A conversation with Saif Ali Khan is always interesting. He is intelligent, well read and loves doing all the different things that he gets to do being born a nawab and being a Bollywood star. He has always been charming, but today, he is also realistic, mature and responsible. Excerpts from a conversation over coffee with him.

You recently worked with Katrina Kaif and she also visited your house with Ranbir. Talk about Katrina?
I wouldn't say I know her very well and most of what she has talked about was her thoughts on the film and not really very personally, but I did find her to be always very nice. I feel that she has consistently really been interested in her work. I remember once she bought this magic dress for a song in Race and I found it very interesting how someone just went out and brought a dress for a song herself. I was impressed and thought it was really being committed. And I feel it's that kind of commitment that has led her to becoming such a successful star. She is really grounded and loyal as a person. I don't want to get personal and offend her in any way, but I have seen her at different points in time in different relationships and she has been loyal at all times. She came home recently for the first time as I wanted her and Ranbir to come.

How do you decide which director you want to work with?
A film is a director's personality. If you want to know what your film will look like, have a look at your director. If you find him worrying and annoying, you might end up with that kind of movie. And if you find him dark, mysterious or cool or sexy, your film might end up like that. There is a high chance that the personality of the film will be the personality of the director. For instance, Imtiaz Ali has traditional knowledge and has a tehzeeb to him, but there is a wildness and awareness to his free flowing personality that is hard to contain. He is free spirited, so you can see that in Love Aaj Kal. Vishal Bhardwaj is an artist, he is musical and deep and you can see it in Omkara.