Kat’s crown

A winning performance: Katrina Kaif

Katrina must be sure breathing easy. Her first attempt at breaking away from the stereotype of cute/sexy/dream girl misfired last year (anyone remember ‘Yuvraaj’?), but with ‘New York’ — her first Yash Raj banner film, the girl has definitely made a difference. As she transforms from a carefree bohemian college-goer to a distraught wife trying to decipher her husband’s suspected terrorist leanings, Katrina has won the hearts of critics as well as the masses.

When we caught up with her just before the release of her film, the actress who has had a dream run at the box office was palpably nervous. Not only because it was a sensitive topic the film was dealing with but also the timing seemed just not right. “I hope people have not forgotten to come to the movies. Or what if they have suddenly become too lazy to go to the theatre? Keeping my fingers crossed,” she said, obviously alluding to the almost two-month dry spell at the turnstiles.

She needn’t have fretted. The story is about three friends (Neil Nitin Mukesh and John Abraham being the other two) that begins in true Yash Raj style and is spaced out over eight years in the backdrop of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre towers. While it is a morbid theme, bringing alive the torture that anybody with a Muslim sounding name might have gone through in an era of suspicion, the film has allayed industry fears of a poor box office showing.

Yet in the process it has ruffled other feathers. Current-status-unknown-but-one-time-boyfriend Salman Khan is reportedly peeved with Kat. For not only working with John Abraham but also for some intimate scenes with him. Apparently he even refused to come for the premiere of the film for this reason. Ask her about her working relationship with her co-stars, and Kat, the diplomat, rises to the occasion. “They are both very good actors. Neil is such a good performer and extremely nice and friendly.” And John (you can’t resist prodding)? “John too,” she adds. Awkward silence, then she continues, “All three of us are used to different genres. So this experience was something else. Acting is a very personal thing. I am a very private person and it was a very emotional experience to bring out these kinds of expressions from within.”

Earlier leading ladies of the film industry would give their right arm to act in a Yash Raj film for it showed them in the best light. Chiffon saris, long hair, exquisite makeup and best camera shots reserved! Didn’t she miss being the original Yash Raj woman? “Not really. Times are changing and so is perception. When Adi offered me this role, he had made it very clear that it isn’t something I usually do. I have already looked nice and pretty in almost all my films,” she explains.

So is she taking the serious cinema route? ‘New York’ and Prakash Jha’s upcoming film ‘Rajneeti’ seem to be rather challenging performances. “It is 100 per cent wrong to presume that I will not do light roles. I think if you keep repeating yourself in every film, your value erodes over time. ‘Yuvraaj’ may have not done well but I thought it was a great romantic tragedy. ‘New York’ is in its own league and so is ‘Rajneeti.’ But I also have Rajkumar Santoshi’s ‘Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani’ where I play a goofy character with Ranbir for which I was trained in comedy by the director. There is also Priyadarshan’s ‘De Dhana Dhan,’ another comedy.”

This year itself will see the release of not only ‘Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani,’ ‘Rajneeti’ (both with Ranbir Kapoor) and ‘De Dhana Dhan’ (with Akshay Kumar) but also ‘Blue’ directed by Anthony D’Souza where she is touted to have a surprise role. There is no denying that Katrina will ride on the high waves if she plays her cards right. She has chosen them with much care after all.

Is the pair tottering too?

The vibes were for all to see on Salman’s show ‘Dus Ka Dum.’ Kat gave him the cold shoulder, smiling forcefully only a few times, while he was enthusiasm personified. He is miffed that she worked and did some daring stunts with his nemesis John Abraham; she is upset that he gave her ‘New York’ premiere a miss. Now she has chosen to celebrate her birthday (July 16) away from her man in London with the Kaif family (if he is still her man, that is). Hmm. Another tally mark in Salman’s mush register? Sorry, not yet. Nothing’s official about it.

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