Kareena Kapoor Opens Up on Love, Break-Ups & Kissing On Screen

Kareena Kapoor on relationships, break-ups, kissing on screen and her upcoming films

Kareena Kapoor Khan chats up with The Quint

As Kareena Kapoor gets ready for her first big release of 2016, she talks to us about Ki & Ka, offers gyaan on relationships and break-ups and gives us a peek into her role in the forthcoming Udta Punjab.

Q: Do you have any say when it comes to choosing your co-star?
Kareena: No, I never say anything about casting. I just look out for my role and the script, I think that is the most important.

I am not interested in who is acting in the movie and all, that’s why I think I am one actress who has worked with every possible actor. There is nobody that I have not worked with.

I mean I am working with a newcomer like Daljeet also in my next (Udta Punjab), so I am not interested in whether it’s a star or not. It should suit the character, I should suit the character.

Q: What was the first thing that attracted you to the script of Ki & Ka?
Kareena: I think it was the concept. The fact you know that Balki was making it and even had the thought of making this kind of film. He said

I want to make a different kind of love story. I want to make a love story but I don’t want to keep it you know the same boy meets girl. I want to do something where the guy tells the girl that I want to be like my mother.

Because normally in life when you meet a boy, the first thing that he says is that I want to be like my father, as big as my father. You have never met somebody who will say “mein apni maa jaise banna chahta hoon”. I mean it just started on an amazing note.

Q: We are tired of seeing break-ups around us. This film is also about relationships. Is there anything you want to tell people about how to maintain one?
Kareena: A relationship is built with support, love and respect for each other. The fact that even in our film, this woman actually loves her husband who has no ambition. So love has no boundaries, no calculations, is what I feel. I think celebrity break-ups are what we are hearing about mostly but there must be so many other break-ups that are not part of news. We are hearing about these break-ups because every day they are being written about.

And also, I think break-ups happen in a very personal space. Nobody knows what actually happened behind closed doors.

Q: Do you think stardom takes a toll on people when they are in a relationship?
Kareena: In my case, we are both actors and this year in fact when I was shooting for Udta Punjab and Ki & Ka, he (Saif Ali Khan) was not. He just started shooting for Rangoon. We are always missing each other but we make time for each other. Relationships are also about making time for each other. You can’t just make a statement like – I don’t have time for love. I always take time out and women can multi-task very well and I always have time.

I always make an effort that if Saif is busy then I’ll make sure that I take out that time and I go see him or we both take out that time and plan a getaway or do something.

Q: When are you breaking your promise and joining Twitter?
Kareena: NEVER

People are wishing each other on Twitter <i>yaar,</i> I mean c’mon y<i>aar</i>. Why can’t I pick up the phone and call somebody that I want to? It’s more personal.

I like Twitter to spread awareness, to connect people in terms of what happened in Brussels. The way they were putting out messages to people, they were exchanging notes on help services, a hospital line and stuff like that. I think it’s amazing but I don’t think as a tool to kind of….I don’t know, I can’t understand that. I am not comfortable with that thought. If I like somebody in a movie or I want to wish somebody I want to call them up na? Or send them a note. I am still a little old school in that.

Q: What about fans? They can’t pick up the phone and tell you how much they love you.
Kareena: I know that so that’s why I interact with them through interviews, film. Anyway you know, to answer 5 million questions, I can’t do that right?

I have an active fan club on Twitter and on Instagram. They are very possessive, so I really feel proud that I am on Twitter and Instagram. They are my force, an army, I believe.

The second someone puts out a picture, in 20 seconds the fan clubs have picked it up. So then I know na that I am being protected, I don’t need to be around to say anything. They will bajao anyone who says anything. They will troll them. (Laughs)

Q: During the trailer launch of Ki & Ka you said you never had any ‘no kissing’ clause, it was just generated by the media. So what actually happened?
Kareena: But in India it’s like that only na. Once you are married then you can’t do anything else, according to them everything is terminated in life. Even the way you breathe is gone. It’s like you have sold your soul but that’s not the case, right?

I am an actor and my husband respects that and we are also in 2016. It’s only in India <i>na</i> that, <i>arrey</i>! no kissing. But if there is a husband and wife in a movie, they have to be intimate with each other, there is no other way.

Q: But did you discuss it with Saif?
Kareena: Of course I did discuss it and I did inform him, that this is the way it is and in fact, he was like, it is fine you must do it.

Saif was like, you have stood for a lot of things, people thought you won’t work after marriage but you did and so he was like, you should be the modern woman that you claim to be, you shouldn’t forget that you are an actor also.

Q: Have you ever faced any gender differences in the industry?
Kareena: Things are changing in the industry. It’s a male-dominated industry, the box-office numbers are driven by the Khans, but now I think different scripts are being accepted like Neerja.

Q: But Anushka in an interview had said that gender disparity is common, when out on outdoor shoot happens, it’s a given that the hero gets the better room. Has that ever happened to you?
Kareena: Well, if he is a gentleman he should definitely offer the heroine the better room. I haven’t gone to see my hero’s room so I don’t know (laughs).

Q: Tell us something about Udta Punjab there is a lot of curiosity around it.
Kareena: Well, I play a doctor in the drug drama. It’s kind of about what’s taking place in Punjab today – the drug bust which is actually happening and is very real. So it’s more intense, it’s dark, it’s completely different from Ki & Ka.