A British-Indian model-turned-actress, Katrina Kaif started modelling at the age of fourteen after she won a beauty contest in Hawaii. At a fashion show, Kaif got the attention of a London-based filmmaker, Kaizad Gustad, who gave her a break in Bollywood. She has worked with prominent bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan, and has given many hits like Namastey London, New York, Rajneeti, Ek Tha Tiger and Mere Brother ki Dulhan. She is also involved with Relief Projects India, a charitable trust run by her mother.


Travelling to various places can be stressful. How do you cope with that: It totally depends on the place I am travelling to, and a lot depends on my mood. Travelling is not so unsettling. As an actor, I am quite used to moving in and out of hotel rooms. I have my
few home comforts that I take along.

What home comforts you do not miss to carry: If it’s winter, then jackets and sweaters and also the clothes that I sleep in. I need something that I am used to.

Besides acting, what else do you like to do: Acting is a sort of profession, especially in our industry, in which many other things come along, like endorsements, award shows, and magazine covers. One has to allocate and divide time efficiently. My hobbies are to work for different aspects of films that I am already working on.

Favourite holiday destination: New York.

Marriage for you: It is a wonderful institution. People should be very careful to protect the beauty and sanctity of it.

Favourite co-actor: Honestly, I don’t have a favourite co-actor. I might not be politically correct but it depends on the environment of the set which is prepared by the crew, the director, the script and the co-actor. So it is the environment that carries me away.

If you had not been an actor: I have no idea. Probably because I started acting at a young age and I had no time to think about anything else.

What are the three best elements of Bollywood: Romance, music and unabashed quality, the fact that we don’t have to be idealistic.

Future projects: Jagga Jasoos by Anurag Basu. I am also doing Nitya Mehra’s film Baar Baar Dekho which is under Dharma Productions.

Action films or romantic films, which kind do you prefer: Both. I am very comfortable doing action films. I think you need to concentrate on the story and script and make yourself comfortable.Fitness regime: It is very important to look good and be fit. I train in the gym and do pilates which is similar to yoga. I miss out on these many times but it is important to make an effort.

Your comfort with Hindi language: I am very comfortable speaking Hindi when I am doing a film. But in personal life, I talk in English because that’s the language I am most comfortable in.


As told to Sweta Ranjan