Celebrating 25 years of Refugee, Subhash K Jha shares Kareena Kapoor’s first, unpublished interview about her debut film. It is fascinating and not to be missed!
What was your reaction when you saw yourself for the first time on screen?
They were just showing clippings of Refugee on Sony television. I was watching that. I was quite nervous about seeing myself on screen. My mother and my sister told me that if I don’t like myself on screen, the audience won’t either. I think I am satisfied with my performance in Refugee.
I think the only debutante to make a similar impact was Dimple in Bobby, which incidentally was your grandfather’s film?
Refugee is very different from the usual launchpad, including Bobby. But I never feared rejection. I always knew I had to make everyone love my character of Nazneen. Every normal guy who was going to see me on screen had to say, “Gawd, I’m in love with her!”. Not me, Kareena, but the character I played. When I went to a theatre in Mumbai on the first day, people came up to me and said they wanted to go to Bhuj to look for a girl like Nazneen.
You’ve played a character who’s transparent in her beauty.
Ah, I don’t know about that, but I tried really hard. The only thing I was sure about was that I wanted people to fall in love with my character, Nazneen.
People say you don’t look and act like a newcomer.You act like a veteran?
Oh gawd! I think acting is inborn. I always knew there was nothing else I could do. I had to be cut out for acting. I knew I had some sort of talent. But I never thought I’d be so widely accepted. I just did my best.
You are being compared with Meena Kumari and Nutan?
Just last night I was at the Ambanis. Tina Ambani’s sister, who hardly ever watches films, told me–and I am mentioning this only because you mentioned Nutanji—the first person she thought of on seeing me was Nutan. As for Meenaji,I am a big fan of hers. I have made it a point to watch all her films.
There is a quality of extraordinary effortlessness in your performance?
But I want more roles like Refugee! I know it’s going to be hard. It scares me to think about this. Now that people have accepted me as an actress, what do I do next? I feel Nazneen would remain the best character I‘ll have to portray. I just hope there are directors out there who will write more characters like this for me.
What about your dad, Randhir Kapoor? He should make his next film with you?
I know. But he’s still busy scripting and planning his next film. I think he wants to cast me in his next film. But let’s see. He loves to portray such graceful characters.
You would have made a wonderful Henna in Randhir Kapoor’s film. He predicted you’re going to chew up everyone in sight.
Oh God! That makes me sound very carnivorous. I don’t want to chew up anybody. I want to create my own place just like everyone else.
Aren’t we being modest!
No, I mean it. I’m happy being my own person. I love it when people tell me I’m a wonderful actress. But I think Kajol is the ultimate. I always thought she was a lot like Geeta Bali. But I am not that great. But because of all these raves, I’m getting scared. How am I going to make sure that my second and third films are equally good?
Well, your second film, Abbas-Mustan’s Ajnabee, carries excellent reports?
I was okay doing that. But I am much happier doing a role like Refugee. Ajnabee is more commercial. I have to dance in the streets of Switzerland, that kind of thing. But I guess I have to do that as well.
You don’t enjoy that?
Nooo. Not at all! I used to crib constantly when I had to wear makeup. I hate putting on makeup and doing up my hair. I’m much happier in one pleat. And I love to cry.
You what?!
Yes, crying sequences are my forte, don’t you think?
But you are very good in the comedy scene at the aata-chakki wallah in Refugee?
Yes. But that’s the way I am in real life.
Abhishek says he’s learning to be comfortable with dancing. What about you?
I’m trying my best. But I don’t know how I’ll look doing it. I have told my directors Abbas-Mustan in Ajnabee that even though I’m playing a wife in the film, I want to behave the way I would in real life. The emotions had to come naturally to me. It wasn’t as though wife hai to aise karna padega waise karna padega. I portray the wife exactly the way I would react if I, Kareena , were to marry Bobby Deol. I put myself in my character’s place and worked out the role.
Are you a lot like Nazneen in Refugee?
Yes, quite like her. Like me, she’s a very strong person. But now I feel I have miles and miles to go before I slip on the banana peel of showbiz.
There are rumours that you’ve turning down plum roles on an impulse.
No, not at all. That’s just gossip and nonsense. There were too many date hassles. As it is, I had eight films on hand and I didn’t want to overdo my appearances on screen. Then that exclusivity goes away from an actress’ career. If I’m seen too often, the audience would stop waiting for my films.
Karisma had as many as three releases in a row in recent months?
Exactly. But she’s more into the run-of-the-mill stuff, which I don’t want to do. So I returned some signing amounts and told the directors that it just won’t work out…
But you are doing Santosh Sivan’s Ashoka The Great with your no.1 hero Shah Rukh Khan?
Yes, I am. I’m very, very excited about it because I get to act with Shah Rukh and even more so because the director is Santosh. I have great regards for his film Terrorist. It won so many national and international awards.
I wish you had played the lead in Terrorist?
It would have been more commercial, I guess.
Like your sister are you keen on working with directors like Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani?
Oh yes. But not right away. People would say I’ve gone into art cinema so early in my career. But I don’t mind doing such roles. If tomorrow I get such an offer, I’d definitely dive into it. But right now it’s Subhash Ghai Yaadein along with Santosh Sivan’s Ashoka which have me the most excited. Then there’s Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. I’m really happy to be a part of these three films. I know they’ll help me in my career.
And Ajnabee?
I am excited about its release. It’s my acid test as a commercial actress. My ideal role in the mainstream cinema is Kajol in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. After he finishes with Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Karan Johar has promised to make a film like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with me in the lead. After seeing Refugee and the kind of emotions I can portray, he says he’s confident about my potential.
I like Karan Johar. But aren’t you scared you’d be lost in an avalanche of talent in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham?
No, I’ve got a very good role in the film. It’s actually the only glamorous role in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. Once again, it’s a departure from Refugee and all my other films. After Kabhi Khushi, people are going to say, “God, this isn’t Kareena.”
I’ll have to invent new superlatives?
You’re scaring me with such compliments. Of course, I have had people complimenting me for Refugee. But you have made my day, month, and year by praising me so much. Now I’m preparing to pay the price for being famous.
You mean the gossip and scandal?
Yes, let them write what they like. I just want to carry on doing good work. The day I leave, I want the audience to wonder where I’ve gone. I think I’ll give myself four or five years in the industry.
Would you like to do a film with your sister?
Of course. It would be a learning experience for me. She’s another actress I idolize. I’d love to be a mix of Kajol and Karisma. My sister’s talent and spunk are unbelievable. I have a lot to learn from her versatility.
And you don’t want the best debutante’s award, right?
No, because that goes to any fresh face. I feel I’ve put in a lot more hard work in Refugee than that. I would be very upset if I get the best debutante’s award.
