Diva's hit formula

It’s been a dream decade for the diva, whose box-office acumen is not so well-known but nevertheless magical, so much so that we do not even recollect the last flop she had! Top-level setups and co-stars, a few chartbusters and more — for Katrina Kaif, stardom is about focus and achievements, though she does concede that elements of luck have been there as well.

“The biggest of us — Aamir, Salman, Shah Rukh — have had bad runs and flops, Salman even more than the rest,” she says wisely. “I began with Boom, and did have my bad phases too.”

She goes on, “Someone asked me whether I ever dreamt that I would complete a decade in the industry, and the answer is that I did! That was because I was clear, passionate and focussed about what I wanted — in a clean way, of course. Yes, many of my films did not get critical acclaim, but once Salim uncle (Salman’s father) told me that if a film is successful and appreciated as well, it is because the audience liked everything about the film. And then nothing else matters.”

Steps to success
And who are the special people she credits for her success? “I feel that success is a mountain, or a ladder, and at every step there is someone who is responsible for or is a part of your success,” she reflects. “I know of people who did not want to work with me then, and so there is all the more reason to appreciate those who believed in themselves and in the director and worked with me. As for those who did not, I don’t take it too hard though,” she smiles.

Her accent has not improved to the extent it could have. Does she agree with that? “I do ask my director to frame an alternative in such a way that I can say the lines well sometimes. But I think it was Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) who once told me that in any language there is no limit to how correct you can be. So will I ever be good enough or correct enough? I think that as long as I do my best and am accepted by the audience, it’s okay. Accent is not a cause for success or failure as long as you are emoting correctly.”

Among the leaders in the 100-crore club of actresses (Bodyguard and Agneepath in cameos, Ek Tha Tiger, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Dhoom:3, Bang Bang!), Katrina has just delivered another hit in Phantom, and her list of other hits include Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Partner, Namastey London, Apne, Welcome, Singh Is King, Race, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti (both with her now live-in partner Ranbir Kapoor), Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

That’s indeed quite a magnificent score for a lady who is just 10 years old in the field — and a far better average than even superstars like Amitabh Bachchan.

Katrina’s forthcoming films are a revelation of her changed approach — she stars in Baar Baar Dekho opposite Sidharth Malhotra and in Fitoor with Aditya Roy Kapur. Does she think that there is now a trend of top heroines working with younger heroes, or is this the way of enhancing the longevity of their careers?

She refutes both theories. “I would say that we are all the same age, but like with Ranbir, he started out two years after I did. The same applies to the others. I think that we heroines are just working with what I will call less experienced heroes. Otherwise, the role decides all.” But, are not Sidharth and Aditya associated more with the next generation of heroines like Alia Bhatt or Shraddha Kapoor? “They are,” she flashes a dimpled smile. “And that’s because they all started around the same time.”

Age no bar
Katrina also has no qualms about playing older roles or about her looks. How did it feel to sport a grimy, dishevelled look in Phantom, and she is also said to be aging till 60 in Baar Baar Dekho? “Oh, I loved the situational action of Phantom, which was totally different from what I did, say, in Dhoom:3’s songs like “Malang” and “Kamli,” which needed arduous training. As an agent, I played a girl who is never worried about her hair, make-up or looks. The character must connect, first with me, and second, with my audience. We all want roles in which the audience will go ‘Wow! What an actor!’ and for which we will be remembered. I am looking for them every day, and glamour might not be necessary for such characters.”

About aging on-screen, she is equally forthright. “Actresses no longer bother about looks or age, and anyone who does is living under a foolish illusion, because we cannot always look 16. I don’t mind playing older characters, if the script is good. Like it was with Ranbir and Priyanka Chopra playing older people in Barfi! — it was just a small part of their overall characters in any case, but the roles were fantastic.”

We ask whether Ranbir ever opened up to her after his row of flops, including the biggest, Bombay Velvet. “If he did, I am sure that he would not like me to tell you that, right?” she smiles. “But flops can be disturbing for anyone. But they do not reflect in any way upon an actor’s passion for and commitment to his work. Everyone must go through such phases to appreciate what they have.”

There are so many rumours about their forthcoming, long-in-the-making Jagga Jasoos — that director Anurag Basu is totally at sea, that there is no script, that Katrina had a yelling match with him, and that over 20 songs have already been composed.

Unperturbed, she replies, “Oh, Anurag’s voice and process are different. He is a bit of a Bohemian artiste who believes in his own time and space. He is a free spirit. Of course, there is a script. And, have you ever met him? If you have, you will realise that such a meek man, who agrees to everything anyone at all says to him with just an ‘Okay!’ or a ‘fine!’ can never yell at anyone.”

About Phantom and her rapport with director Kabir Khan, she declares that Kabir would never offer her a role that she would have to refuse and raves over their bonding over three films. “New York was wonderful, and Ek Tha Tiger had his stamp despite the commercial angle. During Phantom, I saw Kabir as passionate as never before,” she says. “And now, after three movies, our understanding is so deep that when I want to express something to him, he says the same thing to me before I do.”

Finally, when is the big day for Ranbir and her? Again there are lots of rumours. And she replies, “Look, why would anyone want to hide something so good as an engagement or a marriage?”