Kareena fondly shared intimate details of both career highlights and family life (including beau chhote nawab Saif), when she dropped by at DNA on Monday. Has Diwali always been a family affair for you?
Yes, Diwali has always been family for me but this Diwali is not. Because we are in London for the Ra.One premiere which is going to be on the 25th night. I’m travelling to Blackpool on the 26th because there is an unveiling there. They are opening a new Madame Tussauds there and that’s where the exhibition is starting.

Are you going to be missing your family?
My mum’s going to be with me. And Karisma is too busy with herself these days. Like you know, I’m not used to calling up my sister…it’s always like she’s either on the phone or she’s with the kids. She’s always been available to me for the last couple of years. But now when I call her up, her spot boy is like ‘Madam shot mein hai’. And I’m not used to this. It’s always like when she calls me, I’m busy. I called her once and her spot boy was like ‘Main abhi phone karata hun’. I was like it’s been two hours! So I told her ‘Listen I’m not used to this, so you stop doing so many movies’. She said, ‘What do you mean!’ (laughs). She’s looking fab.

Are you a mushy person? (Thinks) I mean not mushy, but I like romance and love; everyone knows that. I mean I live on it. So you like candle light dinners, flowers and chocolates? Yes, I like all that. I like candle light dinners but in the snow, not by the beach! When you and Saif are together, what do you talk about?
We don’t talk about films. Like he’s never asked me ‘which film have you signed’ or ‘who are you working with’ and I have never asked him that either. We talk about music. He reads a lot, so he tells me what he’s reading. We talk about religion and spirituality. Both of us love to travel. We are not backpackers but we have a little bit of England in both of us. He’s studied there and I’ve been brought up by my mum…it’s been a very English upbringing. So yes, we have that in common.

Have you seen his films in the ‘90s when he had long hair?
Oh my God! You know, he sometimes watches those movies. He’ll kill me for saying this, but sometimes in the night at around 2-3 am, he’s flipping channels watching Ek Tha Raja… I am like, ‘Saif, what are you doing?!’ But Saif, I think, is one actor who, as he grows older, he’ll be like George Clooney. I’ve always said this. He’s like red wine. The more you keep it and nurture it, the better it gets.

Where do you shop? London. I’m waiting to go there only to shop. I think retail therapy always helps a woman. Does Saif ever come with you? Not at all. In fact, he tells me, ‘What is this every time you’re buying Jimmy Choos and all!’ And when he has to shop, he’s like a shopaholic. He’s like the male version of Paris Hilton. He is fab! He likes one suit in one colour, before I turn in another direction he’s told the guy, ‘Give me three in the same colour!’ And I’m like ‘How can you buy three suits, and they are like Gucci suits.’ But he knows what he wants. He knows how exactly his trousers have to be tailored. And when he sees someone wearing a suit that’s really bad, he’s like ‘Oh my God’ — he cringes.

Which Khan do you like best — Shah Rukh, Salman or Aamir? We’ll keep Saif out. No don’t. It’ll make it easy for me. I can pick him. I think it’s very difficult and unfair on my part to pick one. They’ve all given me such special films. Aamir is my favourite because he’s such a wonderful actor. I’ve always been a huge Aamir fan since Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. With him I’m like always on guard. With Salman, it’s more like more masti and fun. Like his personality. I think Golmaal 3 and Bodyguard have been the best films I’ve shot. I’ve had most cherished experiences. With Shah Rukh it’s like respect for what he is and what work he’s done. So I think I’m different with all three of them. I’m like a chameleon.

And with Saif? (Laughs) Saifu is the best. That I should be allowed to say. He’s truly unique. He’s very, very, very unlike the three of them. He’s an actor, but the way he’s conducted his career and the choices he’s made have made him so unique. That’s what makes him the man of the world. He’s just so aware of everything around, and that’s what makes him such a strong personality. He has a mind of his own and once he makes his mind up, he’s sure.

What is it you hold dear? I feel God has been very kind. Whatever I have asked for, he’s given me. I think more than what I deserve. Also, I believe everything happens in this life. Like what you sow, you obviously reap. Some things, of course, get carried forward in the next life, but bad karma normally gets balanced out.

What does your statue at Madame Tussauds look like… is it the Chameli look? I can’t tell you what am I going to be wearing or how will it be. I have seen the pictures. I am gonna see it live now on the 27th when I reach there.