by Subhash K Jha

Kareena is going for no more holidays. "Except one, for Shahid's birthday on February 25,"she corrects herself. "Otherwise I'm raring to get back to work. I've put on my running shoes."

Kareena couldn't have hoped for more. At the Screen awards she walked away with the best actress award for Omkara, beating the popular choice Kajol in Fanaah.

"By chance Kajol was sitting right next to me when my name was announced. She was so genuinely pleased for me. Kajol along with my sister Karisma have always been my idols....Both have had their share of awards. Now it's my turn. I've received critics' awards.

But this is my first taste of popular awards since Refugee. Omkara has been a great experience for me. People still come to me on flights and at the gym to tell me how much they liked me in Omkara."

Kareena was at the awards function with everyone who counted. "Karisma was there and so was my mom and Shahid. They were so happy for me. Shahid was nominated for Vivah. But he was so happy when I won. I had gone only to perform. But I came back with an award."

She says she has tasted blood. "I want win at every awards function this season."

She got to perform with the legendary Helen. "It was a great moment. Of course I knew her from before. I'm a filmy bachcha, remember?. Helen Aunty has seen me from my childhood. The Moranis suggested I perform with Helen Aunty. They suggested I drive onto stage in a sports car with the Don music playing.

When the sports car came in I could hear everyone from my own fraternity cheering me. It felt good. Then I danced to my version of Yeh mera dil in Don. After that Helen Aunty came in to dance to her own version of Yeh mera dil from the old Don."

Kareena can't stop raving about Helen. "She was so gracious. She was wondering why people were comparing her Don with mine because times have changed. She said my dance was more dazzling and sexy. That was so sweet of her."

The award for Omkara has inspired Kareena to work harder. "Getting my first popular best-actress award at the beginning of the year just elates me. I'm now getting the right scripts like Mani Rathnam's Lajjo. Now I only want to do only good films. It's so easy just to be in big projects and get big money. I don't believe in that. I've to have a central part now."

What about the cameo in Don? "That one song Yeh mera dil is running in all the night clubs. All the college kids are dancing to it. I've one big hit to dance to."

Talk veers to Kareena's sister. "Karisma is looking like a million bucks. When she went on stage at the awards event to give Hrithik the best -actor award a collective gasp went up in the audience. She's pencil -slim. And so am I these days. I'm working really hard on staying slim."