/> When Nelly Furtado and Shahid Kapoor met backstage before their show on December 31 she remembered her earlier meeting with Shahid Kapoor. "I was aware that Nelly and I wouldn't be able to do an act together. We were all so stressed-out about our acts. Nelly had her own act ready from beforehand.

I told her how much I loved her Powerless track. She surprised me by telling me she remembered meeting me and Kareena on a flight some time back. I was quite touched and taken aback that she actually remembered that. I'd have liked to dance with Nelly. But she had barely landed barely 24 hours earlier."

Kareena wasn't there to cheer on Shahid at the event. "She watched me on television from home. I preferred her to be with her family. It wasn't such a big event that I'd want her to be there for me."

But it was Shahid's first live performance in Mumbai. "Since I'm not doing any movies right now I had the time to rehearse. In any case I don't like going on stage until I'm fully prepared. The best part of the evening was the interaction with the live audience.

Earlier this year I had gone on my first world tour. That's when I realized how heady the whole experience of a live performance can be. This was like 20 minutes away from my home. So it felt like apne ghar ki baat. The turn-out was damn good....9,000 people. The standing cheering crowd was very MTV-styled.

That's only possible for an event like new year's eve. To add to my excitement, this was my first performance in India and that too before my a live crowd. Of course I've performed at awards functions. But never outside."

Shahid had himself a good time. "Bringing in 2007 while I was at work was a good thing. I haven't been working for two months. It felt good to be working again."

Shahid's wish-list for himself and Kareena 2007? "I"d like to do good work and balance out my personal life with my work. Kareena is hitting the best time of career now. I think quality has become far more important today than it was earlier. Because one successful film, no matter how small, is in the eye of the audience. Neither Kareena and I can get away with doing bad work."

Shahid is yet to find the the right project to take up after Vivah. "I'd be happy picking any script that has mass appeal. No point in giving a good performance in a film that nobody watches. Luckily films like Rang De Basanti or even Vivah have broken the mould.

In fact both Kareena and I have taken a deliberate decision to cut loose completely and start with a clean slate. Today she's doing a Mani Rathnam film. Every actor in the industry wants to work with Mani Sir.

She has been very patient, hasn't worked for 8-9 months. That's tougher on a leading lady than a hero. I'm so happy that her decision to be patient has paid off. I hope it pays off for me."

Will Shahid be in Sooraj Barjatya's next film? "I've my finger crossed. I'd do anything to work with him again. I was lucky Vivah did well. It gave me the confidence to hold out. Vivah has put me in a position to be patient. It was time for me to move to another level. "

Ends Shahid, "I've been patient. I did get scared when I got up work-less. But now I'm comfortable connecting with myself, listening to scripts and watching as many films as possible."