Kareena Kapoor talks about Saif Ali Khan’s influence on her life, her rivals and the inevitable marriage plans...

“No one can imagine how much Saif has taught me
That’s why I love him so much more.”    Open about love, open about marriage. That seems to be the mantra of Kareena Kapoor. She was born into a rich family, so there is vanity. She has a bitchy side, which is balanced by a sensitive one. Kareena has never made the slightest attempt to keep her relationship with Saif secret, and quite obviously she’s amused by often-occurring rumours about her having wed Saif in a secret nikah. However, that isn’t the same as saying that Kareena is tying the knot anytime soon. For now, her priority remains her career, which, anyway, allows her to bYou have always believed that you are head and shoulders above competition. Admit it...
(Thinks hard) Not really. I know what I can offer; maybe it is because of that. And I am passionate about cinema. I have grown up with people who lived and breathed cinema and that has a lot to do with it. Acting is in my blood. I am very proud of being a Kapoor and I thank God everyday that I come from this family.

Lolo, too, was from the same family but she was humble. You don't seem to have a false sense of modesty.
You know, whoever knows me knows that I am very honest. I know what I can bring to the table. I am confident that I can deliver the goods.

If asked to name an actress you consider your closest rival, you'd pick...
The truth is, I think everyone is running a race. I am not. I know where I am. I am competing with myself. And if that wasn't the case, I don't think I would have films like 3 Idiots, Kurbaan, Omkara, Chameli, or Jab We Met. Also, the problem is, my closest rival keeps changing. Every year, a new name is touted.

So let me name them... Bipasha, Katrina, Priyanka, Deepika, and Sonam...
(Laughs) I am not naming anyone... let me just say that all these comparisons have never bothered me.

Speaking of 3 Idiots, you had to know that the boys had the best roles, so what was the motivation for accepting the part?
I knew what I was getting into. I did the film because I wanted to work with Raju Hirani, Vinod Chopra and Aamir Khan. From what 3 Idiots was on paper, I could see that it would go on to become really huge. And for me the question really was: Do I want to be part of this film? Everyone is just bothered about the length of their roles, and how many songs and scenes they have. And for me, it's not about screen time. It's about being effective.

How much money did you really make in 3 Idiots?
(Giggles) Well, not even one third of what Raju, Vinod and Aamir made. But more than my bank balance, I am just happy that I am part of a film that has made history.

You have worked with all the three Khans (Aamir, SRK, Salman). Who's the most fun to work with? And please don't be politically correct.
I think they are all special -- Aamir, Salman, Shah Rukh, Saif...

Saif doesn't count. He is the boyfriend...
(Complains) No, no, not fair. Why should he be left out because we are together? Anyway, to get back to your question, I think they are all different and special in their own way. And that is why the Khans are still ruling the roost. No matter, who comes and who goes, they remain unaffected.

So where does that leave a Bachchan, a Kapoor and a Roshan?
I would love to work with Hrithik. I think he is one of the finest actors in the country but surprisingly, no one is offering us films together, can you believe that. I am sure we will work together at some point.

But there's no stress there?
Not at all. It's strange that no one is even thinking of casting us together. I am looking forward to it, to be honest.

Do you ever see Shahid and you coming together?
I am professional, and I am sure Shahid is as well. And I don't see why we shouldn't work together, if there is a good script, and if we both have good roles.

What's the status of Saif's home production Agent Vinod starring you and Saif?
It is definitely happening. Agent Vinod is the kind of film that requires of lot of pre-production, which is happening right now. It's not a love story. It will be shot at seven different locations...and also the way Saif functions; he doesn't care if it takes, one, two or three years. He functions very differently. He says he isn't running a race...

That's something you've picked up from him...
Yes. You cannot imagine, how much he has taught me professionally. He has taught me to approach my work differently. He'd tell me, 'Stop bothering about what everyone else is doing. How can it matter to you? You should only be interested in what you are doing.' And that is what he does. And he's very happy and content professionally.

Any fear of you and Saif coming together in Agent Vinod?
Your pair in Tashan and Kurbaan didn't really click.
Not at all. I think films run on the basis of the script and not the pairing. I mean star status and publicity can get you an opening but beyond that, the film has to work.

So what went wrong with Kurbaan?
Maybe there was something wrong in the screenplay or whatever but I still feel that Rensil and Karan made a brave, amazing film. I think it is one of my best performances. I won most of the awards for Kurbaan, so it is a film I will never regret.

What is happening to Race 2? Are you and Saif still doing it?
As of now, it's still in scripting stages and technically; only Saif is part of it. I am going to hear the script but at the end of the day, I think Saif and I need to draw a line about how many films we will do together. As on now, there is just Agent Vinod. I will have two releases this year. Stepmom and Golmaal 3. And next year, I have Ra1 and Agent Vinod.

A lot is said and written about you and Saif. Do you regret making your relationship public?
I am known through my roles, not my personal life, and I don't want people to confuse the two. And I don't want to be caught up in my image. My fans want to know about my life and that's okay, up to a limit. If I am seeing someone, I don't see why I should hide it. And love is celebrating. It is ridiculous to hide your relationship. If I hide the fact that I am seeing someone, then I am disrespecting my man and my relationship.

Ever so often, there are rumours of you and Saif having had a secret nikaah at Pataudi your comment?
We have been together for two-and-half years now. We are very happy. Marriage will happen, but it hasn't happened. At some point, we are going to settle down but we don't know when. And catch me doing anything secretly! Anything about my life has been so much in the open. Why would I break my record and go have a hush-hush wedding? I am the last unmarried Kapoor girl in the family and I want a grand wedding... I want to be a beautiful bride but right now, I am too busy being a bride on the big screen.

Saif once told me that he is ready to get married but that it wouldn't be fair to you because like it or not, an actress' stock gets affected.
That's why I love him so much more.

e with Saif. Here she talks about her beau's influence on her life, her rivals (where are they?) and the inevitable marriage plans. Read on for the politically correct Kareena.