by Subhash K Jha

She is the new Garnier girl, and she looks smashing in the advertisements.

But compliments about her looks don't faze Kareena Kapoor; she is used to them. "Garnier is about youth, style and energy," she says. "If they've chosen me, it's because they think I can make a style statement. I'm quite flattered that they chose me."

Kareena's new film, Kyon Ki -- opposite Salman Khan -- was one of the big Diwali releases.

"It wasn't a fun role like Priyan's Hulchul, where we had a ball. This was far more serious. But still, it was a lot of fun. I can't shoot with Priyan and not have fun," Kareena laughs.

She has already done three films with the prolific Priyan. She plays a deaf-and-mute girl in Priyan's forthcoming, yet-untitled film. "Even in Kyon Ki, I'm not all bak-bak. Salman plays the outgoing one. I had a lot of quiet moments in my first film Refugee also," she recalls.

Before Kyon Ki, Kareena had a traditional, sari-clad look in Bewafaa too. "I like wearing saris," she says. "They can be really glamorous. Look how sensuous Sridevi looked in a sari in Chandni and Mr India, Madhuri Dixit in the Dhak dhak song in Beta, or my sister Karisma in Raja Hindustani. I don't think being attractive is about just short skirts and high heels."

She raves about Salman. "I know him as my sister's co-star. At first, he was very awkward being paired with me. 'How can I be romancing you? You're Lolo's kid sister,' he said. But like two professionals, we succeeded in establishing a comfort level. Now we're doing Salman's home production My Punjabi Nikaah. We'll have loads of fun.

"Everyone wants to see Salman and me together. And they won't be disappointed. We really look good together. Like Akshay Kumar, Salman has done many films with my sister. Now, it's my turn."