STATIONED AT THE Address Dubai Marina hotel’s Tower Suite on Thursday evening is Katrina Kaif’s entourage, select Etihad crew and the Tees Maar Khan actress herself – she stands at a full-length window and, with the help of a translator, chats with an unknown, but distinguished-looking gentleman.So we wait patiently for her to make her way to the ‘interview couch’. It’s only a half an hour or so past our allotted time slot – not much, given Bollywood’s signature aversion to punctuality. The starry diva sports a ruffled, knee-length cream confection, teamed with a black belt, looking elegant (not sure what Ranbir Kapoor was on about when he criticised her dress sense recently on Simi Garewal’s talk show India’s Most Desirable).“We’ve been solving some of Dubai’s problems,” quips ‘Kat’ a few minutes later. We wonder which ones exactly and she reverts with, “Oh just the construction, really. Otherwise, it’s a beautiful city.“In India, when I’m going to an event, I see so many people on the roads, so every time I come here I’m always looking for the people. It’s amazingly well run, a great destination and has everything you can want. The sort of progress I’ve seen in Abu Dhabi in the last few years has been phenomenal,” at this point we want to interrupt to let Kaif know that she may be mixing up her cities a tad, but she doesn’t give us the chance.
“I’ve been coming here every three to four months, on and off. I would like to say a ‘thank you’ to all my fans here and the audience that have supported my films. They’ve been very welcoming and warm every time I’ve come here – whether it’s been for a shoot or for an awards function or something like this.” The actress had just put in appearance at the Dubai Marina Mall to announce Etihad’s new destinations.
HIGH NOTE
Mid-July will see Kaif’s eagerly anticipated feature alongside Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol, Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, hit screens worldwide. Following closely behind will be Yash Raj’s Mere Brother ki Dulhan, which she labels a traditional romantic comedy with song and dance.“But the characters are very quirky and that was what turned me to the script. Imran (Khan) and I had gotten a lot of offers to work together before, but we really lucked out with this one in terms of the characters. Obviously, the fate of the film is in the hands of the audience, but I had a good time working on it.”
Not keen on divulging too much about her future projects – not even about her third Yash Raj production Ek Tha Tiger co-starring former beau Salman Khan – Kaif does admit that things are going well; a best actress nomination courtesy of IIFA for Raajneeti, she’s topped several ‘sexiest woman alive’ polls and offers for films and endorsements seem to keep coming.“I’ve been blessed with the kind of success rate my films have seen. Of course, I’m in no position to complain. That would be ungrateful. But there’s no point stressing out about how long things will go well – you have to take it easy, step-by-step and learn what you can along the way.”
TIGHT-LIPPED
As always, Kaif makes it a point to communicate through her representatives before our chat that she does not wish to discuss anything personal; even during her visit to the Marina Mall, when a fan asks her when she plans on getting married, she sidesteps the question with an amused, “When someone asks me.”The actress further notes to us on the subject, “By nature I am a person who doesn’t like to explain or clarify myself. I don’t like to speak about my personal life. But then there will be speculation and one has to learn to live with it.”So Kaif may not entertain questions on whether or not she is single (although, according to her “a woman is single till she is married”). But the actress does throw in an unprompted mention of Salman Khan.“Box office results are always nerve wrecking. But you have to understand there are cycles; something works, something doesn’t. I don’t think there’s any point stressing about it. As a friend Salman has always told me this and he has always stood by it. I have always followed his example and will continue to do so.” – Khaleejnews
