While she’s here, she can even take failure with a pinch of salt. In an interaction, Kareena spoke why, at her stage she can afford to take a not-so-successful film also in her stride. Bebo did tell us that professionally, she’s past mulling over failure. “When you are successful, failure is acceptable. And if you have success, you shouldn’t be scared of failing.”

What about your cousin Ranbir Kapoor?
We’re not very close. While growing up, we interacted, but not too much, it wasn’t anything like those big families you see in films!

How did your parents’ decision to not live together affect you while growing up?
There was no legal separation. My father comes over every day. He’s always been around so I never missed him.

Your sister made her debut at 16. How did her struggles prepare you?
Our parents brought up Karisma and me to be independent — we were career oriented from age 10 — acting was all we thought about! Karisma struggled for many years to achieve what she eventually did. Her failures made her what she is today. It’s easy to become a superstar through successes, but very hard to emerge as a superstar out of your failures. So many actresses are part of successful films, but they are easily forgotten. Walking out of a failed movie is like walking out of a grave. I attribute everything I have today to all my unsuccessful films, to all the misinformation and vicious gossip. It’s easy to get carried away with your success, so I was lucky. Even my films not doing well didn’t frazzle me much because of my mother and sister.

So what gets you frazzled?
(Pauses) False information about me used to make me vey upset… but then I realised there’s just so much of it around. I had to believe my audience was smarter than to swallow all of it. Over the years I realised that clarifications just lead to more clarifications and you end up giving importance to people who shouldn’t occupy your mind. I have attained nirvana now! (Laughs) I don’t feel the need to react anymore.

Do you feel Bollywood gives heroines their due — in terms of roles?
I don’t get to display the same kind of talent as I did in a film like Omkara. But that is the balance actors must strike for themselves. I want to do a Dev D and an Omkara, but I also want to balance it with films like Jab We Met, Kambakkht Ishq or Golmaal Returns.

Do you feel women today are as liberated as they seem?
There is an overt expression of sexuality...
Most of our society has a double standard. But I think looking sexy, eating right or working-out shouldn’t be about other people — that’s how I would define being liberated. Do it for yourself, not for your boyfriend or to compete with anyone else. I think women should feel mentally and physically healthy, feel good about themselves no matter where they wake up and go to work in the morning.

In an industry where people go to extremes to hide their relationships, you’ve been very open.
I firmly believe in honesty and openness. My parents have taught me to be forthright. I don’t come from a herd of actresses who hide their age or their relationships because they are afraid of losing their fans. Kajol and my sister were both at the peaks of their careers when they got married, and are still adored by their fans. If I’m in love, I want to celebrate it openly — I owe the man in my life that kind of respect.

What was it about both Shahid and Saif that drew you close to them?
I don’t want to talk about the past. I want it to be a cherished memory for me, I’ve shared some lovely experiences with him (Shahid) and I don’t want it to become tarnished because it will always be an important part of my life. As far as my present with Saif goes, (smiles) I’m enjoying where we are — we do see a future together. The fact that he’s a man of the world draws me to him. He has a life apart from the movies. He does less films, chooses the ones he really believes in. He loves to read and travel… he has such an active and curious life, that’s what I really love about him.
I used to get fed up and never read. Saif taught me to enjoy reading. We both enjoy talking about movies, but another thing I’ve learnt from him is not to bring our work home. We might discuss a film over dinner, but not the gossip about cast and crew, or who’s doing what movie and why. Saif actually told me once “When they bother you, tell the press you want to be number 10 because it’s cooler, and you’ll do great work at that position. Just be the coolest chick in Bollywood.” And that’s what I’d rather be (laughs).

What is the power equation between the two of you?
It’s pretty equal — we are both free to work with whoever we want. I’ve worked with Shah Rukh, Akshay, Shahid, Ajay… so many actors in the past five years. He’s always said, work with whoever you want, just don’t bring them home. As far as decisions are concerned, he does ask me for advice — and sometimes my advice can be quite crappy, but he considers it. It works the same way for me. Sometimes I ask him to read a script for me, and he might say “I don’t think this works for you”, but the decision is ultimately mine.

What do you treasure about the way the industry was and the way it is now?
Financially we are reaching the skies. Technically as well cinema has really grown! I don’t know if it has improved on the whole though, because the audience’s taste is quite bizarre. Cinema has transformed almost completely from Raj Kapoor’s time, but that was real cinema. There was no ‘alternative cinema’ in those days, there were just great stories — well-written and beautifully told. Right now, if we tell a good story it’s classified as parallel cinema, and if it has some songs and fun in it, it becomes commercial. I miss the cinema of Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand and Guru Dutt, but I don’t know if the audience does.

You have a good equation with all the Khans how do you achieve that?
I have chosen the safest Khan for my personal life. I don’t know if there are any sides as all of them are really different. Saif and I are great friends with Aamir and Shah Rukh is like family. My sister loves Salman.

How do you manage to take frequent breaks given your busy schedule?
I take lot of off time, as it’s very important for an actor to work do great work and take breaks. I must spend time with family and my loved ones or else I will just wear off, I will die, and my looks will fade. I do four movies and 12 brands a year so I need to travel all over the world and explore, which also shows in my acting. I have instructed Zahid (secretary) that after every three months I need to have a break for at least a week to look rejuvenated. Although I appreciate people who want to work all year, I can’t do it.