me is very important, and I want to work till my very last breath.