'I will exploit Kareena's ethereal personality'

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript" src="Config?Configid=43376741"></script><br /><img align="left" src="/photo/40290.cms" alt="/photo/40290.cms" border="0" />Filmmaker Deepa Mehta, whose films <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Earth </span>and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Fire </span>created waves, speaks about casting Kareena Kapoor in her forthcoming project.<br /><br />What made you cast Kareena in your film?<br /><br />I met Kareena at a Mumbai club, along with my producer.The minute Kareena walked in with her mom, I knew she was the perfect choice for my film. That Kareena is gorgeous goes without saying. What was important is that I really liked her as a person. Her face is almost like a shimmering river of emotions. She’s a lovely person.<br /><br />As a typical Bollywood star, wont Kareena be a new experience for you?<br /><br />I was apprehensive. But the minute I met her, all my misgivings were gone. I know she’ll be a complete professional. It would be immodest for me to say I’ll present her like never before. My film will cast her in a unique role that will use her ethereal personality to maximum advantage. Kareena has an inherent glamour which I won’t try to curb—why cast her otherwise? But I’ll give her personality another interpretation.<br /><br />What’re you casting Kareena as?<br /><br />It’s a very big Hollywood project with Kareena in the central role. I’m casting Rahul Khanna opposite her. Rahul has the right attitude and an unlimited range. I wanted a romantic hero with an international appeal since the project, in English and Hindi, would be for an international market.<br /><br />Do you vibe well with Rahul?<br /><br />Rahul and I are so close we almost talk in sign language. I feel I can build the same rapport with Kareena. It’s very important for me to get the comfort level with my actors right. <br /><br />What about your other Hollywood project?<br /><br />I’ve just completed a stylised romantic film called <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Republic Of Love</span>. It has Bruce Greenwood and Amelia Fox (of <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The Pianist </span>fame). It will be premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.<br /></div> </div>