/> Kareena's head is pounding. And it's not because of all the music that she and Shahid Kapoor have been dancing to during the live concerts all over the world.

"I'm down with a terrible viral fever," she groans. "But I've to leave for Malaysia for Don. Farhan Akhtar's team is waiting for me. I had to give the IIFA a skip because of the stint in Malaysia. It's just a two-day shoot and then I'm done.

It's always a pleasure to work with Shah Rukh. You know, I've always been a SRK fan. What we did together in Ashoka can never be repeated. I loved doing the Yeh mera dil song with Shah Rukh in Don. Very soon we'll be doing another full-fledged film together."

For now in her next project it's John Abraham who will star opposite Kareena. "It's Soham Shah's film for Karan Johar. I'm excited about this because it's my return to Karan's banner after K3G. Sure, a lot of water has flown under the bridge.

And yes, we had a difference of opinion because of which I lost Kal Ho Na Ho. But these are things of the past. Must we go on and on about them? We start this new Soham project in November."

Soham's film will offer Kareena an entirely new co-star in John. "Where are the really exciting co-stars for me, yaar?" she mock-groans and then affectionately looks at Shahid Kapoor who's with her. "Shahid and I had such a blast during the concert tours.

We shopped till we dropped. We came back to Mumbai with ten suitcases. The customs guys at the airport looked at us as though we had lost it. Shahid and I also took time off to visit my aunt in Detroit. You could say it was our family visit together."

The comfort level with Shahid is so high and so constant you wonder when they're making it legal. "Let him work for a while. I also have so much to do. I feel I'm just starting out. I can't tell you how excited I am about Omkara.

The director Vishal Bhadrawaj and I have have formed a mutual admiration society. We've made a pact. I'm going to feature in every single film of his. And if I don't fit into a film of his, he's just not going to make it, as simple as that."

Kareena surely has come a long way. From a girl who before the release of her first Refugee told me she wants to remain in salwar-kameez all her life and be another Madhubala, to the va-va-voom diva in K3G to again the simple salwar-kameez gal in her latest film Chup Chup Ke.

Chuckles Kareena, "My role in Chup Chup Ke was short, but it was sweet. I liked the simplicity of the girl I played. I'm basically a simple girl in real life. It's showbiz which changed me into this glam-girl. Not that I'm complaining. How many people can claim to be where I am?"

At the moment Kareena is just happy taking it easy until Soham's film for Karan Johar starts.

"I think Omkara will be a new beginning for me as an actress. Everyone connected with the film will benefit. So will I."