‘We have had no time to celebrate’: Katrina Kaif on 'Bharat' success

She has just delivered a Rs 150-crore movie, Bharat, at the box-office alongside Salman Khan, but Katrina Kaif hasn’t taken a break. The actress has already started shooting for her next, Sooryavanshi, with Akshay Kumar. Here, she tells us why the character she played in the period drama is close to her heart, and how the response has been exactly what she wanted.  

How did you celebrate the success of Bharat?

We have had no time to celebrate. We will probably do it this weekend with something special. I am looking forward to it. But, yes, the response has been fantastic, it’s been exactly what I wanted.

And, what did you want?

I will be quite honest, I really wanted the reviews for my performance to match up to those that I got for Zero. So, when my friends were sending me the reviews, it felt very nice. There was a happy satisfied feeling.

What do you cherish most about the movie?

This film and character is always going to stay with me. Kumud (my character) is closest to my heart from everything that I have done so far. 

It was the best experience I have ever had as an actor in the creative process. I learnt so much and met so many good people who helped me in my journey. The first step is getting the character on paper. When you get the skeleton or frame of it, you have to see how you can bring the character to life. I saw such an opportunity to explore and worked on how to make it more real and true for me and the audience.  

Did you prep for it by reading about the Partition?

Not just the Partition, but every era, especially those in which I am in the film. For the ’70s era,  I took a lot of inspiration for small things to bring the look and mindset of the character. When I play a news reader, it is inspired by Salma Sultanaji who was a famous Doordarshan news reader. When the character gets older, Ali wanted the look to be like Nafisa Aliji, who was so elegant.

Do you feel that with Zero you came into your own, and Bharat has validated it?

If that’s what people think, then that’s fantastic. Acting and my own journey go hand-in-hand. When I started acting, I was 18. You gain experience on set, you gain life experience working with good directors, writers and coaches, etc. The biggest learning for me is how to give more of myself and merge with the character, how to make it real for me, which will translate to audiences.

Katrina Kaif

Was there any scene you found challenging?

There were lots of scenes — the one where madam/sir proposes to Bharat and she kind of realises that this will be tough and it’s not going to happen. That was a difficult scene. The introduction scene was tough because right from the word go, I wanted to project a strong, unique and dynamic persona to her character. Another scene that was challenging was at the end where the sister comes — it was emotional.  

Talking about madam/sir, the term has become popular...

(Laughs) Yes, it’s a cute phrase. Also, people nowadays like to see a woman of today, of substance, a woman who can hold her own, be strong and in control, and at the same time doesn’t lose her femininity.

You are reuniting with Akshay Kumar in Sooryavanshi...

He is a lovely person to work with. He is a great co-star. When I was just starting out, he instilled a lot of confidence in me right from day one. He gave me immense support saying, ‘You can do it’, which helped me.

The Eid clash between Sooryavanshi and Salman Khan’s Inshallah has been averted. Did you have a word with Salman about it?

It never came up in any conversation. I am not a producer of either of the films. I just come in as an actor. But there is space for all movies. 

Everyone is friends and everyone is just a phone call away.    

Will we see you reuniting with one of your other co-stars, Hrithik Roshan?

If a good script comes my way, I would love to. He is a fantastic actor.

You are now planning to produce films, have you got anything in mind?

I have heard a few concepts to which I want to lend my name. They will be smaller, passion projects. I will get a clarity on that soon.

Going forward what roles would you like to do?

My ambition would be to play a unique character that will take me one step ahead. Of course, you have to maintain a balance with fun films and serious character-driven movies. I just have to make sure that whatever I do, I am in a new space to keep myself interested.