–KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN

says Kareena. “But honestly I’m not. I’m waiting for this shoot to get over and put on my Fabindia kaftan. I do this because it’s my job. As for the insecurity of whether I’ll ever get into shape, I can wear a bikini even when I’m like 90 kgs. I’m quite bindaas that way!”

“WE HAVEN’T LET JEH BE PHOTOGRAPHED YET, THOUGH SAIF IS CONSTANTLY TEASING ME, SAYING 'IF THE MOTHER IS POSING FOR THE PAPS, THE KIDS WILL TOO'”

TWO OF A FEATHER

Before we let you go, Kareena, can you talk about your two boys? You’ve said in the book that Taimur and Jehangir are different: Tim was quiet when he was just born, Jeh screamed, Tim looks like Saif, Jeh looks like you…

“Well, it’s true,” Kareena says. “Jeh looks exactly like me and Tim looks like Saif. Tim has more of Saif’s personality and I think Jeh is a wonderful mix because he is actually quite social and comfortable amongst people. At six months, Timu wouldn’t like too many new faces, but Jeh is very comfortable. Tim has more of a feisty nature; he is a typical Saggitarian, so he is creative, he loves colouring and drawing. Let’s see how Jeh develops.”

Then suddenly, Kareena begins thinking aloud. “I want my boys to be thorough gentlemen, I want people to say they are well brought up,” she says. “I don’t want to be a helicopter mother. My own mother was like, ‘do what you want, your mistakes are your mistakes, learn to repair them because that’s the only way it works’. Jeh is small, but Tim is more aware now; so if he does something wrong, I tell him to clear up the mess. That’s the only way they learn.”

LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE?

Finally, we have to ask: Taimur’s paparazzi following is what legends are made of. Will you play things differently with Jeh?

“I think we are already,” says Kareena. “It was all so overwhelming with Taimur. This time, Saif and I sat down and thought that this time we must chill out. They’re just kids at the end of the day! So we haven’t let Jeh be photographed yet, though Saif is constantly teasing me, saying ‘‘if the mother is posing for the paps, the kids will too!’’ I’m trying to keep Jeh as far from the media as I can. Let’s see how long it lasts.”

jamal.shaikh@hindustantimes.com Follow @Jamalshaikh on Twitter and Instagram