This film is extra special to her because it’s her third with Salman but the first where she’s paired opposite him. “I hope it’s third time lucky for us,” she remarks casually. Kaif also admits she was anxious that their off-screen chemistry might make their on-screen pairing slightly uncomfortable.

“Sometimes when you know the person well, you tend to go overboard. But I was relieved to see the promos,” she says.

The Britain-born actress is also seen speaking fluent Hindi in the promos. “But I can’t help the accent,” she complains. In an effort to blend into India, she’s also taken to the music of AR Rehman. “When I first came here, I found it difficult to understand his style. But it slowly grows on you. It’s timeless,” she says.

Kaif is modest enough to acknowledge good friend Akshay Kumar’s role in shaping her career. “Akshay has helped me a lot. I’m looking forward to our next, Priyadarshan’s De Dhana Dhan,” she says, and adds quickly, “And no, Salman doesn’t have a problem with me working with other actors.”

While directors like Imtiaz Ali, Yash Chopra and Raju Hirani are on her wish list, she’s happy to have bagged roles in Prakash Jha’s political potboiler Rajneeti, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Ranbir Kapoor and a Yashraj film. “I’ve done a variety of films to establish myself. But now, I want to play stronger characters. Katrina in 2009 is going to be different from Katrina in 2008,” she insists. We’re still not tired of the old Kat.