I reign in spite of flops: Kareena

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: You have to see it to believe it. The effect she has on those around her. At Sun ''n'' Sand hotel on a Sunday afternoon, people stop in their tracks to stare... as if they are eyeing a tall cool drink on a hot, sultry afternoon. Men melt like rubber when she switches that smile full on. Women can do nothing but gape unabashedly.It''s always been this way for Kareena Kapoor. Films or no films. Flops or no flops. <br />"I don''t make any bones about my flops. And why single me out? The biggest of stars have had the biggest of flops," has always been her defence. <br />But the times are tough for Kareena, just as they are for so many other stars today. With the crash-boom-bust of the box-office thundering louder with each successive film that bites the dust, nobody, not even the ever-confident Kareena, can sleep easy. <br />But the serpentine queues of producers willing to pay her huge sums of money, despite her no-show at the box office, tell their own stories. She was a whiff of fresh air in an otherwise axphirating Jeena Sirf Merre Liye. As she says, "Okay, so I''m the queen of flops. But despite them producers are tumbling over each other to sign me on. Why? Surely, they know my worth."<br />Despite the youthful bluster, Bebo is uncharacteristically cautious as she talks about Khushi, her next big project with Fardeen Khan, directed by S J Suryah. "I''ve worked very hard on the film. Mine is a very sweet character and I''ve given it my best. Of course, I''m hoping it will do well and I''m keeping my fingers crossed. But I''ve learnt my lessons. No more banking on any project," she says.<br />Then, characteristically, she giggles as she adds, "I was banking so heavily on my earlier movies. And see what happened to them!" <br />Told you she was irrepressible. And yup, she knows how to act like a star. She''s been accused often enough of having an attitude problem.<br />"Malicious things are being written about me. I''m terribly hurt. Henceforth, I''ll let my work talk for me. I don''t understand why people keep saying that. I get along with all my co-stars. I have no qualms about complimenting other actresses. So I can''t understand why I''m accused of having a problem. Okay, I''m brutally honest. But that''s the way I''m. I''d rather say it to your face than bitch behind your back."<br />It''s an attitude that has often got her into trouble with other actresses. No wonder then, big sister Karisma has advised her to keep a low profile for some time.<br />But that doesn''t mean Kareena is not gong to have her say about what she thinks is unnecessary lather generated about her in-your-face honesty. "I don''t know why I''m being maligned," she insists. <br />"I''ve never gone out of my way to harm anyone. I''ve never bitched about my co-stars. Yet, the media has painted me out to be a super bitch. Such malicious things are being written about me. That''s not fair. I''m terribly hurt. So I''ve decided to just keep shut and do my work. I want to keep a low profile. Henceforth I''ll just let my work talk for me."<br />But there are some rough patches there too. Recently, she caused quite a flutter in the industry when she walked out of Karan Johar''s <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kal Ho Na Ho</span>. Apparently, she had some differences with the director over her remuneration. Ask her about it and she says candidly, "I''ve reached a stage where I either want a good role or money. I won''t compromise for anyone. I''ve compromised enough and look where it''s got me. Right now, I''m taking the reins of my career in my hands. I have to choose my films carefully from now on because I can''t afford to take any more chances." <br />The vulnerability behind the bluster peeps through unbidden and you realise how easy it is to forget how young she actually is. Come to think of it, she''s actually a kid of 21. A kid who happens to star in movies, earn in crores, vacation in Paris and live in a chic neighbourhood. In so many ways, she''s still a woman in the making, the rough angles giving her that edgy charm. But showbiz precociousness is nothing new to Kareena. <br />She was weaned on the idea that she would be a star one day. I remember the first time I met her, on the sets of her sister''s Jaagriti. She was all of 12-13, gorging on French fries and boasting of the inevitable: her entry into films. <br />"I''ll make <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">chhutti</span> of all the heroines. Just watch out for me!" she declared. And with the dexterity of a pro, issued instructions to elder sis on how to dress, move, emote before the camera. The confidence was unmistakeable even then. And the in-your-face attitude. Remind her about that incident and she smiles, "Eversince, I was eight, I knew my place was in front of the camera." That''s all I''ve dreamt of doing. I''ve been waiting to grow up. And the moment I did, I was here." <br />The direct approach is a far better way to evoke a response from Kareena than circumlocutory attempts at manipulations. So go right ahead and mention all the back stage whispers about her and Hrithik Roshan, and more recently about her and Fardeen Khan. Without missing a beat, she''ll tell you that all those rumours are completely unfounded and that she can''t figure out why they swirl around her continuously: "I don''t know why people have been going on and on about this." She''ll also tell you, "I enjoy working with Hrithik. We''re very comfortable with each other. If I''d been working with someone else the comfort level would have been the same." <br />Okay, so there''s no boyfriend on the scene. Why? Why is this gorgeous 21-year-old single? "Maybe I intimidate men. In any case I can''t call up bachelor men and ask them to go out with me. But believe me, I''ll go ballistic when I find true love. I won''t be able to talk about anything else. I''ll stand on the rooftops and shout out that I''ve found my man. Frankly, I''m dying to meet him." <br />Also, she says, her singledom could be because of work, work and more work. Unlike the frothy Beverly hill clones, Kareena is not here for the clothes or make-up. Acting is her first love. Speak to her about her acting and she''ll give you a long spiel on how today''s movies have been reduced to clothes, make-up and high gloss.<br />"Where was the gloss when Nargisji and Smita Patil appeared on screen?" she points out. When I see them act, I forget everything. Years down, I want people to say the same thing about me. That''ll be really worth it."</div> </div>