YOU know, I wanted to be an actor from the time I was in my mother’s womb,’’ the 24-year-old declares with childlike bravado. Classic Kareena Kapoor. But five years, 19 releases, one hit (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham) and four average grossers (Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai, Chameli, Aitraaz and Hulchul) after that dream came true, 2000’s Next Big Hope is jobless and at home. Of course, she still has more starry airs than Aishwarya Rai. While Rai lowered her price for Rituparno Ghosh’s Raincoat and JP Dutta’s Umrao Jaan, Kapoor doesn’t budge for even a Yash Chopra or Karan Johar. ‘‘My mom also says that I’m a star and that I’m ziddi. I agree. But I’m also special,’’ she laughs. We’re on the sets of Satish Kaushik’s Milenge Milenge and Kapoor wants to tuck a ’kerchief to conceal her cleavage in a black beaded gown. Till about a year ago, it was all going according to plan. KK had the best backers: Yash Raj Films, Mani Ratnam, Sooraj Barjatya, Karan Johar, Subhash Ghai. But the script went horribly wrong. ‘‘All the films flopped. What to do?’’ she shrugs. Today, Kapoor has virtually no big banners. Of late, she’s made more headlines for her personal life than her performances. While the MMS shocker with boyfriend Shahid Kapoor has been forgotten, Kapoor still spends more time with him than on script sessions. ‘‘She’s more on the sets than me,’’ jokes a top actor who’s co-starring with Shahid in a forthcoming film. Trade pundits already predict it’s pack-up time. But Kapoor has other plans. ‘‘No man can take my career away from me. I can sacrifice anything and anyone for success. I’m going all out to get my due. Don’t underestimate the fire within me.’’ We asked her to flag off her fresh start here. 1 Kareena Kapoor has made somedisastrous career choicesShe said no to Priyanka Chopra’s role in 2004’s Aitraaz. The film catapulted Chopra to the top spot. She didn’t wait for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus Bajirao Mastani and signed Priyadarshan’s Kyunki with Salman Khan. ‘‘I begged her not to sign a film with Salman. I wanted to introduce the pair in Bajirao Mastani but she just went ahead. Now I don’t know what to do,’’ says Bhansali.

Kapoor says she doesn’t follow any particular strategy. ‘‘I do what my heart dictates.’’ She stands by her decision to play the wife in Aitraaz. ‘‘I wanted a positive role because I was doing something negative in Fida. My fans loved me in Aitraaz.’’

About Bajirao Mastani, KK’s standard reply to Bhansali is if Aishwarya and Shah Rukh Khan could play siblings in Josh and then be cast as lovers in Bhansali’s Devdas, what’s the problem? ‘‘Sanjay will make Bajirao Mastani with me and Salman. You wait and watch,’’ she says.

2 Kareena Kapoor is overexposedFilms like Talaash, Bewafaa, Jeena Sirf Mere Liye haven’t done anything for her career. ‘‘These days actors are doing fewer films but Bebo likes to do many films and all kinds of films. That’s her thinking,’’ opines Karan Johar.

Kapoor agrees that she’s done some really bad movies. ‘‘People have forgotten that even Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit did some really bad movies. Today’s heroines are getting their due because they’ve been here for nine to 10 years.’’ Kapoor says that she’s learning on the job.

Coming Up

Priyadarshan’s Kyunki with Salman Khan Suneel Darshan’s Dosti: Friends Forever with Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol Satish Kaushik’s Milenge Milenge with Shahid Kapoor Abbas Mustan’s 36 Chinatown with Shahid Kapoor Priyadarshan’s next with Shahid Kapoor Farhan Akhtar’s Don (special appearance) with Shah Rukh Khan

3 Kareena Kapoor does not compromise on her priceHer infamous exit from Kal Ho Naa Ho over money is one of Bollywood’s biggest blunders. ‘‘Kareena charges anywhere between Rs 1.5 to 2 crore. That’s a fact,’’ says trade analyst Amod Mehra.

‘‘I deserve what I get. I might do bad movies or flop movies but producers still pay me what I ask for.’’ She turns philosophical about the Kal Ho Naa Ho fiasco. ‘‘I regret the way I said no to Karan. I know I’ll work with him once more. If there is a choice between Karan and Shahid, I’ll opt for Karan and my boyfriend knows that,’’ she says.

4 Kareena Kapoor only wants to work with Shahid KapoorThough her pairing with Shahid got the thumbs down in Fida, Kapoor insists they are a perfect match. ‘‘We wanted Kareena for the role and then approached Shahid. That made her very happy,’’ says director Abbas, of the Abbas-Mustan duo, about the casting for their forthcoming 36 Chinatown.

Kapoor is categorical that her career is her top priority. She’s even got it down to a mathematical formula. She and Shahid have decided to give 70 per cent of their attention to work and only 30 per cent to their love life.

‘‘People should stop examining my personal life under a microscope. How do they know that Shahid and me are into each other? I can sacrifice anyone for my career,’’ she says. The reason most of her upcoming releases are opposite Shahid is simply because, ‘‘all the other actresses are 30 years old and can’t match him age-wise,’’ she grins.

Hit List

Vyjanthimala in Sangam: My grandfather, Raj Kapoor, etched her role to perfection. She was chulbuli and emotional Nargis in Shree 420: It was a complete role Karisma Kapoor in Dil To Pagal Hai: Such an honest character Karisma Kapoor in Zubeida: I want to play a real character too Kareena Kapoor in Yuva: Forget anyone else, I don’t think even I could do it again

Kapoor says she can’t behave like other actresses. ‘‘I always ask Lolo (Karisma) if even I should jump on a big star and beg to work with him. I find it most disgusting.’’ Kareena hopes Farhan Akhtar’s Don will improve her equation with SRK. ‘‘I have a special role in the film. SRK and I will rock together. Finally, the audience will see a fresh pair.’’

6 Kareena Kapoor has a serious attitude problemShe has had tiffs with Bobby Deol, Bipasha Basu and Preity Zinta. ‘‘Kareena only says hi to me when Karan is around. I don’t hold any grudges against Kareena and wish her well. I don’t have an ego and have no issues about going up to her and saying hello even if she doesn’t,’’ says Zinta.

Kapoor says she cannot be a hypocrite. ‘‘If I’m having a bad day, I’m having a bad day, and if you come in front of me, you’re going to get it.’’ She maintains that she’s a good human being and hasn’t hurt anyone ‘‘intentionally’’.

7 Kareena Kapoor lacks the killer instinctUnlike Zinta or Chopra, who are very conscious about the way they look, Kapoor likes to take it easy. ‘‘Kareena leaves everything to me. She’s just not into clothes and make-up,’’ says designer Manish Malhotra.

Kapoor narrates how she fasted for three days to look her best in the introductory scene of Kunal Kohli’s Mujhse Dosti Karoge. ‘‘I’ll fast and diet only when I really have to do it, for a movie that I believe in.’’ Kapoor also confesses that she goes through phases of frenetic shopping and bingeing.