Katrina not Bebo with Shahid

Whatever the truth about the status of the Shahid- Kareena relationship, the one truth about Shahid's career is clearly perceptible in his choice of heroines.

The lament, "There're not too many suitable leading ladies for me" no longer seems to hold true for Shahid.

After the ready-for-release Jab We Met with Kareena, it's Aziz Mirza's Lucky Charm with Vidya Balan, and then a straight-from-the-heart love story for Shahid.

And this time his leading lady is Katrina Kaif.

The prolific and passionate Raj Kumar Santoshi who has decided to bring together the untried pair is currently in the pre-production stage of this romantic quickie.

Says Raj, "I haven't done a simple love story before. Most of my films have been very intense and searching. I just wanted to see what it felt like to direct a boy-meets-girl story. Now that my Ajay Devgan-Vidya Balan starrer Halla Bol is ready."

Shahid is an actor Raj wanted to work with for a while. He earlier planned to bring Shahid and his father Pankaj Kapoor together in a comedy. But has now decided to go ahead with the love story instead. "He's got what it takes. And I know Shahid is capable of great intensity in a romance."

The untitled film hits the floors in early November. "I hope to complete the film by the end of the year."

Raj's next release is Halla Bol featuring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan. "It's my take on an actor's conscience and its awakening. But it isn't preachy or solemn.I've tried to keep the message as entertaining as possible."

The versatile director's much-discussed Ramayan project with Ajay Devgan as Rama, Kajol as Sita, Riteish Deshmukh as Laxman ad Prakash Raj as Ravan has been pushed to the end of 2008.

Katrina is lonely despite Sallu

Several times while shooting for her next two releases, Katrina was on the verge of tears.

During the shooting of Anil Sharma's Apne and David Dhawan's Partner Katrina invariably witnessed the warmth shared in a closely-knit famlily.

"The Deols in Apne and the Khans, Salman and Sohail (who've produced during the film) during Partner bonded so beautifully on the sets, I'd invariably miss my own family."

Shooting with The Deols for Apne was a very emotional experience.

Says the actress, "It was such a pleasure to just do a film with the Deols Dharamji, Sunny and Bobby. I'd look at them together on the sets and miss my sisters and mom so much…I come from a large family. But I'm in Mumbai alone.

And when I saw how beautifully the Deols bonded I felt….sad and happy…they were having so much fun. Made me wish I had my sisters around. It's unfortunate that my work has taken me away from my family."

Katrina's mother and sisters are in Chennai. "My mom keeps saying, do a Tamil film. So you can come home. I've done Telugu films. But never Tamil."

Katrina shares a very chummy relationship with Bobby Deol. "During Apne me and Bobby would inevitably be doing something or the other to annoy each other. He was constantly poking fun at me. That in turn annoyed me. Dharamji would sweetly act a referee between us. It was like being on a family picnic rather than working."

Katrina doesn't talk to Bips!

Lara Dutta and Katrina Kaif will be seen on 'Koffee with Karan' on August 5 at 2100 hrs on Star One and Star World channels.

In this week's episode, Lara jokingly remarks, ''It has taken me a whole year to undo the stuff I spoke in the last episode.''

Post the success of 'Partner' and 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom', Lara shares that the wait for good movies has paid off, but points out that the industry still has this wrong notion that a glamorous looking person cannot act.

On the other hand, Katrina, who seems to be in a rather philosophical mood, is just not willing to commit that she is dating Salman Khan.

She tells Karan that she is not on talking terms with Bipasha Basu. However, she feels that a third party may have come between them and caused the friction.

"Nobody links Katrina with anyone because they are too scared"

She is sexy… she is stunning… the universe has already endorsed that, but apart from that, she is clever… put her on a social, political or a fraternity platform and boy, she can talk and be the belle of the ball. And Karan sure has a ball with none other than the hot and happening Lara Dutta. His second guest is so beautiful that she has a face that can launch almost a 1000 cosmetics… she has been in a series of successful films and is here to say… the ultra glamorous, the ultra gorgeous and the stunning Katrina Kaif. These two gorgeous girls will appear on ‘Koffee with Karan’ next.

Excerpts from the interview:

Karan: Welcome back Lara
Lara: Thanks Karan… I was hoping you have me back actually… I was a little worried when I got your call…

Karan: Last time, we had such a fun time with you and Bipasha… did I get you into trouble?
Lara: Yes… tremendously… it has taken me a whole year to undo… all the problems I caused myself…

Karan: You are looking absolutely stunning… why do I feel you are suddenly raring to go?
Lara: Because I probably am… its taken me about 3 and a half years to find my footing in the industry… to find out what I like doing … the kind of cinema that I like being part of… the kind of people that I like doing work with… I think once you have that in place… you start feeling a little more confident about yourself…

Karan: You just said some wonderful things about Amisha Patel last time?
Lara: It’s all your fault
Karan: What did I do? I just used my good old friend… the liometer…you just kept the spilling the beans… Now of course… it’s long forgotten… you and Amisha don’t cross paths anymore
Lara: Actually, I did meet her at your birthday party… all this has to do with you

Karan: And what happened when you met her?
Lara: She was really sweet… really lovely … and you know something
Karan: you felt terrible
Lara: I felt terrible after the show anyway… and I think immaturity and being caught up in the moment make you do a lot of things
Karan: But, it’s ok… it’s all part of the past….

Karan: Lara any problems with anybody at all… or things are fine?
Lara: No, things are fine…

Karan: Well, in the beginning there were… you know, you had your so-called war with Priyanka…
Lara: You know, I think the media needs a new bakra every couple of years… so, initially it was Sush and Ask and then it was Priyanka and me… and now it’s Sonam and Deepika…
Karan: Deepika… yes… Sonam and Deepika…

Karan: What happens Lara, in this industry when you get attached or you have rumors and controversies about you with leading men, which is not true. How does that place you?
Lara: You know what happens Karan… is that the media keeps falling for the same time-tested ploy, time and time again and every time there is a film releasing, the makers of the film or the publicists or whoever decide that it would be so exciting to spread these rumors that the two leading male and female stars are having a scene with each other and the media keeps falling for it again and again. All it does is, it garners publicity for a film. Once the film is out and done with, you’re linked to the next co-star you're working with!

Karan: So by the end of it, you've been attached to everybody!
Lara: Exactly! I've been linked with Abhishek, with John... So how many times are you going to keep standing up and defending yourself. What irritates me a lot is if you’re linking me with someone who’s already a married man with children, what are you trying to do? You’re trying to light a fire in somebody's marriage and your trying to break that up and that... I don't like!

Karan: It becomes embarrassing!
Lara: It becomes embarrassing and more that that... when there is no need for something like that. This industry is as it is pretty murky, without getting it murkier. For the person sitting at home who is not part of the industry who is the wife or the husband or whatever, it’s just not fair!

Karan: Well, Katrina you have been very diplomatic… I have been doing some research… looking through your interviews… trying to look for something sensational…
Katrina: Nothing na…
Karan: Nothing… why are you like this…you are young, you are beautiful… you have to say rude and nasty things once in a while… come on say something… think of something rude to say…
Katrina: I think it is probably because I came here at a later stage… post people grew up here… I think there is a certain reservation about going ahead and criticizing people who have grown up here and been here all their life… let, may be 3 or 4 years pass and I will get really over confident and then start…
Karan: Start making headlines… suddenly we will see very dramatic answers
Katrina: Yaaaa

Karan: What both of you had strangely in common was… you Lara, though you are a hard core Punjabi… you had this whole western image… everyone thought that Lara Dutta is very westernized… but of course you are a true Indian girl with the Punjabi background… but, that never came to the fore...till very recently…
Lara: But, you know, I tried to get out of the stereotype from the very first film… when I did Andaz… I did it with as hard core a Hindi film Director you can get… Raj Kanwar, and the character that I played as well was very Punjabi… I did that with No Entry, where I played a suspicious Indian housewife… these are the roles that have been appreciated…

Karan: And you have had to combat that as well Katrina… because everyone said Anglo sized, westernized… now, you dub your own films…
Katrina: Ya… I think initially it was a nice way of putting it… there are certain people… when it comes to modeling… it’s easy… people just accept you… but, in films…there is a lot of…
Lara: But, I have to say… having worked with Katrina in Partner… she gives you this huge complex… I think she is really hard working… I think she knows the fact that may be coming into this industry … I think she is really dedicated… she knows this is where she wants to be… and she is going to go all out to get it… and I really admire that…

Karan: Hindi was totally not known to you…
Katrina: Ya… it was pretty much alien… and then I started out with doing South movies…

Karan: Do you remember, any one funny line you had to say… that you couldn’t get in a South Indian film…
Katrina: No… because I was pretty honest and straight forward… the dialogues would some time come at the end of the day and they would say, Madam, can you please learn these dialogues and come tomorrow for the shooting and I was like, No… don’t show that to me

Karan: So what did you do?
Katrina: I always learnt it… but I would learn it according to the shot…

Kartina wanted to get noticed

She walked into a packed room, surrounded by photographers on all sides. It took a while before those assembled could catch a glimpse of her.

Model-turned-actor Katrina Kaif was in Mangalore to inaugurate a jewellery showroom.

Quite predictably, the media hounded the actor, dressed in a bright sari and decked in gold jewellery.

Patiently, the pretty Ms. Kaif, answered the series of questions thrown at her.

Prepared perhaps to field posers on her career, she was thrown a little off balance by the first question: “Would you vote for Abdul Kalam or Pratibha Patil if you had a chance to vote in the presidential election?”

“Pratibha…I think. But I respect Mr. Kalam. He has done a lot for the country. I don’t know… I am not a political expert,” she tried, grinned, and gave up with a wave of her hands.

The tension was dissipated, everyone relaxed and simpler questions followed.

Comparing the careers of modelling and acting, she said acting was tougher. It demanded more, she said.

For Katrina, her best role in Bollywood so far, has been in “Namastey London”.

“The story revolves around a woman, which is quite rare in commercial Hindi cinema.”

Katrina said she loved working in the South Indian film industry. She has worked in Telugu and Malyalam movies. “It has been two and a half years since I did a South Indian movie. I miss the industry,” she said.

She was offered a Kannada movie once, but couldn’t accept it, as she was busy with four other projects at the same time. If a good Kannada offer comes along, I will definitely take it. But I hope the language is easier than Malayalam, which was quite complicated,” she says smiling.

“I am willing to work in any language if the director is talented. Language is secondary,” she added.

Asked about her sartorial preferences, she said it depended on the situation.

“If I am wearing jewellery like this (pointing to the many gold necklaces she was wearing), then it has obviously got to be a sari.

If I am going out for coffee, or somewhere more casual, I would prefer a dress.”

She answered the expected “who is the best actor you have worked with?” with a careful, “I share a very good working relationship with Akshay Kumar. He has very good energy, and we are comfortable with each other.”

Anish Asmi’s “Welcome”, a musical with Subhash Ghai and a movie with Abbas Mastan, co-starring Saif Ali Khan, are projects she is looking forward to.

Asked what she thought of the nature of roles Bollywood offered its actresses, she thought for a moment before saying “In commercial cinema, the roles offered to heroines tend to be limited, but there are off beat roles that allow you to explore a character. However, initial success and recognition come through commercial films.

At the beginning of any career you want to be noticed. “Like everyone else, even I want to be taken note of,” said Katrina.

“Every actress thinks differently, but for me, it is more important to be an entertainer. I am consciously building my career as a commercial actress.

At a later stage, I might do offbeat roles. But now I don’t want to do films that ten people watch. I want to do movies where the hall is full.

I want to do ‘fun cinema’. Eventually of course, I want to try other kinds of roles too,” said Katrina.

Her dream role, she said would be a in a period film. “I would love to do a movie set in times of war or conflict,” Katrina said signing off.

Katrina: 'Not All Are Good In Film Industry'

Katrina Kaif says that not all are good in film industry. But she insists that she is not troubled by any one in big way till now. She recalled that she acted in many Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi films so far with the help of many.

"I didn't give anything for film industry. But the industry has given me a lot", she said.

Saying about her professional interest she said, " I wish to deliver my own dubbing be it any language. I already gave my voice for Hindi films 'Namastey London' and 'Apne'. Both are hits. As I was born and brought up abroad every Indian language including Hindi sounds foreign for me. When I learn, everything will be normal".

Well, we have got another committed actress this way.