It’s a wonder how tough an actor’s schedule is before a film’s release. Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, the new romance movie starring Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan, releases Feb. 10 worldwide. Dawn.com caught up with Kapoor for a quick chat.
Q. First and foremost, I would like to know how you prepare for a role? Do you rely solely on your directors or do you take it upon yourself to research and develop their personalities?
KK: Well, actually I am not a very prepared method kind of actress. I am somebody who relies on spontaneity. Being spontaneous is something I that always believed in, because acting, I think is in my blood. And it’s something I wanted to do since I’ve been a child. So preparing for a role, I mean no, of course my director does guide me and the script helps me, but I enjoy acting a lot. It’s my passion. I think it comes naturally.
Q. So you don't do the Aamir Khan thing? Go deep into the role and stuff?
KK: No. I am not really into the research part of it.
Q. So how did you approach the character of Riana Breganza from Ek Mai Aur Ek Tu.
KK: Actually Riana is very much like me as a person. She’s like a sunshine girl. She’s positive. She’s vibrant, colorful. But among all this — being mad and crazy — she’s also has her head on her shoulders, and she kind of knows what she wants out of life. So, it was actually easy to play the role. It was not very tough, because she was pretty much like I am.
Q. It was speculated that Ek Mai Ek Tu is inspired from "What Happens in Vegas?" Is there any truth to the rumor?
KK: No. Not at all. It’s not a remake. It’s just that it was shot in Las Vegas, that’s all.
Q. I've recently watched Ek Mai Aur Ek Tu's trailer and the movie has a very fresh look to it, how was your experience working on the movie?
KK: It was great. The entire team was young. The director of the film is 28 years old himself, and this is the first time that he’s directed a film and that’s why I think its fresh. The pairing of Imran and me, is quite fresh.
Q. How long did it take you to film?
KK: We completed the film within the year. The Vegas schedule lasted about 20 days.
Q. So, how many films do usually work on in the course of a year?
KK: Last year I did about four. But it’s very engrossing to shoot on four or five films at the same time. So now I’d like to, you know, work on one at a time and finish one and then go on to the other one.
Q. Is it a problem shifting from one character to the next, or do you let your spontaneity work it out?
KK: No. I don’t think it’s tough — like I said acting is the only thing I know. It’s my passion, so I enjoy it. And since you enjoy doing what you do, then obviously, it won’t be a problem at all.
Q. Apart from movies, actors have a lot of other commitments, does it get too hectic trying to fit in personal time?
KK: I think it’s up to actors to take out personal time for themselves. They need to make that time. They need to do it and say, that no, this is my personal time, and this is the time that I’ll give to movies and brands and endorsements and stuff. So I do work with my managers (and say) that this is my personal time. In fact, I’ve just come from a 20 day holiday from Europe.
Q. What do you prefer to do more? Festival friendly movies like Chameli or commercial blockbusters like Golmaal?
KK: I think I’d continue to do both, because I’ve always done that, and that’s what I’d like to do. I never planned to only do one kind of movies, so I’ll always do whatever excites me. (Director)
Ok. What do you prefer more: A Rohit Shetty movie or a Karan Johar film?
KK: Well I am lucky to have both.
Q. Are you comfortable working with untested, first-time directors, straight out of film school, with no actual credentials to their name?
KK: Yeah of course, I’ve always done that. When Imtiyaz (Ali), workedwith me, he had made one film, and then he made Jab We Met. I’ve worked with (Shakun Batra, director Ek Main Aur Ek Tu), We are Family with Siddharth Malhotra, it's always about the script and the role that excites me.
