Katrina Kaif is now considered Bollywood’s lucky mascot after her recent string of five hits. But she wants to be more than just a mascot or a siren. How? Find out in a candid chat with Kat…

Lucky girl! The sizzling Katrina Kaif may not agree and may attribute her success to ‘sheer hard work’ but Bollywood has decided it for her. She is now the industry’s lucky mascot, the pretty babe and the golden girl of Bollywood. Going by Bollywood’s irrational need to rest on ‘luck’ as well as the socalled ‘X factor’, there’s no doubt that Kat, currently ruling the Bollywood charts with her dazzling and seductive numbers in all her releases, is the new crown princess.

So how did Katrina’s Bollywood journey begin? A dismal start in the forgettable flick Boom, followed by a few more flops. But then, Kat suddenly hit bull’s eye with Vipul Shah’s Namastey London. This was also the movie that gave her international exposure. And this success story was followed by Apne, Partner, Welcome and Race. And with the soon-to-be-released Siingh Is King and Yuvraj amongst others, Kat’s life has—in no time—zoomed, zipped and vroomed to new highs. From films to ads, from cricket matches to the cyber world, it’s only Katrina that reigns today.

Believe it or not, she has even replaced Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the cyber queen. There was a time when Ash was the most trawled Bollywood actress. Not any more. There’s no doubt that with so much happening Kat surely is enjoying all the limelight.

Right? Well, yes and no, says she. Admittedly, the actress has become surprisingly uncomfortable with her new sensuous image, a tag any other Bollywood actresses could die for. Strange as it may sound, Katrina wants to retain her girl next-door image and work hard to be recognised as an actress rather than a bombshell. “I want to perform well and give the audience some great and memorable performances that will be remembered. And which I will be proud of in my old age.” In a candid court martial, the actress talks about what it feels like to finally be on top…

There is an endless number of women besotted by Bollywood. Would you say that you were one of them?
Honestly, no. I never wanted to be a Bollywood actress in the first place. I was modelling in London and happy with it. I didn’t have any knowledge about Bollywood, nor was I really interested in it. And that was because I didn’t have any Asian friends.

Bollywood wasn’t around me, so there was no question of being smitten by it.
In fact, while growing up, my ambitions were peculiar and unfeminine. I wanted to be a stuntwoman, a firewoman, even a NASA scientist… Life just presented itself to me, and I went along with what life offered. I came to India because I have an uncle who’s an engineer in Bangalore. I started getting offers to model and, after two years, films happened autom at i c a l ly. Usually, I think films are the natural proression after modelling.

How did your family cope with your decision to move to India ALONE?
My mom travels a lot and she understands. But my sisters—I have eight of them—didn’t quite approve. They were not overtly enthusiastic with my announcement. Even today, they crib and complain because we don’t get to meet very often. So this time, I’ve promised to spend Christmas with them in London. It’s been years since I’ve been home for Christmas…

Your first film, Boom, was a terrible choice!
I agree. I was just 17 and pretty illiterate about the film world. I admit it was a blunder on my part and I learnt a lot from it. Then again, I was lucky to bag some good films after that. I believe there is a reason for everything you do in life.

Your success story has been a fairly easy one, some say. Do you agree?
Some say it was an easy ride for me. Others say that I am yet to break the barrier in Bollywood. I think it’s all about perception. I don’t know whether I have made it but I so know for sure that I have worked like a maniac to reach where I am today. I am aware that there are many more trying for a break, but is it my fault that I got it? I guess, success comes when it is due. However hard you try, it will evade you if the time isn’t right. God has different plans for everyone. I credit it to my hard work, God’s blessings and my destiny.

People say that being associated with Salman Khan has certainly helped your career. Your comments…
Sadly, these are all very jealous, nasty and uneducated comments. I have done only two films with Salman so far. In four out of my five recent films, I have acted with Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Bobby Deol. In fact, Vipul Shah’s Namastey London gave me my biggest break. I would say he took a great risk in casting an absolute newcomer like me as the heroine in a heroine-centric film. I was under-confident. I didn’t have command over the language. And I wasn’t even a good actor. Yet, he overlooked everything and took the chance. I owe him a lot.

But what about Salman, really. How much of your success do you attribute to him?
I don’t want to get into all that please.

Is it true that your love life is in trouble?
Ideally, I wouldn’t like to clarify anything because these are fabricated stories. Nothing like this has ever happened or will ever happen. Nobody has hit me in my life. I would request everyone not to spread such rumours because our f a m i l i e s are involved in it. I don’t care about Salman or me being dragged into all t h i s and hurt. W h at t ro u bl e s me is when my mother—very disturbed and pained—calls me from London. Similarly, it’s also very painful for Salim Khan saab and his family to read it in the papers every morning. Trust me, it disturbs the peace of the family and the pain both families go through is unbearable.

KOMAL NAHTA - FILM ANALYST/EDITOR, FILMS STREET JOURNAL: The fact that Katrina is a lucky mascot for a lot of producers is just a coincidence as most of her films are doing well at the box office. She is beautiful and has been delivering hits in a small span of time. She can act, dance, has a terrific screen presence and is known for her professionalism. She is on her way to the top now and she has made mistakes initially in her career. But she definitely has a secure future as she is getting work with the top actors and big banners.

Any plans for marriage?
At this point, I don’t think I am prepared for marriage. My career is doing pretty well, and the rest I leave it to God. He is the one wh o e d e c i d e s everything.

Do you consider yourself Bollywood’s lucky mascot?
(smiles) You mean, am I the golden girl of the box office today? Honestly, I don’t like to believe in all these peripheral tags. It’s got nothing to do with any luck factor. It’s about being in the right place at the right time. I am wise enough to understand that hard work is the key factor and success is the by-product. If today I have been accepted, all the credit goes to all the people I have worked with, the scripts, my roles and all the hard work. The earlier we realise that success is the product of teamwork, the better it is.

There are some reports that you are doing a film on the Scarlett Keeling murder case…
Never! I don’t do films like that. I don’t want to touch upon a controversial subject like that, which has no clarity at all and many unanswered questions.

Akshay Kumar seems to be really helping you in your career. He has even recommended you to the makers of Blue?
Yes, Akshay asked me and I couldn’t say no. He has been of tremendous help all through and has done a lot for me and my career. He is someone who doesn’t look down upon you. The respect he gives you boosts your confidence. It boosted mine. And the films we have done together were box office hits; probably that’s why we are also looked upon as a couple with potential chemistry on screen. Going by Bollywood’s history, this has always happened with all the on-screen hit pairs in the industry.

How has fame changed you as a person?
It has ‘changed’ me for the better. I don’t think it has really changed me but, yes, I have become much more wiser and more responsible because of the pressure. And yes, some times, it does tend to make you a little lonely.

‘Size zero’ and ‘bikini’ are buzzwords today. Would you wear one if the film required it?
I am a modern women and I have nothing against wearing a bikini. I am used to all these. But, personally, I don’t think I will be ever required to wear one in the films. I won’t be asked.

Bollywood has generously doled out the ‘hot’ tag for you. But it seems that you are not comfortable with it. Why?
‘Sexy’ and ‘hot’ is something that doesn’t suit me or my personality. Hot for me is someone who is not attainable, not relatable and not accessible. Whereas I am funny, ordinary and the pretty girl next door. I may wear sexy clothes on screen but, off screen, I am uncomfortable in a short skirt and high heels. If you look at me in the track Khwab Dekhe (Sexy Lady) from Race—which apparently elevated my so-called hot tag—well, I am f u l ly clothed in it!

TOI