I have learnt to cope with media attention: Kaif

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif on dealing with media.

NEW DELHI:

From her breakup with Salman Khan to her getting together with Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif’s personal life is constantly under the scanner. The British-born actor, speaking to IANS, says the unrelenting attention does affect her sometimes but she has learnt to cope with the pressures.

“We are human beings and sometimes it does affect us especially when so much is being said and written that doesn’t make sense. But one learns and I have also learnt to cope with it,” Kaif said in a recent interview.

“I have learnt that media and celebrities go hand in hand and now I don’t feel the need to clarify my stance and I am not bothered. Audiences have also become mature and they also understand what is right and what is wrong,” added the 26-year-old.

Kaif was introduced into the Hindi film industry with Boom in 2003, but the first hit came only four years later with Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. Her career took off with the success of Namastey London, in which she teamed up with Akshay Kumar, released in the same year.

Some of her big box-office hits are Partner, Welcome and Singh Is Kinng. Her item number “Sheila Ki Jawani” from Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan has got perhaps the maximum publicity, but Kaif has also forayed into meaningful cinema with New York and Rajneeti.

Asked whether she is a director’s actor, Kaif said: “Every actor is a director’s actor. It’s the director who helps the actor in bringing the character alive on screen and then there is the script to support. It is part and parcel of the profession.”

As her career skyrockets, expectations have also become higher and Kaif admits to some nervousness.

“If you lose that nervousness or anticipation that means you have reached a saturation point which is the worst thing for any actor. For me, it is important that I live up to the expectations of my fans and I don’t let them down.”

So does Katrina fear failure?

“Fear is something that drives you to do good work and it is important for a person to maintain a positive attitude and keep on doing good work,” she said.

With films, endorsements, performances and media appearances crowding her to-do-list, the actress admits she sometimes finds it difficult to cope with the hectic work life.

“Sometimes it becomes difficult to stay calm, cool; and with a busy schedule I do get tired, but it’s part of our job. I keep doing things that help me to relax. I do things that rejuvenate me, things that give me extra help,” she said.

The actor has no films scheduled for immediate release, but will be seen in a new LUX soap ad to promote its new range — Lux Fresh Splash.

This year, her first release will be in June with Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, also starring Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar and Kalki Koechlin. After that she will be seen in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan that stars Pakistani actor Ali Zafar. ians

Published in The Express Tribune, April 03^rd, 2011.