Kareena, the superstar

It was one of those self-congratulatory pat on the back events. It's not as if Filmfare magazine was getting a complete facelift: that happened a few issues ago, the magazine turning fortnightly and featuring John Abraham [Images] and Bipasha Basu [Images] canoodling on the cover.

It was the unveiling of the Kareena Kapoor [Images] issue, but the cover had been let out of the bag as the actress admitted to having received hundreds of congratulatory texts in the last few days.

Still, there is little chance to spend an evening with Kareena the superstar these days.

Top favourite to win the Filmfare Award this year for Jab We Met, Kareena's making waves with her startling ability to make blue-blooded superstars carve her name in their forearm before they start serenading her.

And if there's one thing to notice as Kareena takes the stage or poses for the shutterbugs or parries barely-journalistic queries based solely on rumour, it's the woman's sheer confidence.

Kareena took charge through the evening, smiling at magazine editor Jitesh Pillai fondly while taking the odd good-natured dig. She handled Saif-questions with extreme self-assurance, saying that the current interview features all she's willing to divulge about her relationship. She didn't duck any questions, just putting her pretty foot down when she thought things were likely to get out of hand. She says she'd love to do a film with sister Karisma whenever she's ready, and that RK Films will return and announce two projects -- one with herself, one with cousin Ranbir -- in 2008 itself, all decisions subject to 'the right script.'

She's a star, all right. One of the journos present brings up the report of her wearing a bikini in the upcoming Tashan. She smiles coyly for a second, and then grins, 'Tashan will release April 25.'

Indeed.

Text: Raja Sen | Photograph: Uday Kuckian