Subhash K Jha Catches Kareena Kapoor In An Ebullient Mood.

You turned 17 this year...
Ha ha. Why not Sweet 16? Seriously, I'm 26. I think I've done well for myself. I don't know what more I want from my life and career. I've got love and I now I look forward to doing some great films.

Both professionally and personally I'm at peace with myself. Now I want to go with the flow. Things are going great. In December I start preparing for Mani Rathnam's Lajjo.

What preparations?
There will be Urdu classes and lots of dance rehearsals. I've to change my hair. I'm restructuring my body because Indian clothes require a different physicality.

You're slim enough.
I know. But I constantly feel the need to grow thinner. I've always been healthy, touch wood. I'm a foodie. But I burn it up. If I eat I work-out vigorously. I'll be working out intensely from the next month for Lajjo. I'm really looking forward to working with Aamir Khan. I don't know how I'll give my shots.

What do you mean?
I'm so much in awe of him. Just watching him at work would be a learning experience. I absolutely love him. I know him since the time he worked with my sister in Andaz Apna Apna and Raja Hindustani. I'm an Aamir Khan fan.

I'm that wide-eyed kid who has watched all his films, read all his interviews and followed all his films. I bought tickets and saw Rang De Basanti six times. Each time I had a blast. When they gave him a standing ovation I also stood up.

What about another film with Shahid?
We've taken a mutual decision not to work together until we're offered something truly outstanding. It must be an out-and-out love story. He's one of our youngest leading men. Youth is on his side.Coincidentally Shahid too has taken a break from acting. I'm not exaggerating when I say he hears four scripts a day.

But nothing excites him. I'm glad he has reached a stage where he can say no. I wish I had done that before. He's such a fine actor. I'm so happy he has decided to stop work until he' challenged by a script.

Are you saying the two of you didn't plan this time off together?
No. It just happened. Shahid is a thinking guy. So far he has done a lot of films he wasn't convinced by. When I did the same I defiantly shrugged it off. But bad films trouble Shahid. So now he's putting his foot down. Good for him. He won't do any film for money.

What about you?
Not at all. It's the script. I've realized the script is the real star. That's why I love Omkara. I think I did well for myself. For me Desdemona's role is the ultimate. Why just me, everyone in the film was fabulous. I think Omkara is one of this year's best films. No director except Vishal could've the guts to do it.

Last year you won the Smita Patil Memorial Award.
I was shocked! I was away in Vienna when my sister received a letter from them. When she called to say I had won this award. I guess all my hard work and all my agonizing—am I doing the right thing or not?-- is finally paying off.

I've always admired Smita Patil and to have my name associated with her at such a young age... I don't think I could've asked for me. I'm really excited. I'll be getting the award on 19 September two days before my birthday. A great gift.

How closely have you watched Smita?
I think she was so wonderful in Arth. She had a thankless unsympathetic role as the Other Woman. And she held her own against someone as powerful as Shabana Azmi. I wish I could play that role. I also like Smita in Bazaar. I'm partial to Bazaar because Supriya Aunty (Shahid's step-mother Supriya Pathak) is in it. She's one lovely actress who never got her due. She gave up her opportunities for her kids.

Just like your mom?
No no. My mom has a rocking life. Lots of friends, she travels, goes out to lunch. Plus my niece Samaira is there. So there's no time for her to be lonely.

Were you happy with the response you got for Omkara?
For sure. Mani Rathnam's Lajjo happened to me after Omkara. I won't be shooting for the next three months, just travelling to one unexplored land with Shahid every month. Spending my time with friends whom I've ignored because of work, gyming...The pressure of getting up for a 9 am shift for work that didn't excite me, is over.

I won't say yes to a film I don't like. I'm looking for the right scripts. I fall asleep hearing the scripts about people cracking stupid jokes and shedding artifical tears. I can't be excited by the boy-meets-girl stories. Will someone gift me an exciting script ?

What special thing will you do during your holiday?
I wish I could boast about doing a course in cinematography or learning a new language during my holiday. I am not the pseudo-intellectual type. I'll be watching Hindi movies and travelling. Next month Shahid and I travel to Thailand. I love travelling.

Does Shahid like to travel?
He loves to go to new places. But he's terrified of flying. That's the problem.

That's okay, you can hold his hand.
Nah. I'm too busy eating and watching movies. I LOVE flying. To me every destination is just a flight away. If I decide to visit a place I'll just fly off overnight.

What is Karisma planning to do?
As of now she's just planning to look after her baby. She wants to be there for Samaira watching her grow. Samaira is very little. She needs her mother. Karisma was offered a tv show. But she decided she wanted to stay home. She might come back to cinema. But only for a great role.

No one has offered the two of you a role together?
We'd love to work together. But it has to be great role for both of us.

Okay I'll write it. But no money.
Okay no money. Just write it.

Where will you be on your birthday?
Ideally I'd like to be in Goa. That's my favourite holiday spot in India. I did want us to go to Thailand for my birthday. But I can't go because of the Smita Patil award. So we'll be in Goa. We've decided to visit one new place every month. This month it's Goa, next month it's Thailand. Who knows where we'll be in November?

And marriage?
Not for the next four years for sure. I'll most definitely marry Shahid. I'm not the kind to jump from one relationship to another. For me love is for keeps.