Kareena Kapoor has let down her family big time. It’s learnt that the entire Kapoor clan is cross with the actress for giving her grandfather Raj Kapoor’s event a massive ignore.

According to reliable sources, ‘The Kapoor’s were to inaugurate a function that paid tribute to the legendary Raj Kapoor. While the family was in full attendance, Bebo, who was supposed to attend this event, was conspicuous by her absence and now it is learnt that the Kapoor clan is extremely upset with Bebo for missing this big event.’

Some sources further add that when it comes to being with Saif, Bebo will not miss a single chance and makes sure that she makes time for it. But, this time, when it was her turn to come up in support of her own family, the actress has completely let them down.

With Bebo giving preference to Saif over her own family, looks like she has tipped off the balance in her tight rope walk this time around.

It’s learnt that, the queen bee of B-town, who is very passionate about her recent enterprise, will be tendering a handwritten note written by her with each book, besides lending her voice to the harmonizing audio-book that comes along with it.

A source close to the actress said, “Kareena insisted that she be part of the whole process much more than just coming to launch it. Kareena believes fitness is food for the soul. According to her, healthy body leads to a healthy mind so she’s willing to send a message to all women to keep fit.”

The book encompasses topics related to women, food and everything between teenage years and marriage to pregnancy and menopause. In the audio-book, the actress speaks on the working woman’s problem regarding eating right and on the dot.

Complimenting Kareena, her dietician and the author of the book said, “Kareena has been working round-the-clock on her films and so having her on board for the narration was out of question since I understood her busy schedule but when she casually found out about the audio-book she immediately wanted to narrate her own portion. It will be special to have her handwritten note in each book.”

The former fitness book
Kareena had previously launched the book titled ‘Don’t Lose Your Mind Lose Your Weight’, which was also written by her fitness professional, Rujuta Divekar.

“At the launch of Don’t Lose Your Mind Lose Your Weight, Kareena had spoken about her journey to fitness and what it means to eat right and stay fit,” said a source close to the actress.

If there’s one thing Kareena Kapoor likes to do to her face even when it’s free of makeup, it is to outline her eyes, above and below, in stark, dark black.
She sat across the table with kohl-lined eyes, hair tied back, face fresh.
And she looked pleased at the results of FSJ’s extensively analysed search for the Woman Of The Year.
Kareena won the crown because:
First, the competition. Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan.
Can anyone dispute the fact that the high profile endorser and the only female hero of Golmaal 3 had a far superior score than any of the others on all fronts in 2010?
The only leading lady who ran neck-to-neck with Kareena Kapoor all through 2010 was Aishwarya Rai with four noisy releases while Kareena had only two.
“I want people to enjoy my moment with me and say, she deserved it”
So, why didn’t the title of Woman Of The Year go to Aishwarya?
Because out of her four big releases, three commercial thuds, Raavan, Action Replayy and Guzaarish, gave Aishwarya a lame success score of 25 per cent.
Also, it is more or less accepted that Aishwarya Rai’s only box-office triumph was Robot which was an out-and-out salute to Rajnikant’s star power.
Substitute Aishwarya with an unknown Shreya Saran (who participated in the Chennai star’s last big outing, Shivaji) and it would still have breasted all records as it is Rajni alone who powers the engine.
Kareena, with one dismal failure (We Are Family) and one thumping hit (Golmaal 3), picked up a better average of 50 per cent.
“We’ve never really been in the same kind of zone, Aishwarya is from a different generation. I’m 30 now, she’s practically seven or eight years older than me. She was working in Karisma’s time”
Secondly, even if We Are Family failed, the range displayed by Bebo was impressive in 2010. Plus, unlike Aishwarya who came in for some flak for her performances in Raavan and Action Replayy, Kareena was thumped on the back for being one of the boys in Golmaal 3, in contrast to the giving other woman of We Are Family.

Thirdly, after a deluge of releases that really did nothing to take her further, there have been no formal announcements of any films starring Aishwarya.
It’s almost as if she’s seeking voluntary retirement for the moment. Yes, there are subjects being developed, an interesting, motley bunch of films with Rajiv Menon (costarring SRK), Vishal Bhardwaj and Rituparno Ghosh.
But they are all at the whisper stage with nothing officially concretized.
In contrast, Kareena follows 2010 with an even more impressive 2011 – there are films with all the top-selling Khans, with all five of them.
“The other role (Kajol’s) was just a tear jerker, an easy kind of role. To be the other woman in India and that too, in Hindi cinema is very tough. But I caught the right sur right from the first day itself”
The nearly `120 crore Ra.One (with SRK), Bodyguard (with Salman Khan), Reema Kagti’s untitled film (with Aamir Khan), Agent Vinod (with Saif Ali Khan) and Short Term Shaadi (with Imran Khan). They are all slated for 2011, like a Kareena festival playing in the cinema halls all year round.
And finally, the clinching factor: the price. Kareena in 2010 bagged the highest fee paid to any heroine when she wouldn’t do Golmaal 3 for anything less than `5 crore. She got that coveted fee.
Aishwarya went home with a smaller cheque for even a costly film like Robot while unconfirmed rumours put her Guzaarish fee around the `5 crore figure. All other actresses ranged from `50 lakh to a maximum of `2 crore, way, way, behind Kareena.
“This is my weapon, my talent is my AK 47”
Ms Kapoor also had the maximum endorsements in her kitty – 13 products, all signed at a high of `5 to 7 crore. Other celebrities have signed up to endorse even the best of brands for barely `2 crore.
Did Kareena agree with the objective analysis that placed her as the Woman Of The Year?
This was not a moment for unsuitable modesty. And she obliged.
“I’d be lying if I said ‘no’. And I don’t want to lie,” she grinned. “It’s my moment and I want everybody to be a part of it, be there with me and enjoy it.
I want even my contemporaries to enjoy this moment for me. Their time will come too. If they deserve it, they’ll get it. Even if it doesn’t, I’d say, share in this with me.
I’ve applauded a lot of other people for their work and I have worked really hard to be in this position. I’ve done different kinds of roles to keep proving myself time and again, time and again. Like I said, I don’t want to be modest about it. I want people to enjoy my moment with me and say, she deserved it.
“I’ve never been the underdog which is sad because people applaud the underdog much more than the privileged”
Golmaal was my film and I was projected like a hero. It is my moment and people should be there with me. Success for me has always been all about doing different kinds of roles.”
She was aware of intense competition from Aishwarya Rai who was in the running all year threatening to catch up and outrun her.
“She’s respected highly as a woman also, apart from all her other achievements,” Bebo granted her rival. “But we’ve never really been in the same kind of zone, she’s from a different generation.
I’m 30 now, she’s practically seven or eight years older than me. She was working in Karisma’s time. So it would be unfair to even compare us though I would definitely say that she is a great achiever in her own right.”
“If I’m in a relationship, I’m celebrating love and I want to be open about it”
For Kareena Kapoor, a title like Woman Of The Year is a gratifying acknowledgement of all that she has slogged for; she swot over her career all these years precisely for this kind of recognition.
But did she ever see herself in this slot where she’d be calling the shots?
“I always knew that this was the position I wanted to be in,” she was frank as ever. No bleating, I’m an actor by chance, a familiar sound from most others in the industry.
On the contrary, Kareena emphasised, “This position toh, I was not willing to give up for anything at all. I had so many flops but I kept going, I was never willing to give up. I have a fighter’s personality.”
Fight, she did. It was evident in 2010 when she had to combat Kajol who is considered a benchmark in acting. In We Are Family, Kareena not only stood up to her but also pulled off the other woman role without once slipping into vamp territory.
“I’ve been very ambitious. I don’t talk about it but everyone who knows me knows how very career-oriented I am”
“It was a difficult role,” she reflected and said without diplomacy, “The other role (Kajol’s) was just a tear-jerker, an easy kind of role. To be the other woman in India and that too, in Hindi cinema is very tough. It was difficult but I caught the right sur right from the first day itself.”
And then it didn’t do well. Does failure send you into a depression?
“Now I’m used to it,” she shrugged. “All actors have flops and if you don’t have flops you can’t enjoy a successful phase like this. I am so hardworking, I’ve been working since I was 18. I take a flop in my stride as chalo, when success comes, it will be that much sweeter.”
“Lolo is very guarded till today. She’s guarded even with our parents. Lolo and I are like chalk and cheese”
How does it feel to be Woman Of The Year?
“I think I’d put it down to only my talent,” she said, mulling over it like she was tasting vintage wine. “It’s something I’ve always guarded like a possessive child.
I’ve always said that I’m here only to sell my talent, not my soul. And that’s why today you can call me the Woman Of The Year. In this profession, looking good is of course important but ultimately you have to start acting at some point. Otherwise everything will start crumbling in front of you.
I know that. That’s why right from Refugee to Golmaal 3, I’ve said that this is my weapon, my talent is my AK 47. Isko sambhalo, baki sab ko chhod do. I have gone at it single-mindedly.
“I’d rather be linked with one man at a time than be linked with 101 actors”
I wanted to do good roles and I wanted to prove to the world that whether the film runs or not I can act, I am a good actor.”
Why was it such a challenge?
“I think coming from the Kapoor family is such a pressure,” she pondered aloud. “People expect so much from you. Let’s put it like this.
I’ve never been the underdog which is sad because people applaud the underdog much more than the privileged. Like Ranbir has so much more pressure.
The pressure on him is so much to live up to the Kapoor name and to his parents’ name. So you’ve got to go after it single-mindedly. And I’ve been very ambitious. I don’t talk about it but everyone who knows me knows how very career-oriented I am.”
Do you continue to be so fiercely ambitious even after coming this far?
“No, maybe not so completely career-oriented because I have reached a position where I am very happy. Also because I am happy in my relationship.
“Next year this time I won’t be in the same space. I definitely think of marriage”
That too, keeps me going. And I also have a life. I’ve had a life for the last five-six years. I’ve always been conscious of the fact that I must have a private life of my own. I’ve always been an actress who has balanced both worlds and everyone knows it.
I respect people who don’t talk about their relationships but I’m not a ‘degrading actress’ who says, don’t talk about my link-ups or my relationships. If I’m in a relationship, I’m celebrating love and I want to be open about it. I want him to respect me and if I’m not open about it, he’s not going to respect me.
I want him to give me respect in front of his family, his friends. And if I don’t do that, he’s not going to either. Love is about celebrating, ya.”
Fortunately, Kareena belongs to a time when acknowledging a relationship is not held against an actress.
“In fact it saves you from being linked to 5,000 other actors,” she put it succinctly. “I’d rather be linked with one man at a time than be linked with 101 actors and have to go around town denying all of them. That’s not me.”
But would Kareena have been this open about celebrating her love 10 years ago?
Because her sis Karisma whom she followed, was renowned for being very secretive.
“Lolo is very guarded till today. She’s guarded even with our parents,” she remarked spontaneously. “Lolo and I are like chalk and cheese.
She loves me for what I am and I love her for being so poised, elegant and for being so graceful in whatever she’s done in her career and life.
There is a different kind of grace in me which is something more honest, something more vivacious. I’m more upfront. That’s why my parents say, we have two girls who are completely different. I guess two achievers can’t really be the same when they’re living in the same house.”
“Lolo was so ambitious, so dedicated. A lot of her influences have played a part in my being the Woman Of The Year. I’d give 60 per cent credit to my sister”
One thought you were so close, you’d completely follow in her footsteps. But you haven’t.
“No, we have our own personalities, do different kinds of films. Even if we were to do an interview together, we’d come out as two completely different people for the reader.
“But I’ve also watched and learnt from her. I’ve picked up things from my parents also. Lolo has been a very strong influence in my life.
Like she was so ambitious, so dedicated. A lot of her influences have played a part in my being the Woman Of The Year. I’d give 60 per cent credit to my sister.”
It’s taken Kareena Kapoor 10 years to reach this place at the peak. But she’s been so engrossed in the climb that she hasn’t ever paused to count the years.
Born to act, you always say. But also born to act forever?
“I want to act forever,” she gushed. “I want to do good work and roles that suits me. Marriage is of course a thought.”
Do you really believe that marriage will harm your career?
“I do believe that marriage is taboo in Bollywood, let’s face it ya. We’re talking rubbish when we say it’s not. It is taboo. There are people still working after marriage of course, but it is not the same.

I want to celebrate my love. And when I get married, dhoom dhaam se hogi yaar. I’m not interested in getting married secretly in a small place, I want the full tamasha.
I would want my parents there of course. I would want to get married properly, not have a secret marriage. I don’t think Saifu would want to do that once again. I won’t allow him to do that, I’d be like, no Saifu!”
This Woman Of The Year is also the Globe-trotter Of 2010. From Jan to Dec, Kareena has traversed the earth: London for Ra.One; Goa, Hyderabad for Golmaal; Latvia and Morocco for Agent Vinod; Malaysia and Singapore for commercials; Las Vegas for Short Term Shaadi; Paris for her birthday; Switzerland for Saif’s birthday and Gstaad, Switzerland again to ring in the New Year.
“When I get married, dhoom dhaam se hogi yaar”
“I go to Switzerland twice a year,” she happily shared the info. “I disconnect from everyone, I don’t
take calls, I even change my number for 15 days.”
L’officiel magazine has been trying all year to get Karisma and Kareena together for a cover shoot in London for Louis Vuitton. Kareena couldn’t fit that trip into 2010, it’ll probably happen early 2011. Along with a row of films costarring all the five major Khans of the film industry.
“I’m always going to give my career my best,” she promised.
Right now you wouldn’t give it up for marriage?
“Not right now.”
Next year this time will you be saying the same thing?
“No, I can’t say that because the truth is, I definitely do think of marriage. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that!”
Forthright, as always.

In a recent interview with Mumbai Mirror, Saif said that he’ll marry Bebo whenever she is happy and comfortable doing that since the decision would affect her the most.

I am as committed as I am, married to Kareena or not–Saif
Talking about his relationship with Kareena and their decision to take the final plunge, Saif said, “It is always difficult to discuss marriage in an interview. This is something that she has to decide and whenever she is happy and comfortable, we will marry.

“It doesn’t really make a difference to my career. I am as committed as I am, married to Kareena or not. It has to be the lady’s call and she would be the most affected.”

The love birds, who have been dating from past three years, had recently revealed in ‘Koffee With Karan’ that they might take marital vows in 2012.

Vishal chooses SRK over Saif?
Sometime back, mutiple tabloids had reported that ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ director Siddharth Anand was planning to make a film based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel ’2 States’ with Saif, but then Vishal Bhardwaj and Sajid Nadiadwala took the subject with SRK. So what does he feel about that?

Saif explained, “Siddarth and Sajid Nadiadwala were not able to meet each others terms. Sajid has the rights of the book (by Chetan Bhagat) and he is making the film with who he thinks is the best available cast and director.”

About working with Vishal, Saif said, “There is no point in talking about films that did not work out. As far as Vishal Bhardwaj’s film Dream Sequence is concerned, a few modalities are yet to be worked out.”

Right now, the actor is focusing on his next with Imtiaz Ali and Homi Adjania, ‘Race 2′, and ‘Agent Vinod’.

“I am doing Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan, Homi’s untitled next, Agent Vinod and Race 2. There is politics, likes, dislikes, conditions met and not met,” he said.

It seems “Let bygones be bygones” have become their latest policy as they feel their cold war might create differences in their common friends circle including bigwigs like Shahrukh Khan, Arjun Rampal, Karan Johar, Farhan Akhtar, and many more.

Bebo-Priyanka rekindling their relationship?
Recently, in a conversation with KJo on his chat show, ‘Koffee With Karan’, the duo didn’t mind taking potshots at each other.

Apparently in the show, Kareena asked Priyanka, where did she get her accent from. To which, Priyanka replied in a later episode that she got her accent from the same place from where Kareena’s beau got his.

Interestingly, now the duo has decided not to take potshots at each other and even not respond to media bytes relating to their relationship.

Rejuvenating the facts, situations between Kareena and Bebo turned worse when Piggy chops started dating Bebo’s ex, Shahid kapoor.

Priyanka and Shahid together again?
It’s high time when Sasha and Priyanka should publicly commit their long-time on/off relationship.

And if you still feel something is fishy between them, don’t miss to watch out Shahid and Priyanka on ‘Koffee With Karan’, to be aired tomorrow at 9 p.m. on Star World.

You never know you get to know some unknown gossips about them.

Scuttlebutt has it that recently, after returning from ‘Don 2′ shooting from Berlin, Piggy Chops called up Shahid and decided to give their relation a second chance.

Of late, the duo has been spotted taking bike rides, spa sessions and many more.

Seems like Christmas has a new pack of surprises for all B-town fans!

Despite having a stable personal and professional life there are times when Kareena wants to be left all alone, with not even beau Saif by her side.

And this is the time when Bebo goes on a shopping spree as Saif does not have the time and patience to accompany Bebo on her long shopping trips.

A source stated “Kareena and Saif usually have small skirmishes since Saif finds it really tough to accompany Bebo on her shopping expeditions. Such is the level of incompatibility here that Saif has decided to let Bebo be on her own.”

Source stated further, “Even Kareena prefers the same since she wants to take her own sweet time while shopping, something which Saif can hardly stand.”

Why should language be a barrier in love? Though otherwise a man of few words, Saif Ali Khan speaks French fluently. And now, girlfriend Kareena Kapoor wants to learn the language too.

Going beyond her acting skills for a change, Bebo now intends to hone her linguistic ones. In fact, she apparently developed a taste for foreign cinema, thanks to beau Saif. And now, it’s languages he loves

Bebo used to listen to Saif speak in French very often and like an ardent student, used to try and grasp a few words here and tehre. A source close to Kareena says, “The actress wants to go beyond the few words she knows in French. She wants to learn the language fluently and perhaps converse in French with her boyfriend.”

Apparently, Kareena and Saif often go for vacations to Europe, which happens to be their favourite holiday destination. Saif loves France and everything about it. Saif learnt French years ago and now, Bebo too wants to speak the language.

Another reason for her to pursue the language is that her close friend Karan Johar is also fluent in it.

The source adds, “Even while shooting for Agent Vinod in Morrocco, the entire local crew conversed in Arabic, but the first assistant director spoke in French.

So fascinated was Bebo with the language that she would gape for hours every time Saif and the foreign unit got into an animated conversation.”

That Kareena is infatuated with a language Saif speaks, should tell him a lot more of course. Hope that’s not lost in translation.

he cinematic seed of controversy has already been sown. Even as widespread speculation mounted that Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Heroine’ was but a modern version of Shyam Benegal’s ‘Bhumika’, the late Smita Patil starrer patterned along the lines of the Marathi actress Hansa Wadkar, there is fresh news to mull on.

As per insiders, ‘Heroine’ too is dangerously close in content to Milan Luthria’s ‘Dirty Picture,’ fashioned along the life and times of the late South sex siren Silk Smitha! An aspect that giving the hives and heebe jeebies to Kareena Kapoor!

States a highly placed source, “Madhur’s film is about a top actress going through a very low phase in her career. And so is Milan’s film. While Vidya has agreed to do the role in ‘Dirty Picture’, Kareena is really in two minds over it. Since Kareena is close friends with Ekta Kapoor and Tusshar, she happened to listen to the story of ‘Dirty Picture’ and found it very similar to that of ‘Heroine.’ Hence, she’s likely to opt out of the project.”

“The journey has been colourful. I don’t think any other actress has been able to do such varied roles. Whether it was Refugee, Dev, Chameli, Omkara, Jab We Met, 3 Idiots or Kurbaan, the films had a varied spectrum,” Kareena Kapoor says, as she turns 30 on September 21. The actress, who also completes 10 years in the industry this year, has given us some great DVDs for our shelves.

“I got to do different roles — some were liked and some were not — but I am happy as long as I attempted to do them well,” Kareena continued.

Refugee occupies a special place in her heart, since that was her debut. Also, Kareena as says, “It proved me as an actress.”

The other films that she considers turning points in her career were Jab We Met and Omkara.

The actress tells Patcy N the films she loved doing.

Kareena outshone Kajol in We Are Family: Two Bollywood divas Kareena Kapoor and Kajol were paired opposite each other in “We Are Family” and sources state that Kareena’s role was preferred over Kajol.

Audiences felt Kareena’s charm more than Kajol. Sources state that Kareena has been roped in for Ajay Devgan’s upcoming directorial venture. Ajay Devgan chose Kareena over Kajol.

They were paired together in “Omkara”. The duo will be seen together in Ashtavinayak’s “Golmaal Returns”.

“Golmaal Returns” is all set to hit theatres next year. Ajay wants to recreate the magic of “Omkara” so he opted for Kareena.

Hope this pair once again creates the magic on silver screen.