'Akshay is a true blue superstar'

'Akshay is in the same phase that probably Mr Bachchan has gone through.'
'He has that kind of success and stardom, but he does not let it go to his head.'
'That's what I love about him.'

Kareena Kapoor Khan gets pregnant for her new film, Good Newwz, co-starring Akshay Kumar, Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani.

The film is a comedy about a sperm mix-up.

Being pregnant for a film was very different from being one in real life, Kareena tells Patcy N/Rediff.com in the first of a two-part interview, explaining, "This was a pregnancy without parathas, that was a pregnancy with parathas! I used to eat five to 10 parathas a day. Now, I eat one."

Good Newwz is out and you have finished shooting Angrezi Medium and Laal Singh Chadha.

It's been great because the film is very entertaining.

It's quite topical also.

It's actually an interesting topic on IVF and we have taken it and kind of turned it around on its head.

It's more like a dramedy -- there's comedy with a lot of drama.

People will enjoy it during the festive time.

What can I say about Laal Singh Chadha?

What do you say about a person who is such a genius?

What do you say about a person who has such a cinematic mind?

It's an absolute pleasure and an honour to be standing with him (Aamir Khan) and working again because he is so passionate and dedicated to his craft.

Did Good Newwz remind you of your pregnancy?

I had to wear a pregnant stomach -- there are different phases in the film where she's three months, six months and then nine months pregnant.

They made a prosthetic swimsuit of a belly and it was made in London.

I had to wear that swimsuit under my clothes. It looked so natural with a belly button.

I had forgotten what it was like to be pregnant.

This was a pregnancy without parathas, that was a pregnancy with parathas! I used to eat five to 10 parathas a day. Now, I eat one.

Tell us about the time when you were pregnant.

I am generally an hypochondriac, so I used to ask my doctor 100 questions!

There would be a question every day until he told me, 'Listen, there's nothing to ask, just relax.'

Of course, it was a first-time pregnancy and my sister was just a phone call away. She would guide me.

My doctor would ask me to come and weigh myself because he said you are 20 kilos overweight, itna mat khao!

Actually, you are not supposed to overeat during pregnancy because then you get acidity.

You have to eat right.

I did try to do that for six months, but after that, it was all downhill.

But I enjoyed my pregnancy.

In Hindi films, there is a lot of drama when they show women in labour.

It is a Hindi film, toh thoda sa exaggeration banta hai.

But in this film, we try to show it as it is.

Of course, labour pains differ from person to person. My mother was in 24-hour labour with me.

I had to have a caesarean because his (her son Taimur's) head was down; he had already turned very fast.

So he was ready to come out and was very low.

I was very hyper. I was getting anxiety during labour, so they had to...

Good Newwz deals with a sensitive subject. How careful were you with the comedy?

The story line is very basic. It's just about the sperm getting exchanged.

It is a comedy, but eventually, it's about how these women carry the story forward.

Normally, in comedy films, women are standing on the sides and laughing when the hero says the dialogues.

The emotion will come in the second half, and that's why I did the film.

There is an entire monologue, where she explains to Akshay's character.

I am really proud of that scene because I think people will remember it.

More and more women-centric films are being made now.

A film's content and dynamics have changed.

Look at Badhaai Ho. You don't need a mainstream actress to pull off the main character today, it's just about content.

It's not just your part, but the entire content has to be great.

Like Talaash, where the girl was the pivotal part. When you find out that she is a ghost, that is the turning point of the film.

Even if you have do a film with a Khan, you have to make sure your part is of relevance.

Even Forrest Gump. Of course, the film is about Forrest Gump, but it is a love story, and that girl is driving him.

You have to make a conscious decision to work in a film with good content and that's what I have always tried to do.

Akshay said he has seen you as a child when he used to shoot with Karisma.

Yes, it was his first shot, the first time he faced the camera.

I was nine years old, standing there in my uniform.

The shoot was in a bungalow on Madh Island. The name of the film was Deedar.

I love Akshay because I think he is a true blue superstar.

I would like rightly say he is in the same phase that probably Mr Bachchan has gone through. He has that kind of success and stardom, but he does not let it go to his head.

That's what I love about him.

It's comforting that I have known him for 30 years.

I feel happy for his success.

Not all stars are comfortable auditioning, but you did so for Laal Singh Chadh..

I have never auditioned or even read two lines in my 20-year career.

I will never audition even if it is for a Hollywood movie.

I did it only because it was Aamir Khan.

I know what his potential is.

I know his intent.

He creates a world and wants to see that I fit in that 100%.

While reading the scene, I knew I had nailed it because I am this character.

Later, he told me that when I was midway through the scene, he had told Advait (Chandan, director) that I had got it right.

Earlier, there was no concept of auditions.

When I told Saif (her husband Saif Ali Khan) about the audition he said, 'What's the big deal? All actors should audition for their part!'

In Hollywood, Meryl Streep and Al Pacino audition. They don't get the part if they don't audition.

Saif told me, 'Actors like you should start doing it here, then it will be better.'

That's why I said, okay, fine, let's do it.

• Part 2 of the interview: 'I am living my life on one leg'

---

The versatile Patcy N has been covering the movies since 2004. She can be reached at patcyan@rediff.co.in

---