'Lajjo' a double bonanza for Kareena

Kareena Kapoor is excited about the "double bonanza" of working in Mani Ratnam's new film "Lajjo" with Aamir Khan for a co-star. "I feel I'm in seventh heaven. First the amazing response to 'Omkara' and now I've signed a formal contract for Mani Ratnam's film. He wants me to prepare for the role until next winter," she said.

"To work with Mani sir again and Aamir for the first time... It's like a double bonanza for me," Kareena told IANS.

On the success of "Omkara", she said: "I'm waiting for Vishal Bharadwaj to sign me again. I'm hugely satisfied with 'Omkara'. I had hoped it would be a new beginning for me. And that's exactly how it turned out."

On the newly mellow and contemplative phase in her career, she said: "You know, it can't be a coincidence that I'm doing two literary adaptations one after another - first Shakespeare in 'Omkara' and now Ismat Chughtai's story 'Lajjo'.

"I know Urdu is a long way off from Shakespeare. But literature is literature, and I'm glad I've arrived at this new juncture in my career so effortlessly."

"Lajjo" is Kareena's second period film after "Ashoka" and she has already started reading Chugtai's period love story.

"I remember how excited I was when I had signed 'Ashoka' with Shah Rukh Khan. Now it's with Aamir in 'Lajjo'. It's every actress's dream to work with Aamir. When I saw 'Rang De Basanti', I was jealous. I wanted to be a part of it," she said.

Kareena shares a very special bond with Ratnam. In fact, the director has gone on record to talk about what a special performance she gave in "Yuva".

"Is it so?" Kareena asked delightedly. "He is definitely one of the most special directors I've worked with. When he contacted me to do 'Lajjo', I couldn't believe my luck. This was just what I wanted to do after 'Omkara'. I can't forget what fun I had shooting for 'Yuva' in Kolkata and Chennai."

"Now I can't wait to start work on 'Lajjo' with Mani sir and Aamir. You know, I came close to working with Aamir in Bharadwaj's 'Mr Singh & Mrs Mehta'.

"That was a love story about two married people who aren't married to each other. Now I'm doing another intense love story with Aamir and I can't wait to start," she added.

Indo-Asian News Service