Carry on, Kat

While trade pundits call her a ‘lucky charm’, she’s averse to the tag. “It’s unfair. I don’t understand what people mean by luck. A film does well when it has a good script and fine performances,” Kaif reasons.

With her next, Subhash Ghai’s Yuvvraaj, where she’s paired with her real-life lover, she’s confident about continuing her good run at the box office. “I play a cello player. Like all musicians, she turns to music during testing times.” But Kaif, who played the piano as a child, was keen to learn a new instrument. “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,” she shows off her soft smile again.

Kaif is known for subtlety but Yuvvraaj has the demure actress looking gorgeous. “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.”

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

The Britain-born actress is also seen speaking fluent Hindi in the promos. “But I can’t help the accent,” she complains. In an effort to blend in to India, she’s also taken to the music of AR Rehman. “When I first came here, I found it difficult to understand his style. But it slowly grows on you. It’s timeless.”

Though the actress has achieved too much too soon, she’s modest enough to give due credit to good friend Akshay Kumar. “Akshay’s played a major role in shaping my career. I’m looking forward to our next, Priyadarshan’s De Dhana Dhan,” she says, and reiterates, “And no, Salman doesn’t have a problem with me working with other actors.”

While directors like Imtiaz Ali, Yash Chopra and Raju Hirani are on her wish list, she’s happy to have bagged roles in Prakash Jha’s political potboiler Rajneeti, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Ranbir Kapoor and a Yashraj film. “I’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,” she insists.

Well, let’s wait and watch.