Kareena : So many of my films haven't done well!

KAREENA KAPOOR is sporting a new look. She's shed oodles of weight and is looking trim and petite. Her hair's grown longer and looks freshly shampooed with a few strands crimped. Dressed in a pair of jeans and an off shoulder Tee, she looks raring to go! But this is a sharp contrast to her screen image in her last few releases. Yeah, she's sporting the Indian look even in her next release, Suneel Darshan's 'Dosti'! Is this her new screen image. Kareena answers this and a lot more..

A little about 'Dosti'

It's an emotional drama. It's a story about two friends, Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol and how Akshay has to sacrifice his love for his friend. I'm the one who gets hurt in the end. The film has all the ingredients of a commercial film and is very massy. It's also got some great songs. Akshay is wonderful and both Bobby and Lara are looking good in it.

What prompted you to do the film considering it revolves around Akshay and Bobby?

As the title suggests, I did it for my friendship with Suneel Darshan. He's been a dear friend of Karisma's since the last 13 years so Suneel plays an important role in me being part of it. I've known him even before I joined the industry and have been a great fan of his. He's made lots of films with Karisma and is a wonderful person. He's big-hearted and I sincerely hope that this film does well.

Some of your recent releases haven't done well!

So many of my films haven't done well! It's not just the recent ones.

What do you think went wrong with 'Kyun Ki'?

It was a very boring and depressing film. I don't think people wanted to watch such a sobby film especially during Diwali time. It had nothing to do with the cast or my pairing with Salman Khan. But now I think Priyan will stick to what he's best at-comedy.

You are doing another film with Priyan!

Yeah. I'm doing UTV's next film with him. I'm opposite Shahid in the film. It's not yet titled but it's a comedy film.

You had great expectations from 'Bewafa'. Were you disappointed when it didn't do well?

'Bewafa' had a story that belonged to the 60s. So it didn't appeal to the youth. It was very old fashioned and people felt that I should have gone away with Akshay Kumar. Today's generation doesn't sacrifice love for anything in the world. But it's been a huge hit overseas. It's among the top five films of the year. The NRI audience liked the family bonding. I think they still like to see that unlike the multiplex audience here who like bold stuff.

Which are the other films you're doing?

I'm doing Priyan's film opposite Shahid, then I have Abbas-Mustan's '36 China Town' with Akshaye Khanna and Shahid. I'm also doing Harry Baweja's next film that will launch his son, Harman. Besides, I'm doing Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Othello' in which I'm playing Desdemona. I'm very excited about this film and looking forward to all my other releases. I also have 'Milenge Milenge' releasing sometime next year.

Why has that film been in the making for so long?

I don't know. I think Boney Kapoor and Satish Kaushik are the right people to answer this.

From that bold, brash girl, you seem to have settled down to playing sober Indian characters. Has it been a deliberate move?

Not really! It's just that my characters in those films required me to be that way. But my forthcoming films have me playing very modern characters. None of that typical Indian look!

Coming to Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Othello', he is undoubtedly an accomplished director but has had no box office hits so far!

Today it's not just about being commercially successful. It's about having a good script and making a good film. Vishal is one of the finest directors we have and it would be great working with him. I'm the only female character in the film and it's a great honour to know that Vishal thought I could play it. It's a great challenge for me. I also have wonderful actors as costars- Naseeruddin Shah, Ajay Devgan, and Saif Ali Khan. This film will be a challenge for everybody.

Are you being extra choosy about your films today?

Yeah. I feel I've done a lot of the run-of-the-mill kind of films. Now I want to do films on my own terms and conditions. Besides the films that I've mentioned, I haven't signed any other films. So I'll be practically at home for the most part of 2006.

But you've always signed films on your terms and conditions?

Not really! There have been times when I've signed films just to keep myself busy but I won't do that any more. Today I only want to do stuff that excites me. I've worked in about 30 films in the four years that I've been here. I think that's a bit too much. People do barely 12 to 14 films in this period. Now I would rather chill out at home, watch films and enjoy myself than just do any film that comes my way.

Looking back, how do you feel 2006 has been?

It's been a good year. My personal life has been a roller coaster ride but professionally it's been the same ever since I entered the industry.