ready to settle??

Kareena Kapoor says she plans to take a holiday in Europe and do just one film at a time now — while hoping an 'Erin Brockovich' comes her way.

Kareena Kapoor has mellowed and she says it's not because of love. "It's just that with age, time and experience, all women blossom and it's the same with me," says the actor who prefers talking about her forthcoming film 'Omkara', than the love of her life Shahid Kapur. "I have a lot of expectations from it. I am waiting to see how the critics and others react to this film. It's going to be difficult for me to agree to do any role after playing Dolly in 'Omkara' because that's going to be the new benchmark."

Dolly's trust for Omi (Ajay Devgan) remains rock steady till the end. Completely smitten by him, she follows her love blindly. "Dolly is very much like me. I am a diehard romantic. When in love, I give my 100 per cent and do just about anything for it."

Having proved her mettle as an actress with glam roles and offbeat ones like those in 'Dev' and 'Chameli', Kareena, one of the highest paid actresses today, has always been considered to be in the top league. She has been there and done that and all in a shorter time span than her elder sister Karisma did. So does she feel a creative saturation? "I am still hungry for good work. I am listening to four scripts a day but nothing is challenging enough for me to say yes. So, I am just sitting at home." A challenge she is looking forward to? "Maybe an 'Erin Brockovich'. I have decided that now onwards I am only going to do only one film at a time."

But she is putting the free time to good use by taking off for a holiday next month. Ask her where? She shoots back, "I am not going to tell you where." But then she smiles and gives in that it will be a European holiday with close friends and family.

Another sign of maturity was when Kareena made peace with Karan Johar with whom she was not on talking terms after she declined to do 'Kal Ho Na Ho' over price issues. Kareena reflects, "Karan is like family. It's not about making peace but about having gained my friend back. I may not do a film with Karan for the next 10 years, but our friendship is above that."

In a relationship with Shahid for the last three years, does the thought of marriage scare her? Confident, she replies, "I am not scared of it but I also know that am I not ready for it."

The A-list actor is known to live by the heart. So, it might just be that one fine day she might just give it up all — the name, fame and the harsh arc lights? "I am not sure. I was born to act. I breathe films."

Karan Johar and Kareena Kapoor friends again

Although it was just for a promo, the point was well taken by the buddies, who had temporarily breached their bonding over Kareena’s refusal to do Karan’s “Kal Ho Naa Ho”. It turned out to be a special day for both of them.

“That was in the past,” Kareena said, brushing off the cold war. “I was headstrong, immature and impulsive. I’d like to think I’ve matured in the past few years,” said Kareena.

As the two-some exchanged buddy-buddy talks on the set, it was easy to see that they were completely comfortable with one another with the past forgotten.

Karan, exhausted at the end of the day, said: “It isn’t a tough commercial and Kareena today is easy to direct. She is focused and committed. We both had a ball.”

The commercial is part of a package deal between the director and a leading paint company. His best friend Shah Rukh Khan’s company Red Chillies is producing the promo.

“After this ad with Kareena, I’ll be starring in an ad for the same paint company which obviously someone else will direct. Sorry, I can’t be in front and behind the camera at the same time,” remarked Karan.

He is currently wearing several hats.

“Yes, actor, ad maker, TV software manufacturer (for NDTV’s soon-to-be-launched entertainment channel), talk-show host, producer … I love being all of this. But I’ll first and foremost be a feature film director.”

Karan’s production house will soon add another feather to its cap. They’ll produce an animation version of his debut film “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”.

“It’s too early to talk about that right now. But yes, we’re looking at several production plans in 2007,” said Karan.

her ATTITUDE

Recently the actress supposedly took a self imposed break and has not done any films for the last year.

However according to sources Kareena gives a lot of attitude to even top filmmakers and hence gradually producers and directors are shying away from casting Bebo in their films. Recently Kareena has been replaced in several of the films that she had on hand. Kareena was to do a film ‘Kismet Talkies’ with Hrithik Roshan; however Hrithik refused to work with her due to his personal reasons. Kareena also walked out of Harry Baweja’s film ‘Love Story 2050’ as she wanted to do Ramgopal Varma’s ambitious project ‘Time Machine’ opposite Shahrukh Khan but unfortunately Ramgopal scrapped that project. Kareena was also not on talking terms with director Karan Johar after Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham, but recently they made up and the director has promised to work with Bebo once again. Hence Kareena was to star in Karan Johar produced film opposite Abhishek Bachchan. But again to her bad luck, this time too the director Tarun and producer Karan were in a tight spot as Abhishek did not want to work with Bebo as he did not want to be associated with any family members related to ex-fiancée Karisma Kapoor. However in the end bollywood is a place where actors dominate and hence Kareena was replaced with none other than Aishwarya Rai.

Apart from these projects, Kareena was also supposed to do filmmaker Shyam Benegal’s ‘Chamki Chameli’ but again due to some differences she was replaced. Another ambitious project for Kareena was Mani Ratnam’s Lajjo where Kareena was to star opposite Aamir Khan. But this one too has been postponed indefinitely due to differences between Mani and Aamir. Kareena was last seen in an item number opposite SRK in Don and now she has recently done another item number in the film Kya Love Story Hai. But Kareena is adamant that this is just a temporary lull in her career, she says “I am Kareena Kapoor and I know that even if I sit home for a year, I will get work.” When confronted with all her failed projects, Bebo said “How can you talk about me as if I am some has been. I am Kareena Kapoor” Well the actress still has a lot of spunk in her and there is no doubt she will move pass this temporary phase in her career and will soon be back in the top league of actresses.

Controversial new song

Kareena Kapoor's hit track, "It's Rocking Yaara Kabhi Ishq To Karo", from the forthcoming 'Kya Love Story Hai' (out on April 20th), is making news for all the right and wrong reasons.Right, because it is already No.1 on the world charts and is among the most requested songs on radio these days. Wrong, because Ayesha Takia was rumouredly upset about the introduction of the track and the attention going to Kareena!

Now, another controversy on this song has come to the foreground. Before choreographer Bosco was roped in for "It's Rocking Yaara Kabhi Ishq To Karo", it seems director Lovely Singh had approached Ganesh Hegde (who Choreographed "Main Hoon Don" last year). According to Singh, the latter had to be replaced because he gave him a lot of starry airs.

Remarks Lovely, "He wanted to change the whole song and that's not even a choreographer's job! I'm happy with my decision to replace him because the final output by the new choreographer is making waves and has been very well received!"

Hegde, on his part, said, "When I first heard the song I couldn't visualize anything spectacular so I asked Lovely to make some changes to the song. Kareena is a dear friend so I wanted to give her the best. Anyway, it's really not my loss. I do select work in a year and prefer maintaining that."