It’s been a while since we saw you...
I’m a private person and I like it this way— hanging out at home with family after work or gong on a holiday. I also like my career to be on my terms. I think my father—Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi— influences me in this regard. I don’t mind not being seen everywhere.

Kareena said in an interview that she keeps asking you to marry her...
Since marriage is the culmination of any relationship, people are always rushing us into it. We definitely didn’t get into a relationship without thinking of the future. But apart from just signing on a piece of paper and having children, I don’t think we are missing out on marriage at the moment. So neither is Kareena after me, nor am I after her to get married.

Is it because it will be hard for Kareena to do the balancing act?
She is the kind of woman who can give 100 per cent to her career and 100 per cent to her home. Not many actresses have dedication like her. Her level of dedication can only be equated to that of Aamir and Shah Rukh. I want her to fly and soar to the zenith of success. I am not as big a star as she is. I don’t even know if I will ever reach that level. A relationship is not about controlling a person. It’s about being there for each other and not being insecure. What will we talk about at the end of the day if we are not working?

You seemed to be very settled in your love life...
I am. Kareena is the best thing to have happened to me. I already feel married. It just needs to be legalised on paper and that will happen when the time is right.

Will Kareena be Begum Pataudi ?
She’s a queen in her own right and doesn't need me to make her one. But I see some people in Pataudi calling her Choti Begum.

Do you ever feel that too much is being said and written with regards to your relationship?
Yes, I do feel that. When we started dating there was too much speculation about our relationship, so at the time it was fine to talk about our commitment to each other. Now it’s time for our work to do the talking.

How do you feel when you read that you were angry with Kareena for kissing Sly Stallone on screen?
I feel sad. We are professionals and we have to do every kind of scene. If there is no trust, there is no point in having a relationship. That way I should be more worried about Akshay, since he is the hero, than Stallone. Right?

Right now your colleagues (Aamir and SRK) are bashing each other in the media. Why have you never indulged in such a public display of aggression?
I think we get enough attention anyway, there is no point looking for more with quotable quotes. I would prefer to be boring than make an interview sensational at other people’s expense.

When shall we see you doing a Langda Tyagi again?
I don’t think I will be able to do another role like that [in Omkara] because it’s very taxing to play an evil person. I would prefer something like Race, where my character has shades of grey. Even Ek Hasina Thi is fine. Right now I am looking forward to Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aj Kal with Deepika.

Is producing a film more satisfying than acting?
There are various departments of production that I am not familiar with. I am more interested in the creative side. The rest is taken care of by my partner. I’m an actor and nothing beats that.

What kinds of films are you committed to making?
I quite like the concept of the multiplex hero. I like to make small, realistic and interesting films which are challenging and disturbing. My films Ek Hasina Thi and Being Cyrus would have done well in today’s multiplex time. But being a mainstream actor, I cannot escape from making interesting mainstream commercial films once in a while.