Katrina Kaif feels that while Namaste London was a turning point in her Bollywood career, New York launched her as an actress in her own right. In this interview, Katrina talks about her forthcoming film, Rajniti and why she considers India her home.
Do you consider yourself a foreigner or an Indian?
I am hundred per cent Indian. When I was growing up, I always felt a very strong awareness that I am an Asian.
It’s almost an Asian country now.
Now it is. But that sense of belonging was always missing when I was growing up. When I came to India, I felt an instant sense of belonging. My uncle was here, I had a bit of family in Bangalore. I came here with my older sister and I only had Rs 4 lakhs. I told myself that if I can make it with this money, I will stay here. If not, I will go back to London and rejoin college. I was only 17 at that time and was modelling. I bought a small apartment near a cemetery. I fear living alone and fear darkness, so I would stay up all night and wait for the sun to come up and then I would go to bed at five o’ clock in the morning and sleep for five hours.
I did my first photo shoot with photographer Farooq. I received good feedback. I took my portfolio and went from one agency to another. I would go there and say, ‘can I meet your casting director’. I showed them my pictures. Soon the casting agents started calling me.
Tell us about yourself, pre-stardom.
I was born in Hong Kong. My mom was a Harvard graduate, a very successful lawyer who gave it up to join a charitable organisation. She was working with the organisation as a non-profit lawyer and because of that, we travelled a lot. From Hong Kong, we went to Japan, China, France, Hawaii and then to London.
The Indian part of you comes from your father.
Yes. My parents separated when we were very young. We were raised by my mother who did a wonderful job. She raised us with the belief and inspiration to find yourself in the world. Live your dreams and find what is going to make you live life freely.
She made us tough. I have one brother. He is a professional skier and a rock climber.
What about your father?
We have grown up without a father. I missed it a great deal. I do feel that sense of loss.
You haven’t been in touch with him?
No. When I see my friends who have wonderful fathers, who are like pillars of support for their families, I think, if only I had that. But instead of complaining, I should be grateful for all the other things I have.
He hasn’t tried to get in touch with you after you became a star.
No, he is not that kind of a man. He is very decent and comes from a good family and they went their own ways because of issues which are personal. He is an affluent person, so he is not going to come back because his daughter is now famous.
How and when did you meet Salman Khan?
We met through his sister at a party. I had always said that I would never get into details about these personal things. You waste a part of your life answering, denying or clarifying things that don’t matter or are just speculations. I am a sensitive person and do not like to participate in these kinds of debates. He has been a wonderful person for the last six years. For me, he has been a great teacher and a great guide. He has seen me grow up in the last six years. At times, he would say that you are changing. And I say, I am changing because I am growing. He says, “Be careful, don’t change into something that is not good.”
When did the big break come?
I don’t think I’ve had that big break. For me it was ‘Oh Katrina looks nice here’ or ‘That’s a nice ad’ or ‘That’s an okay song’ or ‘That’s a nice movie’. It was all gradual, step-by-step.
May be it happened a little bit with Singh Is Kinng?
Before that there was Namastey London where, for the first time, I had a dominating role and Akshay Kumar allowed me to do that at a stage when not many people believed in me. That was a turning-point in my career. After Namastey London, there was Race, where people said, she does this kind of dancing well. Then there was Singh Is Kinng and now New York.
You are working in Prakash Jha’s upcoming flick, Rajniti. Is it a serious role?
That film has a lot of potential and to me it looks like a great film. I can’t explain in words how excited I am about it.
Prakash Jha thinks that I suit the role of a politician. He says I will bust the myth that I can’t speak Hindi.
Do you think it is the film that will launch you as an actor in your own right?
I think with New York, I have got that to a large extent.
Do you consider yourself a foreigner or an Indian?
I am hundred per cent Indian. When I was growing up, I always felt a very strong awareness that I am an Asian.
It’s almost an Asian country now.
Now it is. But that sense of belonging was always missing when I was growing up. When I came to India, I felt an instant sense of belonging. My uncle was here, I had a bit of family in Bangalore. I came here with my older sister and I only had Rs 4 lakhs. I told myself that if I can make it with this money, I will stay here. If not, I will go back to London and rejoin college. I was only 17 at that time and was modelling. I bought a small apartment near a cemetery. I fear living alone and fear darkness, so I would stay up all night and wait for the sun to come up and then I would go to bed at five o’ clock in the morning and sleep for five hours.
I did my first photo shoot with photographer Farooq. I received good feedback. I took my portfolio and went from one agency to another. I would go there and say, ‘can I meet your casting director’. I showed them my pictures. Soon the casting agents started calling me.
Tell us about yourself, pre-stardom.
I was born in Hong Kong. My mom was a Harvard graduate, a very successful lawyer who gave it up to join a charitable organisation. She was working with the organisation as a non-profit lawyer and because of that, we travelled a lot. From Hong Kong, we went to Japan, China, France, Hawaii and then to London.
The Indian part of you comes from your father.
Yes. My parents separated when we were very young. We were raised by my mother who did a wonderful job. She raised us with the belief and inspiration to find yourself in the world. Live your dreams and find what is going to make you live life freely.
She made us tough. I have one brother. He is a professional skier and a rock climber.
What about your father?
We have grown up without a father. I missed it a great deal. I do feel that sense of loss.
You haven’t been in touch with him?
No. When I see my friends who have wonderful fathers, who are like pillars of support for their families, I think, if only I had that. But instead of complaining, I should be grateful for all the other things I have.
He hasn’t tried to get in touch with you after you became a star.
No, he is not that kind of a man. He is very decent and comes from a good family and they went their own ways because of issues which are personal. He is an affluent person, so he is not going to come back because his daughter is now famous.
How and when did you meet Salman Khan?
We met through his sister at a party. I had always said that I would never get into details about these personal things. You waste a part of your life answering, denying or clarifying things that don’t matter or are just speculations. I am a sensitive person and do not like to participate in these kinds of debates. He has been a wonderful person for the last six years. For me, he has been a great teacher and a great guide. He has seen me grow up in the last six years. At times, he would say that you are changing. And I say, I am changing because I am growing. He says, “Be careful, don’t change into something that is not good.”
When did the big break come?
I don’t think I’ve had that big break. For me it was ‘Oh Katrina looks nice here’ or ‘That’s a nice ad’ or ‘That’s an okay song’ or ‘That’s a nice movie’. It was all gradual, step-by-step.
May be it happened a little bit with Singh Is Kinng?
Before that there was Namastey London where, for the first time, I had a dominating role and Akshay Kumar allowed me to do that at a stage when not many people believed in me. That was a turning-point in my career. After Namastey London, there was Race, where people said, she does this kind of dancing well. Then there was Singh Is Kinng and now New York.
You are working in Prakash Jha’s upcoming flick, Rajniti. Is it a serious role?
That film has a lot of potential and to me it looks like a great film. I can’t explain in words how excited I am about it.
Prakash Jha thinks that I suit the role of a politician. He says I will bust the myth that I can’t speak Hindi.
Do you think it is the film that will launch you as an actor in your own right?
I think with New York, I have got that to a large extent.
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