Kareena-Saif: Love rules

Kareena Kapoor walks into the Deck Bar at Mauritius’s Maritim Hotel wearing a hot pink outfit, her eyes outlined in kohl. Completely unaware...

Kareena Kapoor walks into the Deck Bar at Mauritius’s Maritim Hotel wearing a hot pink outfit, her eyes outlined in kohl. Completely unaware that everyone has turned to look at her, she orders a glass of pink champagne. “The shoot was Shinde,” she says. Shinde is Kareena’s favourite word, and it can mean anything from amazing to terrible, depending on her tone. This time around it means amazing.

The uniqueness of the word Shinde is the best way to describe Kareena too, especially as she does not think she is ‘the most fashionable woman in Bollywood’. “Not the most stylish, though I definitely do consider myself stylish,” she says. “But it’s my own independent style, not typical.” On her time off from the shoot, she has been walking around the Maritim casually dressed in T-shirts and Patiala salwars, as comfortable in Indian clothes as she is in Western.

Kareena enjoys wearing her Indian-ness on her sleeve, and that’s one reason she often wears a sari for red carpet events. “I think Indian clothes are the epitome of class. Being an Indian actress, I try and wear saris, especially to parties and functions. I like to be photographed in saris because I think I represent the Indian youth and I think Indian women look beautiful in them.”

Her partner for well over 18 months, Saif Ali Khan, says Kareena has an air of elegance about her. “It’s rare for an Indian girl to be as minimal as her. She really is not into watches and jewellery. And she never wears clothes that flash their label.”

The couple, who made their first appearance together at Lakmé Fashion Week for Manish Malhotra’s show in late 2007, is one of the most photographed duos in the country, often referred to as Saifeena. “That word makes my blood curdle. I am sure Brad hates the word Brangelina,” says Saif.

Kareena has always been open about her relationships, even appearing with former boyfriend Shahid Kapur on Koffee with Karan. “I think I would like my fans to know me as closely as possible,” says Kareena.

“You are on the cover of a magazine because people want to know the real you. And why hide something, especially a relationship? I think being in love is joyous, it is a celebration, and I’m the kind of girl who likes to celebrate love.” And she is obviously madly in love, holding hands with Saif at every opportunity. Stylist Aki Narula, who has been working closely with Kareena since she first started dating Saif, says, “They are a perfectly matched couple; she looks like a real princess on his arm.”
Of course, both are royalty in their own right. Kareena is a fourth generation Kapoor, the first family of Indian cinema. Saif hails from the Pataudi royal family. Both have diverse roots too. Kareena’s mother Babita is half Christian and half Sindhi and Saif’s mother Sharmila Tagore is a Bengali. And, of course, both these star mothers were style icons in Bollywood.

As a couple, the two are very in sync with each other. “I think I have always had a soft spot for Saif,” says Kareena. “Apart from being good looking he is also such a unique actor.” They both admit to a penchant for the good things in life. During the shoot, Saif keeps busy reading a book on red wine and informs her about the best vintages and wines they should try next; Kareena drinks only red wine (preferably French) and champagne (pink, only).

They hit the gym together and both enjoy travelling and eating out. (Believe or it or not, Kareena eats; pizza and pasta are favourites). Of course, it has to be all vegetarian; the actress gave up meat during her relationship with Shahid, a staunch vegetarian. It’s something she is as committed to now as she was back then. What makes it interesting is that Saif is a total non-vegetarian. “I am in love with a hunter. Life is just full of surprises — it’s something I could never imagine, being in love with a man who enjoys hunting,” she says. Though there is no turning Saif into a vegetarian, the actor says Kareena has brought out the best in him, making him more family-minded, stable and more focussed on his career.

Together, they make a beautiful picture, and are probably Bollywood’s most stylish couple. In the past two years, since Jab We Met, Kareena has evolved into a fashion forward woman and Saif has always been known for his dapper style. He looks good in ripped jeans or a suit (all his suits are made in Savile Row), and reveals that he enjoys wearing good cufflinks.

This story for Harper’s Bazaar India is a first for them, their first magazine fashion shoot together. In fact, the two have not actually even been paired together in a film.

Though they both were in Omkara and Tashan, they were not cast as a couple in either films. That will happen later this year, in a film produced by Karan Johar and directed by Rensil D’Silva. Before that, she has Kambakht Ishq, a multi-starrer that is touted as the film of the year. It stars Akshay Kumar as her leading man, and international stars Carmen Electra, Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards make guest appearances. Her look is once again being worked on by Aki Narula.

Later this year she also has Mr and Mrs Khanna opposite Salman Khan, and Raj Kumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots with Aamir Khan. She also makes a guest appearance in Shah Rukh Khan’s Billu Barber, making it truly a year of Khans for Kareena.