I feel very close to Kareena's family: Saif

Actor Saif Ali Khan says that he gets along really well with girlfriend Kareena Kapoor's parents, contrary to what rumour mills say, and adds that they are constantly in touch with each other.


"Kareena's mom (Babita) and I constantly message one another. I'm as much in touch with her as I am with my own mom. I've met Kareena's dad a few times. And we get along fine," Saif, who is currently busy with his home production, said on phone from San Francisco.


"I've been a part of their family functions many times. I feel very close to her family. Whenever she's at a family function, I try to be part of it," he said.


Saif says both Kareena and he have learnt to be discreet.

"We've learnt to be careful in our public utterances. As a celebrity one has to be careful. One can't sit around being offended by the public attention."


Excerpts from an interview:

Q: There're rumours in Mumbai that you and Deepika Padukone just can't get along. That you had a showdown with her when you were shooting with her for Imtiaz Ali's film in London?

A: This is utter rubbish. I can't believe people are saying such things. There isn't an ounce of truth in this. Deepika is a thorough professional. During the time we shot together in London, I found her to be very hardworking and focussed on her work. Beyond that I don't know her at all.


Q: In a way London is your home, right?

A: Now I'm shooting with Imtiaz in San Francisco. Yes, London is a second home. But it's annoying to be working there. I don't get to socialise. If I'm lucky, I get to catch a late dinner. Then I've to sleep because I've to be up for work early next morning.


Q: How's your film with Imtiaz progressing?

A: We're about 30 percent done. It's extremely different and real and reflective of today's relationships. It's a contemporary film.


Q: What's the film called?

A: Nothing yet. We hope to get a title soon. Any suggestions?


Q: According to a section of the press, it's called 'Elastic'?

A: What? Why would I call my film that? Hopefully, we'll have a title before long. I know what we went through to find a name for my last release 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic'.


Q: It's being said that Kareena Kapoor's parents don't approve of you.

A: That's absolute rubbish. Kareena's mom and I constantly message one another. I'm as much in touch with her as I am with my own mom. I've met Kareena's dad a few times. And we get along fine. I've been a part of their family functions many times. I feel very close to her family. Whenever she's at a family function, I try to be part of it.

Q: How do you keep these family functions private?

A: Both Kareena and I have learnt to be discreet. We've learnt to be careful in our public utterances. As a celebrity one has to be careful. One can't sit around being offended by the public attention.


Q: Why did you do so much publicity for 'Race' and so little for 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic'?

A: Not intentional. I was around in India to promote 'Race'. I guess people go by the vibe of the movie. Some films seem to be more exciting than others irrespective of who stars in them. Would I watch "Thoda Pyaar..."? No I prefer American films. I don't see that many Hindi films. So my choices are based on what people would like to see and what I'd like to do as my job.


Q: So you stand by 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic'?

A: I liked the idea of 'Thoda Pyaar...'. It's a split-second decision whether audiences would like to watch a film or not. The choice of films is like an investment. At the time I signed 'Tashan' and 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic', they'd both be considered blue-chip ideas. Which fool wouldn't do such films?

Some things work some don't. You've got to be a man and accept the defeat on the chin and not blame the director, wipe the blood off the nose and move on to the next one. It's still been a good year for me. 'Race' is a super hit. Everyone goes wrong.


Q: You still maintain there's no production house like Yash Raj Films?

A: At a time when other producers didn't know what I was capable of, Yash Raj believed in me. I owe the start of my career as a leading man to Yash Raj. As a producer I've been hugely influenced by the banner.


Q: How about blogging?

A: Not my scene, yaar. It's too much of an open forum. At the moment, it's too time consuming. I'd rather use the time for other activities.