Bollywood queen bee Katrina Kaif steered clear of commenting on her relationships even as she held forth on her career, co-stars she's worked with and her growing-up years during the session 'Kat of Nine Lives' at a recent event.

"When I was 18 years old and new to this industry, I wanted to be known in every Indian household. Now I want to focus further on my craft and work on different aspects of my personality," she said, adding that she wouldn't mind a Filmfare award and?in jest?that she would even sing Sheila ki jawaani if that's what it took, in a reference to Justice Markandey Katju's 'conditional suggestion', for her to be made the president of India. Calling her mother as being her inspirational force and source of constant support, Kaif said the fact that she lived in 13 countries while growing up made for a treasure trove of life experiences. "You can throw me into any culture and I'd adapt. When I finally came to India, the warmth and openness of the people, especially in Mumbai where I live, made me feel that I am home," she said.

Kaif credited Akshay Kumar for giving her some of her early hits after a disastrous debut in Kaizad Gustad's Boom, but added that Salman Khan had been of immense help during her early years in Bollywood?though she refrained from admitting that the two of them were ever an 'item', something she repeated when she was asked about Ranbir Kapoor, a "naturally gifted actor". She revealed that she got Boom as a last-minute replacement for model Meghna Reddy who had pulled out, and the one big takeaway from it was that co-star Jackie Shroff had advised her to learn the Devanagiri script?something that has kept her in good stead as she climbed to the top of the Bollywood heap.

Saying she has steered clear of social media platforms up until now because of the sheer negativity of some elements, the actor, however, said she has made peace with the fact that invasion of privacy is the price one has to pay for stardom. "We live such privileged lives as actors that it's rather petty to complain about a few newspaper articles we do not like," she said.