It is an unusually windy evening in Mumbai but in Katrina
Kaif’s room the temperature is comfortable. She is expecting me and smiles
spontaneously. A few pleasantaries about what’s going on, a few instructions to
the team, a few messages checked on the mobile and Katrina is ready for my
questions.
Q: The promotions of Fitoor
must have exhausted you, are you relieved that the film is finally released?
Katrina Kaif: All actors have to go through the
exercise in every film and with each passing year, the promotions get more aggressive.
It is because the mediums of communications have multiplied. I’m told stars did
not do any such exercise in the olden days.
Technology has its share of disadvantages and I’m not complaining.
What’s got to be done has got to be done!
Q: Your filmmakers call you professional and your co-stars say
you are extremely hard working, are you?
Katrina Kaif: I think I am and I’m happy they notice
and appreciate my sincerity. My producers say I’m lucky because apparently my
average of box-office hits is high. There are no short cuts to success and the
only way to do it is to give your best.
Q: The media says you do the same kind of films, do you agree?
Katrina Kaif: I disagree and have never fathomed why
they say that. Is it because I work in mainstream cinema? Are all mainstream
films identical? I don’t think so.
There is no similarity between Partner and Rajneeti or Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Phantom. They are all different genres and I’m fortunate that I have worked with a wide variety of directors in my career.
Q: And how was the experience of working with David Dhawan
early in your career?
Katrina Kaif: Partner was more
like a picnic because the trio (Salman, Govinda and David Dhawan) were cracking
up all the time. Davidji I discovered
never works with a bound script. He improvises all the time and just an
exchange of expression was sufficient for both his heroes to deliver what was
expected which was freaking me out!
I was the odd one in the unit and what was further frustrating was that Davidji wanted to can every shot very, very fast, it’s a miracle how I completed the film.
Q: Rajneeti was a
surprise.
Katrina Kaif: I was surprised Prakash Jha wanted me
for the part and initially I was unsure how I would fit into the role, but the
unit was young and Prakashji well
prepared, so I had to merely follow instructions to walk the right path.
Q: Zoya Akhtar describes
you as a director’s actor.
Katrina Kaif: Every actor aspires to interpret her
character as per the director’s vision, sometimes we are able to, sometimes we
stumble on a different note. Zoya trusts
her actors and lets them be - she let me be and was always there to hold my
hand when I needed her. Zindagi Na Milegi
Dobara was easy because I identified with the film and my charactert though
I had to work hard for the underwater scenes.
Q: Kabir Khan’s NewYork
established you as an actor.
Katrina Kaif: Yes, the critics for the first time
praised me as a performer. I played a married woman in a complex situation and
during the shooting of New York I met
Yash Chopra, one of the nicest people in filmdom.
Q: And then you did Jab
Tak Hai Jaan, Yash Chopra’s last film.
Katrina Kaif: Early in my career I was told I was not
Yash Chopra brand of heroine, so I was surprised when I was offered JTHJ. It was an instant connection with
Yashji; we shared a very talkative
relationship. He spoke to me in English, Hindi sometimes Punjabi and everyone
asked me how I understood what he said because he mumbled and swallowed his
words, but I understood everything. I just loved Yashji and miss him sorely.
Q: My two favourite films of yours are Ek Tha Tiger and Fitoor...
Katrina Kaif: All credit for Ek Tha Tiger goes to director Kabir Khan, who combined action and drama
into a refreshing love story. It had great locations, music and Salman and I
did some very tough chase scenes too.
Fitoor is my current favourite because I have yet to disconnect with my character. We actors live a role for a year and it isn’t easy to let go off a memory so easily. Every frame of Fitoor is beautiful and will remain special.
(Bhawana Somaaya has been writing on cinema for 30 years and is the author of 12 books. Twitter/@bhawanasomaaya)
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