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Kareena plays it Saif

Actress explains that though she is open about her relationship, she is still traditional at heart

“HE’S MY best friend,” Kareena says about Saif. “Being lovers is easy, but remaining friends is tough.”

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. I thought, if he can be my best friend, and be such a wonderful father to his kids, the rest will just follow.”

But, given his past, wasn’t it true that while he might be a great lover, he was lousy as a husband? “There’s no such thing as any man being perfect husband material,” she shot back, “the most stable guys make awful husbands.

In Saif’s case, I followed my heart and instinct; that always make me happy, especially when I sleep at night. When you follow only your head, you end up frustrated.”

Did she not fear that sometimes people might tend to forget she is Bollywood’s No 1 actress and think of her only as the woman in Saif’s life?

“By being honest and coming clean, I can hold my head high,” Kareena replied.

If he was unwilling to commit to marriage, would she care to have a child out of wedlock with Saif? “No,” she said firmly, “I’m open about my relationship, but traditional in my values. Saif thinks I’m the most conservative and traditional woman he has known. I tell him, if you have a problem with that, then go be with someone else!”

She’s got a fascinating fistful of films at the moment.

There’s Kambakth Ishq with Akshay, Idiot with Aamir, Mr Aur Mrs Khanna with Salman, Golmal Returns with Ajay, and she’s doing Karan Johar’s next film (”It’s untitled and it’s based on terrorism,” she revealed) with Saif. “I’ve chosen the right roles in all of them,” she said with a look of smug satisfaction.

Who was her favourite co-star?

Kareena hummed and hawed a bit, then came up with, “Akshay, it’s so strange, I’ve done more films with him than Saif.

Akshay and I look nice together, I share a comfort level with him, an emotional bond. But I’ve always wanted to do a film with Aamir. And one with Shah Rukh Khan. I’ve not done a love story with Shah Rukh. I was in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham with him, but opposite Hrithik.”

Queen Bee

“Bollywood is male dominated,” Kareena admitted, “but they are a little partial towards me. All of them have worked with my sister.

And from way back then, they have treated me like a kid.”

Talking of male hunks, would she do a film with her cousin Ranbir Kapoor, play his lover on screen? “I don’t think so, and it would be my loss, because Ranbir is fantastic, he’s a brilliant actor. It’s so in his blood, he’s natural on screen. But I don’t know.

Maybe Ranbir and I should do a film. Act as friends, perhaps brother and sister, but as lovers...

maybe if the audience wants to see us that way. He’s hot and good looking, the best in the family, and I like interesting and different roles, I like taking risks, I’m ready to experiment. Jab We Met was different from Omkara. But I’m hopeful some director will write a film for me. I’d like to do a film like Erin Brockovich.

Or be like Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada. I hope, at that age, I too have that fire in me that she has.”