An Exclusive Interview With Rani Mukherjee

She is the girl next door, with innocent looks and a cute face. with lots of hits and many more to come, she is soaring to the skies.

What's your role in 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge'?
It is about characters who are very real, who audiences can easily identify with. In life you come across two kinds of women…some who are extroverts and others who are introverts. I play the role of the latter, a girl who is composed and reserved. She doesn't really exhibit her feelings explicitly, but prefers to express it in subtle ways through her eyes and expressions.

So how different is this from your role in any love-story?
In my other films I've played this bubbly, vivacious and bindaas woman. Here I'm this pretty, soft and sober girl who is very close to her family and strongly believes in Indian values and culture.

Your last movie as a lead actress before 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge' was 'Nayak'. Why was there a gap of over eight months between two releases? Are you being very choosy about your roles?
Yes, I've been particular about the projects that I'm signing up and I've consciously cut down on the quantity of films. I want to concentrate on quality work. My fans keep telling me to do that and I'm just listening to them. Looks like this year my fan club will be really happy with me.

'Ghulam' was the last big hit that you can boast of. 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' had Preity in the lead with you, and of course the multi-starrer 'K3G' you just had a special appearance. So are these 'multi-starrers movies' by choice or by chance?
Maybe because I myself am a star, filmmakers want another star in the multi-starrers. Or they think I'm talented enough and I suit the role.

How was it working with Kareena?
She's one of the most lovely human beings I've ever met and it's great to work with someone like her. On the sets of 'MDK' Hrithik, Bebo and I hit it off like a house on fire. Just like the name suggests, 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge' we all became buddies on the sets and had a ball of a time.

You've worked with Kajol in 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and now you're working with her hubby Ajay Devgan. Do you think it is easier working with family?
I think it is easier working with friends. It is good to work with people who are comfortable with you and who you are comfortable with. The fact is that we spend so much time with the cast and crew of a film that it's important to share a good rapport with them. I've worked with superstars like Aamir and Shah Rukh and the best thing about big stars is that they make you feel so comfortable. And because they are super-stars they are so amicable, helpful and have no hang-ups. Today, if I work with a newcomer I would want to be as approachable and make the ambiance easy for that person to work. It is always good to work with senior stars.

Aren't you getting impatient with the uncertainty that's hounding 'Chori-Chori'?
It is indeed very unfortunate that the producer of 'Chori-Chori' expired. So there are certain hitches regarding the release of the film. It's basically that the producer had problems with some of his previous films, and these have been offloaded on to 'Chori-Chori'. I've been keenly looking forward to the release of this film. It's a lovely film where I've attempted comedy and many who have seen the movie have been quite impressed by it. I really pray and hope this film sees the light of the day. There's also 'Saathiyan' with Vivek Oberoi opposite me and this one again is a real movie with believable characters.

Have you deliberately refrained from doing any movies with Chi Chi to shun all rumours?
Recently there have been no projects with Chi-Chi that have interested me enough. If there's a script that excites me I will definitely go ahead with it. There's another movie with Chi-Chi that's yet to be released called 'Chalo Ishq Ladaye', but unfortunately the producer of this one also expired.

There were some rumours doing the rounds that you're soon planning to tie the knot and settle down?
Marriage!! It's not on the cards for at least four years now. After that let's wait and see what happens.