He?
(Silence)

Do you mean Salman or Akshay?
You're not going to trap me into saying anything against anyone. (Frowns) I've wised up to media games.

Wonderful! There's a strong buzz that Salman Khan wants to marry you.
Wow! You have an overactive imagination.

Don't you always consult him before signing a movie?
It's believed that he thinks of himself as your mentor. 
(Cryptically) I consult people who have been with me for a while now. I have a very good manager, Sandhya Ramchandran, whom I feel closest to and I also consult my director friends.

Trade talk is that Salman Khan wants to sign Deepika Padukone for his next home-production, Main aur Mrs Khanna. Don't you feel left out?
Honestly, I don't think you guys need to be so clever.

Clever? Hey thanks!
We can be equally clever. But we don't because we respect the journalistic profession.

Ahem, thanks.
Will you stop going thanks thanks?

You got it. So, I asked you about Deepika Padukone.
I'm not insecure of anyone. Deepika Padukone gave a good commercial performance in a film that's good commercial cinema. Whether the media likes it or not, I stand on my own. Thank God I am becoming a senior. Young faces will always come otherwise Bollywood will become stagnant. I don't stress over these things as I have already got much more than I had bargained for. In fact I believe signing a Yashraj Film marks a new level in my career. It's a high point in every actress's life and I am proud I have done it.

Okay what about the rumors that Salman is upset with you for signing a film with Shahid Kapur?
That film is not happening now. Rajkumar Santoshi is making another movie before that one.

Any actors you'd like to work with?
There are so many actors whom I can be paired with like Hrithik Roshan, but there hasn't been an opportunity. Abhishek and I looked good together in Sarkar and of course, there's Shah Rukh Khan, but I haven't been offered a film with him yet. I hope to work with them in the future; it's just a matter of time. 


Don't you miss being a part of Sarkar Raj, the sequel?
No, I didn't have much of a role in the first one either.

Talk is that in Yash Raj film with Ranbir Kapoor you need to wear a bikini. Are you comfortable with that?
I think everyone knows that Yash Raj likes to keep its production details private. I respect and abide by that.

So what are you doing in a gangsta comedy like Welcome?
I'm the heroine element. My brothers, played by Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor, are gangsters and want to get me married off but keep scaring off potential suitors. Akshay Kumar comes into the picture; we fall in love and plan to change Nana and Anil into good decent guys.

That's so Mickey Blue Eyes.
It's very different. I love the sarcasm and wit of Anees Bazmee's movies.

Apparently, you didn't get along with Mallika Sherawat during the film's shoot.
I'm here to work not to like or dislike people. Neither am I here to win a Miss Congeniality competition. I maintain professional relations with my co-stars.