Q: Women generally have a tough time with comedy. What about you?

Men are more boisterous and can express themselves more vocally. Women with a sense of humour are really appreciated by men. And I get to be quite funny in the movie. I like to show my mad side to my friends. Now the audience will get to see it. I was quite wacky in Milan Luthria’s Chori Chori. Babli goes many steps ahead. It’s a full-on masala film. It has it all. Shaad has paid a tribute to the cinema of the 70s. It has situations in the plot where the audience would want to dance in the aisles.

Q: Both you and Abhishek get to do a series of masquerades.

Yeah, it was damn funny. Seeing each other in different get-ups was an experience. The one that had me in splits was when Abhishek was a sadhu. As for the one that I was best in, you’ll have to ask Abhishek.

Q: Post-Black is B&B a honourable follow-up?

See, Black is something that will always remain special to me. I can’t expect every film to have a character like Michelle. For me it’s important to have a different character to play in every film. And I give my 100 per cent to all my characters, regardless of whether it’s light or serious.

However, if people will feel I’m not on a par with Black in Babli then I can’t help it. Every film and character has its own rhythms. It’s my job to make every character convincing. Even in my next release, Paheli, I’m a completely different person. I play this surreal, dusky Rajasthani beauty.

I’m looking forward to Paheli because it’s my second home production with Shah Rukh Khan after Chalte Chalte. My character, Lachi, in Paheli is nothing like Babli. Just as Michelle in Black was different from both.

Q: People say you and Abhishek are the Jaya and Amitabh of the new millennium?

Really? I hope we can deliver even one-fourth of what Uncle and Aunty did in Abhimaan and Mili. Abhishek and I haven’t done that many films together. Unfortunately, I don’t have too many scenes with Amit Uncle in Babli. But Abhishek and I had a ball. We share a great on-screen chemistry. He’s always a pleasure to work with. We’re very fond of each other. I’ll always wish him all the best. I’ve watched his growth as an actor. And I feel very proud of where he has come. We’re very similar in our working style. Then we had Shaad to direct us in Bunty Aur Babli. It was a great team. We made the film with the purpose of entertaining audiences.

Q: I think Shaad is in love with you.

Ha-ha. It’s very important for every director to be in love with his actress. That’s the only way he can get the best work out of her. We have shared the rapport right from the time when Shaad worked for Mani Ratnam. Shaad mediated for me to do Mani’s Dil Se and Kannatil Muttumital. From that time Shaad used to say whenever he directed a film I’d be in it. I used to tease him all the time about it. We worked together in Saathiya and now Bunty Aur Babli, which are completely different experiences. We jell very well. Because we meet socially, he knows me well. He knows exactly which buttons to push in my histrionic armoury. He surprises me about myself all the time. That’s quite a special ability.

Q: Do you think this is the most rewarding time of your career?

I’m scared. To sustain this momentum is tough. I work hard and leave the rest to luck. I make sure I work only with the people I’m comfortable with, directors who can tap new facets of my talent. After working with someone like Sanjay Leela Bhansali I’m completely spoilt as an actress. Last year another dream came true when I worked with Yash Uncle in Veer-Zaara. I gave a hit with Kunal Kohli in Hum Tum. Mani Sir’s Yuva was critically acclaimed. So it was a great year for me. This year started with Black. Now I’ve Bunty Aur Babli, Paheli and Mangal Pandey. I hope my streak of success lasts until I get married.

Q: Do you have much to do in Mangal Pandey?

Not as much as my other films. But it’s my first period film. And I’ve done my best. Right now I’m holding my breath for Bunty Aur Babli. Everyone there is my friend. I hope it works for Aditya Chopra, Shaad, Abhishek, Amit Uncle?and for me, of course. I’m not that selfless, you know.