Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan remains composed even in challenging situations, such as when the paparazzi entered her residential building compound at 2am to photograph her and her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan. Kareena managed to stay calm and collected throughout.

“Listen, 23 years in the film business... This is what the industry teaches you. You have to keep your cool, put your head down and march. And now, I am a pro. I am an industry veteran; everyone should learn from me,” laughs the 42-year-old, who is set to start shooting for her film, The Crew, with actors Tabu and Kriti Sanon.

Since she mentions her two decades as an actor, is there anything that she still can’t understand about showbiz? She tells us, “The constant need to prove yourself, to be heard or seen. I don’t know if it’s the digital age, but everyone wants to be seen and talked about. I don’t want to [be seen everywhere].” Is the accessibility — just a click away from seeing what your favourite celeb is doing — also a reason for the masses not being that crazy to go and watch them in a theatre? She agrees: “Vahi toh! Mujhe bhi lag raha hai!”

Nevertheless, the actor remains passionate about raising awareness for crucial initiatives, particularly in education and learning. As a UNICEF Celebrity Advocate, Kareena recently visited a school in Mumbai to meet with students and support the #EveryChildReading campaign. “Because I never completed my education, it’s always been something that I wanted to push people to do. I am a late reader; my husband has read all his life and I have a million books in my house! I am late, but it’s never too late to become a reader,” she ends.