Katrina Kaif: Look at her now

The biggest Bollywood song of the year has been Kala Chashma and the star attraction of the smash hit dance number has been the striking presence of Katrina Kaif.

The song is taken from romantic drama Baar Baar Dekho, which is in cinemas now, and sees Katrina star opposite Sidharth Malhotra in a uniquely structured love story which travels through time.

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The film continues a run of releases that has seen the in-demand actress attempt something new each time and not surprisingly, she says she enjoyed venturing into unknown territory again. Katrina is hopeful audiences will connect with the love story and admits to getting emotional when she first heard the story.

That is perhaps why the superstar was feeling quietly confident when Eastern Eye caught up with her on the promotional trail of Baar Baar Dekho to find out more about the film.

It’s been a few years since you have had two films released in a year. How does it feel?

I have actually had three releases in the last 12 months – Phantom, Fitoor and Baar Baar Dekho. I think as actors, we have to put our best foot forward, and I have tried to give 100 per cent to my work, especially in Baar Baar Dekho.

Has the way you are choosing films changed?

I always hope to deliver something exceptional with my performance in the various roles. In the future, I would love to play a full-on action role. I like portraying rugged femininity; going up there and saving someone! I also think whatever genre you are doing, you have to be conscious about whether it is credible, and ensure the script holds up; and not just jump onto a project because it has good names attached to it.

So what did you particularly like about Baar Baar Dekho?

I had a wonderful experience on the sets of Baar Baar Dekho and had fun throughout. The story is very different and exciting, with many more surprises than an average love story. I am really excited about the movie. It has only happened twice that I cried when I heard a narration for a film – once for a project that never got made and the second time for this. It has hit me very deeply and personally, which is when I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

Tell us about the film and your character?

Baar Baar Dekho is a romantic drama with a twist of sci-fi, comedy and live action. It is a movie for everyone, with a new concept. It’s basically a new-age love story, as Karan Johar had beautifully described it. It follows the story of Jai’s (Sidharth Malhotra) character and gives him an insight of what his life would be like if he doesn’t change a few things, and then gives him a chance to do it all again. There are many things on a personal level where I connect to the character – perseverance and the fact that she is emotionally affected by things as well. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is very open and upfront.

Is Baar Baar Dekho too experimental for Bollywood audiences?

We are coming with something entirely different than the usual, and working with (director) Nitya (Mehra) has been really liberating. You can only know how special this film by just watching it.

Which is your favourite moment in the film?

The whole Baar Baar Dekho experience makes it one of my favourite films that I have been part of. I fell in love with the script, and when you watch the movie you will know why. Everybody working on the film had such a fresh outlook, which in itself made me re-invent myself. I was confident in entrusting myself to their vision to bring out the best in myself.

Did you imagine Kala Chashma would be the biggest Bollywood hit of the year?

The song was a lot of fun, and in the movie, it comes at a time when there is a big celebration. It’s been a while since I came across a song that I enjoyed dancing for, and I felt Bosco [Martis] had done a fantastic job with the choreography to get me and Sid working hard on it.

For me dance is a big passion, and since it is a passion it is something I enjoy, but in order to make the moves look effortless, you need to put in the rehearsals.

You look incredible in the video and the film. What is the secret behind your amazing figure?

There was a portion of the film where [director]Nitya [Mehra] wanted a different look than the rest of the film, for a reason you will find out when you see it, and that required me to really get fit. I had to give up a lot of nice things in life: salt and carbs were a few of those.

The film is called Baar Baar Dekho. What one thing do you love looking at repeatedly?

(Smiles) A beach.

Is there any one film that you have seen numerous times?

Gone With The Wind is my favourite film. It is very romantic and passionate, just the way undying love is meant to be.

Today, what is the best and worst thing about being Katrina Kaif?

I see myself as a slightly unusual but sincere person.

Is there anything you would change in your life?

I don’t think you should regret your decisions, as long as everything you did was while being true to yourself. In that case, you should not kick yourself for your actions. If I could tweak something, I would like to worry or stress less.

If you could learn something new, what would it be?

I would have liked to play the piano and write music.

You have finally joined social media. What has the experience been like?

I love Facebook, and my first day on it was amazing. It was like a party. I put up pictures and had a live chat. Yes, it has been fun.

How do you deal with the constant media intrusion in your life?

The entertainment industry, which is full of glamour and fun, is also filled with speculation and gossip. Sometimes you can get carried away with that. Every actor knows that their personal life is being spoken about and it comes with the territory. Every person would want to show their best face to the world and that’s what you have to do.

Finally, why should we see Baar Baar Dekho?

The audiences are now very intelligent and they sense if there is something in the story that connects with them. In my opinion, it’s a very good script and a very beautiful story. We just hope that the audience has got that from the trailer, and that it has visually connected with them. We just hope the people come and connect to it the way we did when we first heard the script.

Baar Baar Dekho is in cinemas now.