At 23, she is one of the most sought-after actresses in Hindi cinema.

She has worked with almost every top director in the industry, be it Karan Johar, Subhash Ghai, Sooraj R Barjatya and, more recently, Mani Ratnam. 

Right now, Kareena Kapoor's off-screen affair with budding hero Shahid Kapur seems to be hogging the headlines than her films. Kareena, for her part, is nonchalant. This is her take on the whole affair:

 

Rumours don't bother me. It is very early to put a name to our relationship. But I can say that my relationship with Shahid is a friendship that has a long way to go.

 

If I am upset, I can call him at 12.30 am and say I have had a bad day, I had a bad scene. You know, things like that. I can talk to him because he is also an actor. He can identify with me.

 

I cannot think more than that about him because I have so many films up for release. I would be a fool to think of anything else now. I am very strong-headed, someone who is sure and who knows what she wants. And I have only two things constant in my life: my family -- my mother and my sister -- and my career. Barring these two, everything else can change.

But yes, Shahid is like a college-going young guy, unlike my other senior actors. I think his age worked for me -- he is 23 and unlike any other male friend whom I can talk to easily and freely. I like meeting him because I can be normal with him.

 

My other friends -- filmi or otherwise -- tend to be in awe. Like, oh, they are going out with Kareena Kapoor. I don't want that. I can go out for a coffee with Shahid like a normal person.

 

We actors also want to do normal things. We go watch films at theatres. I would love more of that but we rarely get the chance because we are both busy with our schedules.

There have been rumours about Shahid dropping out of Karan Johar's next film [apparently, Karan Johar's company, Dharma Productions, had approached Shahid to do a songless thriller, but he opted out saying he had other commitments], because I did not approve of it [following her tussle with Johar over her remuneration].

 

That is completely untrue. It is unfortunate that people think so ill of me. It puts me in such a bad light.

Why should I interfere in his [Kapur's] career? I don't think I am that important in Shahid's life. I have known him only eight months. I have to look out for myself. And I am very selfish as far as my career is concerned. I make my own decisions and I would not like any interference.  

Though it is completely untrue, I wish I were his remote control. Life would have been so good! But I am not his remote control!