Kareena Kapoor Khan believes the secret to her longevity in the film industry is striking a balance between commercial and alternative cinema.
She says that one should never get stuck in any one genre as that gets boring and there is the added risk of getting typecast. Her aim is to cater to all sorts of audience.
“I am always proud of my glamorous image. One has to enjoy some commercial success. If I have done an Udta Punjab, then I have also done the Golmaal series. I have always tried to balance things out.
“To sustain in the film industry for 18 years one has to keep doing exciting work. I do films that suit my personality, my time limit. I do films that I like,” Kapoor Khan said.
The actor says she has been a risk-taker right from the beginning of her career despite being a commercial heroine.
“When I was 22, I did Chameli and people thought I would not do it. For me, it is all about having the right balance of things — commercial and being part of different kind of movies.”
Citing the example of films such as Chameli and Omkara, she insists that she has always picked up stories that “no mainstream commercial heroine” would do.
“I just see — is this film entertaining, is the script good? Can I see myself in it and do I have a good part? When all these things fall in place I tick a film and I am on board.”
For her, there is a difference between being an actor and a star and she says she has always looked at herself first as an actor and then as a star.
“I don’t think anyone joins the industry thinking, ‘I want to become a star’. You join it because you like acting, you like movies, you are passionate about cinema. I enjoy acting and people like me, my work and that is why I am a star.”
But is there a change in her priorities after the birth of son Taimur
“It is interesting when directors write roles for you, but maybe I can’t do all kind of roles. Now I look at how much time a film would take. I have limited amount of time because I have to give lot of time to family and my son. So I will do one film a year because now I can’t do three films.”
Her next release is Veere Di Wedding, a story about four female friends with Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania, and their trials and tribulations in the society.
“It is a fun film and people are talking about women empowerment and feminism,” she says. The film is out in the UAE on May 31.
