Carry on, Kat

When you have Salman Khan for a boyfriend, it is inevitable that you make newspaper headlines. But Katrina Kaif has broken the jinx and managed to carve her own identity with six hit films in two years.

What8217;s luck got to do with success, questions Bollywood8217;s most bankable actress

When you have Salman Khan for a boyfriend, it is inevitable that you make newspaper headlines. But Katrina Kaif has broken the jinx and managed to carve her own identity with six hit films in two years. 8220;I think my hard work over the last six years has paid off,8221; she smiles proudly.

While trade pundits call her a 8216;lucky charm8217;, she8217;s averse to the tag. 8220;It8217;s unfair. I don8217;t understand what people mean by luck. A film does well when it has a good script and fine performances,8221; Kaif reasons.

With her next, Subhash Ghai8217;s Yuvvraaj, where she8217;s paired with her real-life lover, she8217;s confident about continuing her good run at the box office. 8220;I play a cello player. Like all musicians, she turns to music during testing times.8221; But Kaif, who played the piano as a child, was keen to learn a new instrument. 8220;I was asked by Mr Ghai to learn to play the cello, just like I would learn a dance movement. I just followed instructions and was playing it even before the shoot began,8221; she shows off her soft smile again.

Kaif is known for subtlety but Yuvvraaj has the demure actress looking gorgeous. 8220;The clothes have to be relevant to the story. In Austria, cellists dress in regal, classic gowns. So Rocky S sourced my outfits from small Austrian boutiques and from designers Gauri and Nainika Karan.8221;

This film is extra special to her because it8217;s her third with Salman but the first where she8217;s paired opposite him. 8220;I hope it8217;s third time lucky for us,8221; she remarks casually. Kaif also admits she was anxious that their off-screen chemistry might make their on-screen pairing slightly uncomfortable. 8220;Sometimes when you know the person well, you tend to go overboard. But I was relieved to see the promos,8221; she says.

The Britain-born actress is also seen speaking fluent Hindi in the promos. 8220;But I can8217;t help the accent,8221; she complains. In an effort to blend in to India, she8217;s also taken to the music of AR Rehman. 8220;When I first came here, I found it difficult to understand his style. But it slowly grows on you. It8217;s timeless.8221;

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Though the actress has achieved too much too soon, she8217;s modest enough to give due credit to good friend Akshay Kumar. 8220;Akshay8217;s played a major role in shaping my career. I8217;m looking forward to our next, Priyadarshan8217;s De Dhana Dhan,8221; she says, and reiterates, 8220;And no, Salman doesn8217;t have a problem with me working with other actors.8221;

While directors like Imtiaz Ali, Yash Chopra and Raju Hirani are on her wish list, she8217;s happy to have bagged roles in Prakash Jha8217;s political potboiler Rajneeti, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Ranbir Kapoor and a Yashraj film. 8220;I8217;ve done a variety of films to establish myself. But now I want to play stronger characters. Katrina in 2009 is going to be different from Katrina in 2008,8221; she insists.

Well, let8217;s wait and watch.