Kareena Kapoor, who will start shooting with Irrfan Khan in London soon, says she needs to be around her son
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 5, 2019)

Kareena Kapoor is currently in Italy with husband, actor-producer Saif Ali Khan and son Taimur, for a quick vacation before she starts shooting for Homi Adajania’s Angrezi Medium in London. The actress on how she juggles her professional commitments and personal responsibilities. Excerpts:

So, it’s ‘we’ time in Tuscany with Saif and Taimur?
It’s going to be a hectic month so I’m squeezing in a holiday, one I’ve been looking forward to.

Recently a picture of Saif, Taimur and you, along with Sharmila Tagore, Soha, Sara and Ibrahim, at your place went viral. You clearly enjoy your family time.
I’ve always stood on one leg, balancing my personal and professional life. I’m probably the only actress who after delivering my son was back on the sets of a mainstream Hindi film, Veere Di Wedding, within six months with three other actresses. I’m constantly choosing the best from what I’m offered, and I have my priorities clear. I don’t like working for more than eight hours. Taimur is only two, he still needs me. So, I like to work only during the day till early evening. That’s why you never see me at film parties or screenings. It’s just work and family.

Aren’t you supposed to start shooting for your next, Angrezi Medium, with Irrfan Khan, in London from June 9?
Yes, that’s a 10-12 day shoot coming up. My portions will be entirely filmed in London, I’m looking forward to joining Irrfan. And even after I’m done with Angrezi Medium, I plan to stay on with Taimur while Saif is shooting Jawaani Jaaneman. I’ll be flying back and forth between London and Mumbai for my reality show, Dance India Dance.

And when does Karan Johar’s historical drama, Takht, kick off. That’s a biggie with Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar…
I’m looking forward to working with Karan again. Our earlier film together, the 2001 family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, was very different from this one, in fact, it’s nothing like anything Karan has done before. Ranveer and Vicky are on the top of their game so it’s going to be an exciting trip.

You’ve also reunited with Akshay Kumar after a decade for Good News.
Good News has ‘great’ written all over it, be it the cast, the director or the producer. Even the concept of surrogacy is amazing, though it’s going to be a really funny movie. The release date is perfect, the New Year weekend. I can’t wait to see how people react to it.

Buzz is, your son Taimur makes a special appearance in the film?
Not at all, why would he do that?

You will soon be completing two decades in the industry, is there any role you want to explore?
The idea is to keep doing something different every time. I never thought I would do radio, but I dabbled in it.

And now you are making your small screen debut with Dance India Dance. Do you watch TV?
When Taimur goes to sleep, Saif and I watch a lot of television. The lines are blurring, and everything is more about content now. I’m looking forward to watching Meryl Streep on Big Little Lies, even she’s making her TV debut.

Saif too is playing the suthradhar of the fiction show Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum?
I think Saif did a voiceover for the show, his actual focus is on the second season of his web series.

Why did you pick Dance India Dance for your TV debut?
Since I’m making my TV debut, it had to be something bigger and better. Dance India Dance changed the concept of reality shows with a 360-degree stage and 200-plus cameras. It’s the longest running dance reality show, which has the common man at the forefront which is why I love it. So, I thought to myself, “Why not do this?”

How are you adjusting to the hectic schedules and long hours of shoot?
I’m completely against long hours but it’s once a week and we have a great team. I had a blast with the first episode, some of the contestants got standing ovations. I have two stylists, Tanya Ghavri and Mohit Rai, who have worked with me very closely in the past, designing my look. My brief to them is that the clothes should reflect my personality which is vibrant and feisty. It’s going to be an exciting journey going forward.