Kareena Kapoor mellows down

The brash and outspoken Kareena Kapoor seems to have mellowed down. e+ tries to find out the reason behind the sudden transformation.

What's weighing on Kareena Kapoor's mind? Why does an individual known to be effervescent and outspoken begin measuring each spoken word? Is it the failure of the much-hyped Tashan or boyfriend Saif Ali Khan's overpowering persona? Looks like Kapoor has decided to let her films do all the talking from now on.

What got e+ curious was the actress's behaviour at a recent press conference in Dubai at which Khan was also present. The actress was unwilling to answer any questions directed to her and even refused to pose for pictures, much to the dismay of all the scribes and shutterbugs present.

Khan, however, was in complete control, playing Kapoor's mouthpiece with aplomb, fielding the good, bad and some downright ridiculous questions with a mix of sarcasm and humour.

Perhaps Kapoor was put off by a local scribe's interest in whether she is still in touch with her ex Shahid Kapoor. Is the bubbly actress tired of all the public scrutiny into her life? Or is she just mellowing down with time? As she told Mumbai Mirror after the Shahid breakup. "I have matured, I am much more calm and relaxed now. I know what I want in life."

Career-wise, Kapoor is going from strength to strength. She has been voted the most powerful Bollywood celebrity in a poll conducted by international magazine Verve. Not surprising, considering her kitty of forthcoming mega releases and a slew of endorsements. Not to mention a newly acquired figure and the Khan factor.

Kareena's forthcoming releases are the envy of the competition. There's Kambakth Ishq with Akshay Kumar, Idiot with Aamir Khan, Mr Aur Mrs Khanna with Salman Khan, Golmal Returns with Ajay Devgan, and she's reportedly doing Karan Johar's next film too.

Kapoor made her acting debut with Refugee in the year 2000 for which she won a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. The non-glamourous role showcased her acting prowess, but from then on her reel characters were full on glamour and oomph. Remember Pooh in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham? Rumour mills had it that her characters were much like her real life persona – brash and full of life.

One quality of the actress that always struck people was her ability to speak her mind. No diplomatic stances for this girl. Be it tactlessly terming John Abraham expressionless or racistly calling Bipasha Basu a Kali Billi (black cat), she's done it without batting an eyelid. Interestingly, she has now made her peace with Basu.

Perhaps Kapoor's transformation began in 2004 when she did Chameli, a sensitive film on the life of a sex worker. It won her the Filmfare Special Performance Award. She followed this up with the critically acclaimed Dev (2004) and Omkara (2006). The stylish Pooh was making it a habit to turn up in a salwaar kameez (Indian garment) minus the make-up.

Kapoor's personal life was all hunky dory with Shahid Kapoor, barring the much-publicised MMS kissing episode or the public lover tiffs. We think she quickly learned from the negative publicity and consciously decided to put up a mature front. If one watches her interviews over the years, the change is evident.

Jab We Met was a milestone for the actress in more ways than one. It was a remarkable performance clouded by the news of her split with Shahid and link-up with Khan. Both Shahid and Kapoor handled all the media attention with restraint. But the unwanted public interest must have got to the girl. What she said about the break-up was very unlike the brash Kareena of old. "We started feeling that things were just not right. That it wasn't meant to be. I hope one day we could be good friends. He is a great guy," she had told the Mumbai Mirror.

There's no doubting the fact that Kareena is completely in love with Khan. Perhaps she's also awe-struck. "He's my best friend," she said about Khan in an interview with Times Of India recently. "Being lovers is easy, but remaining friends
is tough."

It's an interesting relationship. And in it perhaps also lie the answers to Kapoor's transformation. What was it that she looked for in her man? "Friendship first, and then love. Saif and I were friends right through Tashan. After that, we became lovers. Jab We Met was before I met Saif. I thought, if he can be my best friend, and be such a wonderful father to his kids, the rest will just follow," she had quipped in an interview.

So does she find him husband material? "There's no such thing as any man being perfect husband material," she said. "The most stable guys can make awful husbands. In Saif's case, I followed my heart and instinct; that always makes me happy, especially when I sleep at night. When you follow only your head, you end up frustrated."

Last but not the least, is Kapoor preparing for bigger things? The grapevine has it that she has signed a Hollywood film called Chamera opposite Billy Zane. The film will be directed by Daniel Silverman of The Devil Wears Prada and Perfect Strangers fame. The actress is said to have caught the attention of Hollywood filmmakers during the shooting of the film Kambakht Ishq with Akshay Kumar and Sylvester Stallone.

Let's give it to Kapoor. The lady is past her Shahid days. Maybe she has decided that antagonising her industry colleagues through unguarded remarks made between giggles is not worth it. It only keeps the gossip mags busy.

But all said and done, we're going to miss the straight-talking bubbly Kareena!