Exclusive: “No more fights,” Katrina Kaif on Vicky Kaushal’s reaction to Tiger 3 action sequences

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Katrina Kaif is one of our most celebrated bonafide superstars today and as most of her colleagues in the film industry say, it’s sheer hard work and dedication. But there’s hardly a speck of starry vibe that you’ll feel when you speak to her. She’s wise yet razor-sharp with her words surrounding her life, loved ones and work. With Tiger 3 shattering box-office records, there’s only more reasons to rejoice in the air and her sprightly nature instantly gets you transfixed at whatever she has to share. In a freewheeling conversation, she opens up about the many things she has learnt about success over the years, the comfort of working with her good friend and close confidant – Salman Khan in a massive franchise like Tiger 3 and whether Vicky Kaushal and she would make a great fit for an epic action movie in the making. Excerpts:

With female leads being talked about more in YRF’s spy universe, is the appreciation for the Tiger franchise more special this time?

The Tiger franchise is so close to me. It has been 11 years or so. It is the love and appreciation of the audience that allows us to make these films. So, every time it is up for release, it is always that kind of nerve-wracking time where you are waiting like it is an exam and you have passed the test. I think people have appreciated the fact that Zoya has been given that respect and equal footing in a big action franchise film and that it is wonderful to see a strong woman presented in this manner and to be given this kind of a character. It is a lovely space to be in.

Not only Zoya in the Tiger Franchise, but Katrina Kaif has also grown with this character. Tell us about your growth and the connection.

I think the mentality of just never giving up and no matter what life may throw at you, no matter what situation you may come across. If you are thinking about failure, then you’re not thinking about the fight. There’s an obstacle. How do I approach it? What do I need to do, being there physically present in that moment, being resilient, not letting something get you down? And even if something does get you down? Getting back up and standing your ground and fighting. I’ve said often to so many people in my life, to myself, to my friends, that life will give you difficulties. But the downs will come, and when they come, you have to fight. That’s the whole kind of underlying emotion in the Tiger films too. Never give up.

Have you always been this wise?

I don’t know if I would call it wisdom. I think it’s just certain things, certain belief systems. That’s what I would call it. Certain belief systems are very much rooted in me. I’m certain of what life is about. I’m certain because I’ve seen these women around me. I’ve seen this in the women I admire the fact that you know you have to get up and fight no matter how you feel, no matter how weak you feel. And that’s when you’ll see success. And that’s when you’ll see things turn.

How do you come back to playing a character like Zoya, despite playing other characters in between?

Vicky was telling a friend of ours that when Tiger comes, he sees a switch. Like I turn into this different person. What happens usually in a film is for the first few days or weeks, you’re kind of figuring it out. But now when I came on to Tiger 3, we knew who Zoya was. We know her mindset, the back story. I think that gives you so much more freedom and confidence. And of course, there’s the physicality to it as well. Like I know it’s an action film. I have to get physically ready. I have to make sure that I am in that physical shape that I can be doing the kind of action that has been envisioned and in Tiger 3, we wanted the action to be even more spectacular, to be bigger, better and faster. I knew that I was going to bring in a different kind of training this time. I’m going to bring in more animal flow, more flexibility, more fluidity and will be working with some of the best action teams. It’s always really exciting.

Tell us about Vicky Kaushal’s first reaction to your high-octane action sequences.

(Laughs) He said, ‘Whatever you say from now on, is right.’ He’s like you’re right. He said no more fights.

Does being one of the fittest actresses make it easier to prepare for such action scenes?

I try to live a healthy lifestyle. That’s just how I feel as a person, but that doesn’t mean that you are ready 365 days of the year for action films. I have a notice period, I know Tiger 3’s coming up in three months. I start getting into that zone. I’ll increase my stamina. I’ll start pushing myself a little harder. The training time was shorter, probably because you have more muscle memory in your body, but it was harder like it was intense. The prep I did for Tiger 3 was intense. It was a lot of mind over matter because you would feel tired. I had to work through my mind rather than just through my body to kind of push myself out there.

Ever imagined Vicky and yourself in a hardcore action film?

Absolutely. I’m like, let’s see. Come on. Bring it on.

Who’s stronger between you both?

See, it’s not about strength. That’s the thing that’s the beauty of action. And that’s the beauty of the different types of discipline. You will have brute strength, but then you’ll also have speed. You’ll have someone who has more power, but then you’ll have agility. It’s all about getting the job done. Vicky is a phenomenal performer and we always discuss work with each other and that’s so wonderful that we can do that. We have interesting and healthy discussions about our work together.

How do you envision success today?

Being successful in life to me is being fulfilled, happy and at peace. A marriage of all the aspects of your life, your work, your stuff and your inner self that’s true. That’s the ultimate success. It’s the love and acceptance you get from the audience and then of course the final validation is the box office because it means that people have gone again and again, perhaps to see the film and that the love they give it means that our vision connected with the audiences.

Tell us your equation with Salman Khan, a friend and co-star of so many years now.

The wonderful thing about Salman and my equation over the years as professionals is that it has evolved. When I started with him, I was a complete newcomer. He had done more than 50 plus films and this was my second film. So that has now evolved over the years, right? As an actor, I found my voice. I found my feet. I found my place and I saw the equation change on set. There was more ease. Now there’s more. We’re more spontaneous in the scenes. There’s more fluidity, there’s more of an exchange, and I think that’s one way in which our dynamic has changed throughout the years. And with Salman, the way he is as a person, he does not come with fixed ideas. You have to be fluid in the scene and he’ll just surprise you and take it somewhere completely different. You have to be prepared for that. So if you come with a fixed notion and you’re not movable, then you’re not going to find that synergy. You have to come with an open mind and you have to kind of feed off each other. I think with him, every day is unexpected. You got to be on your toes when he’s on set. You have to be prepared for the unexpected.

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Tanisha Bhattacharya

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