When we heard Saif Ali Khan’s flight had landed at 5.15pm in Dubai, we were sure the interview fixed for 6pm would be pushed back. But our contact person at the Ramee Royal Hotel – where Saif made an appearance at the nightclub – insisted the star would be on schedule. And he was.

Dressed in a simple black T and bandana – this time wrapped around his wrist as a style statement – he finished his conversation with Kareena over the phone, and proceeded to bowl us over with his looks, maturity and super intelligent takes on love and Bollywood. Extracts from a fun one-on-one interview…

Kareena said in an interview that she keeps asking you to marry her…

Since marriage is the culmination of any relationship, people are always rushing us into it. We definitely didn’t get into a relationship without thinking of the future. But apart from just signing on a piece of paper and having children, I don’t think we are missing out on marriage at the moment. So neither is Kareena after me, nor am I after her to get married.

Is it because it will be hard for Kareena to do the balancing act?

She is the kind of woman who can give 100 per cent to her career and 100 per cent to her home. Not many actresses have dedication like her. Her level of dedication can only be equated to that of Aamir and Shah Rukh. I want her to fly and soar to the zenith of success. I am not as big a star as she is. I don’t even know if I will ever reach that level.

A relationship is not about controlling a person. It’s about being there for each other and not being insecure. What will we talk about at the end of the day if we are not working?

Do you ever feel that too much is being said and written with regards to your relationship?

Yes, I do feel that. When we started dating there was too much speculation about our relationship, so at the time it was fine to talk about our commitment to each other. Now it’s time for our work to do the talking.

Right now your colleagues (Aamir and SRK) are bashing each other in the media. Why have you never indulged in such a public display of aggression?

I think we get enough attention anyway, there is no point looking for more with quotable quotes. I would prefer to be boring than make an interview sensational at other people’s expense.

When shall we see you doing a Langda Tyagi again?

I don’t think I will be able to do another role like that [in Omkara] because it’s very taxing to play an evil person. I would prefer something like Race, where my character has shades of grey. Even Ek Hasina Thi is fine. Right now I am looking forward to Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aj Kal with Deepika.

How do you feel when you read that you were angry with Kareena for kissing Sly Stallone on screen?

I feel sad. We are professionals and we have to do every kind of scene. If there is no trust, there is no point in having a relationship. That way I should be more worried about Akshay, since he is the hero, than Stallone. Right?

Dubai drama!

“Last time we were here, Kareena and I went shopping and we were followed around by 1,000 people. I get more attention with Kareena around, but we are used to it by now. We happily continued shopping.”

Saif’s Dubai plans

“People have this perception that Dubai is only about snazzy buildings. But there are such beautiful locales here. While shooting for Race I was bowled over by the desert and Jebel Hafeet was amazing. We plan to shoot here for Agent Vinod directed by Shriram Raghavan, which is an espionage-terrorism film.”

Saif on… bickering
“I would prefer to be boring than make an interview sensational at other people’s expense.”

Saif on… Kareena
“I want Kareena to fly.”

Bollywood beauties Preity Zinta, Juhi Chawla and Shilpa Shetty are trying their luck in the business of cricket through the Indian Premier League (IPL), but Kareena Kapoor says she has no such plan as she doesn’t have a business sense.

Asked if she planned to enter IPL like other actresses, Kareena said: “I have no idea about business. I only know how to act. As for business, I will think about it five years later.”

Kareena, who was last seen with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in a song in “Billu”, is busy working for forthcoming films like “Kambakth Ishq”, “Main Aur Mrs. Khanna”, “Three Idiots” and an untitled Renzil D’Silva project.

While Preity co-owns IPL team Kings XI Punjab, Juhi is part owner of Shah Rukh’s Kolkata Knight Riders and Shilpa Shetty joined the cricket bandwagon this year with beau Raj Kundra by buying a stake in Rajasthan Royals.