Katrina and Ranbir in a still from Ajab PRem Ki Gazab Kahani.
Katrina Kaif started her career with out-and-out comedies, before making a gradual shift to big budget action films, but the actress said that she does not bind herself to any specific genre.
Katrina, known to star in hit comedy films like
Partner,
Singh is Kinng and
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, shifted to action movies, including
Ek Tha Tiger,
Dhoom: 3 and
Bang Bang!, later in her career. (Also Read:
'Underwent Intense Physical Training for Dhoom: 3,' Says Katrina)
"I don't have any pressure. I think people make a mistake when they start feeling pressurised to follow a genre. Maybe they feel, 'I have to do a comedy film because it's going to make money at the box office,' or, 'I have to do a serious film as now I need to get a lot of critical acclaim'. Both of those being the driving factors will compel you to make the wrong decision," Katrina told PTI.
The 32-year-old actress will be next seen with Saif Ali Khan in action-thriller
Phantom, directed by Kabir Khan of
Bajrangi Bhaijaan fame. (Also Read:
'Had Asked Kabir If it Was Safe to Make Phantom,' Says Katrina)
For Katrina, doing different kind of genres is a sign of an actor's evolution, one which they should feel free to do.
"Every actor has a natural evolution. You start out as an actor, you are still learning, trying to find your feet. So you do the films which excite you, present to you at the time. As you prove yourself, directors get more confident and then you get drawn to slightly off-beat roles. A movie like
Welcome falls in the genre where you need to not be taking the situation seriously while
Phantom is a genre where you need to be taking it seriously. Every actor should have the freedom to feel free to be in whichever genre they want to be in," said Katrina. (Also Read:
Saif Says Phantom Co-Star Katrina Kaif Very Passionate About Work)
She has mostly starred opposite established stars like Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. But the actress said that she has always tried to strike a balance between working with stars and newcomers.
"Films of all the huge stars like Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir or Akshay dominate attention. I did
Namastey London and followed it up with
New York where Neil (Nitin Mukesh) was (then) a newcomer. It had John (Abraham) who hadn't established himself with a lot of work then. We were all in the new boat," she said.
"I did
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani at a time when it was Ranbir's second film. He was a complete newcomer. If I did
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (opposite Hrithik Roshan), then I also did
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan where Imran (Khan), at that point of time, had relatively done lesser films. It is just that the star-mounted films tend to remain at the forefront of our memory," she added.
While her contemporaries are taking on off-beat films, the actress, who had shed her glamorous look for Prakash Jha's 2010 hit
Raajneeti, said that she is open to do different roles provided she is content with the film.
"As long as, both the film and the story are credible and it interests me, I have no reservation about the kind of films I am part of, in terms of genre or the story. But it has to interest me. I need to be drawn towards it," she said.