'I don't think there has been a greater star than her in the film industry.'
Ranbir Kapoor about Katrina Kaif.
Videos and reportage: Afsar Dayatar for Rediff.com
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar
Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif haven't been seen together in public since they split last year.
Katrina, people said, was nursing a broken heart though she seemed spirited and a lot of fun when she appeared on Koffee With Karan last year.
Ranbir moved into a new home, designed superbly by Gauri Khan.
Katrina and Ranbir finally made an appearance on Friday, June 9 -- to launch the song Galti Se Mistake from their upcoming film, Jagaa Jasoos.
There was no acrimony, no awkwardness at the media interaction.
Ranbir was full of good cheer and had only lovely things to say about his former heart-throb.
"It was difficult for me as she is an amazing dancer. Not many people know that Sheila Ki Jawaani, Chikni Chameli, Mashallah, umdaa gaanon ke peeche bahut bada haath mera hai (I have a big role in the success of Katrina's hit songs, Sheila Ki Jawaani, Chikni Chameli)," he quipped.
"I used to make her rehearse, even taught her expressions, variations, and more," he added with a smile.
"There's no gratefulness (tch, tch... for a Bombay Scottish lad) Katrina has shown about this."
To which Katrina asked in that delightful accent: "Tu peekay aaya kya? (Have you come drunk?)"
Ranbir Kapoor's production company Picture Shuru Productions has produced Jagga Jasoos, which went on the floors before the couple broke up.
RK claimed he had made Jagga Jasoos only for Katrina.
"Katrina keeps saying 'I have given you two superhits Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Raajneeti. Whatever you are today, it's because of me.' I promised that I would make a superhit for her."
"So, Dada (director Anurag Basu) and I made this film only for Katrina."
Jagaa Jasoos, Ranbir, felt is Katrina's best performance till date.
"Katrina Kaif superhit ki machine hai," Ranbir said, adding, "I don't think there has been a greater star than her in the film industry."
"Every generation, every decade, there is a new superstar. I think her achievements have been unbelievable and I hope she can double that in the next 10 years."
Ranbir also spoke about how everyone laughed at him when he suggested the title Jab Harry Met Sejal to Imtiaz Ali, Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma, but today he feels proud that in a small way he has contributed to the film.
