No More Frivolous Films.. New Career Moves...Kareena Kapoor Tells Subhash K Jha About Her Career Plans Post-Omkara...And yes, sis Karisma Kapoor is making a comeback.

Q: You are in an exceptionally good mood. Are you getting married?
A: No yaar! Where? No shaadi for a long time. I guess it's just your lucky day. Just kidding. It's life and Omkara that made me happy.

Q: You know what makes me happy? That you're looking so slim and lovely these days.
A: That's because I've been working- out like mad. You know how we Kapoors tend to put on weight. I've fought against that tendency for years.

Q: Nervous about Omkara?
A: Anxious. I just want to know how the audience would react to the new Kareena Kapoor. Believe Vishal Bhardwaj has made me over completely. I feel I've been re-born in Omkara. Vishal's emotions are very real. I did another realistic film Govind Nihalani's Dev. But I didn't have much to do there.

Q: But you got tremendous accolades for Dev.
A: I know. But I wish more people had seen it. I'm very proud of Dev. Things have changed a lot since then. Today audiences are far more open to new cinematic experiences. Whether it's an out-and-out entertainer like Don or an intense gripping drama like Omkara, the audience is ready for any kind of new experience.

I want to be in every film of Vishal. He's going to be one of our most distinguished directors after Omkara. Which he already is, by the way, after Maqbool. Vishal has shot Omkara like an international film. All the actors knew the importance of what they were doing.

Saif was fully prepared. As Langda Tyagi he worked on everything from walk to talk. We were all aware of the fact that we were putting Shakespeare to screen. Vishal made us go through a couple of workshops. He knew exactly what he wanted.

Q: You worked with new co-stars.
A: Yes, Saif and I have only a couple of scenes together. We had worked together in LOC. My co-star in Omkara is Ajay Devgan. He's a fabulous person. I know him from my childhood when he was my sister's co-star. Ajay was involved in the film's production in every way possible. And he played the title role. I had most of my scenes with him. Ajay made everything so much easier for me.

Q: Did the challenge of doing something so different scare you?
A: No in fact I've decided to take on only roles that challenge me. No more routine roles even in big projects. I don't mind saying no to anybody. After Omkara I feel I've reached a stage where I need to build on my reputation as an actress.

It needn't be offbeat or realistic. But I'm all for a film that goes into unknown territory. I think audiences are tired of watching boy meets girl. They want to know what happens after that.

If you look at recent hits like Rang De Basanti and Fanaah they've all gone beyond expectations. I'm changing my priorities with the audience. I've done enough run-of-the-mill movies. Until I get something as challenging as Omkara I'd rather stay at home and play with my niece Samaira.

Q: So you're starting afresh?
A: Absolutely. I want to do only the roles that challenge me as an actress. It doesn't have to be something that centres on me. But I must have something interesting to do. I'm willing to wait. Even if I've to wait for a year I'm willing to do so. I won't compromise on my roles. If I had the guts to start my career with Refugee I can very well do something unexpected at this stage of my career.

Q: But you had gone from natural to glam-doll in your second film.
A: That's because Mujhe Kuchh Kehna Hai happened to me after Refugee. I needed to be completely glamorous. Today cinema has changed. So have I.

Q: That's quite a change!
A: I want to adapt to audiences' changing tastes. Today all actors need to adapt themselves to a new kind of cinema. Even as a person I've matured considerably. When you're younger you tend to be more impulsive and immature. There were a lot of unanswered questions in my life. Today I feel confident enough to take the right decisions about my life and career.

Q: You've become mellower now?
A: It's life, my dear. It's taught me to look at the brigher side. Today I'm happy being an actress. It doesn't matter whether I'm in 36 China Town, Chup Chupe Ke and then in Omkara, all in one row.

Q: Why was there so little of you in Chup Chup Ke?
A: Ask Priyadarshan. Thank God, no dubbing (she played a mute character). But Omkara has me speaking in a different accent and dialect. But Ajay and Konkona have a much tougher dialect than me and Viveik Oberoi. The dialogues are so well written by Vishal.

Q: So which is easier the glam or the realistic?
A: Trust me, looking constantly glamorous on screen is very tough. Being a style icon puts a great responsibility on a person.

Q: Do you like being a role model for urban youngsters?
A: I think youngsters like me because I believe in myself. I try to achieve what I have to. Youngsters identify with that. I'm ambitious. I came in the industry to achieve something. And sorry, I'm not going to leave until I achieve it even if I'm pushed out.

Q: Whom did you bond the best with in Omkara?
A: Konkona is such a lovely girl. We's still in touch even after the film. She's so casual in spite of being such a good artiste. She's effortlessly good in her scenes. I was supposed to do her role in Page 3. Good she did it. I couldn't have done it as well as her.

Q: Would you do Page 3 today?
A: I think I'm more prepared for it now. I regret turning down Shyam Benegal's film too.

Q: So no Kareena after Omkara for a long time?
A: I'm listening to scripts. And I have a cameo in Farhan Akhtar's Don. I had a ball shooting for it. I loved dancing to Helen Aunty's song. No one can match up to her.

Q: You just went to Antwerp for a show. Do you think there's an audience for live concerts?
A: Of course there is! They're crazy about us in US, Canada, UK. Our last concert Rock Stars didn't do that well. But there were many reasons for that.

Q: How's your sister Karisma doing?
A: She's doing well. She's in Mumbai with her baby. She's open to hearing scripts. She wants to play power-packed roles in slightly offbeat films. She's looking her best these days. Pencil-thin and ready to face the camera.