In the time since Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan openly declared their love (October 18, 2007, at the Lakme Fashion Week, Mumbai), much has happened in the superstar’s life. Professionally, Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met took her to new heights and won her five Best Actress awards. Personally, her love life made headlines for her off-screen pairing with Saif.

Now, on the sets of a commercial shoot in Mumbai, as she begins reminiscing over the year when she found love, acclaim and a breath-taking personal style, Kareena is informed that mom Babita and niece Samaira will drop by later. “Oh wow! See, I don’t mind working long hours if I get to spend some time with the people I love. Underneath all this make-up, I am just a simple girl,” she says, opening up to a heart-to-heart.

Over a year ago, Saif and you stepped out publicly as a couple. Later that night, did you talk about the repercussions?

I don’t think Saif and I planned our first public appearance together. We just decided to go for Manish’s (Malhotra) show at the Lakme Fashion Week last year. We didn’t think that we needed to hide the fact that we were in a relationship. So, we didn’t think there would be any repercussions.

How did your families react?

Our immediate families were the first set of people who knew that we wanted to be together. My mom and sister just wanted me to be happy and know that Saif is the one I’m happy with.

Did you both have to explain your presence in Saif’s life to his kids?

That’s a question only Saif can answer.

How is your relationship with his children?

I meet Sara and Ibrahim as often as I can. But again I haven’t been in the city long enough this whole year to be able to spend enough time with them. I don’t understand why people think that I am uncomfortable with Saif’s kids. They are Saif’s children and I know how important they are to him. So, they are important to me too. The kids and I get along pretty well.

What is Saif’s relationship like with your family?

I don’t remember the first time Saif came over to meet Karisma and mom. (In any case) It wasn’t a big deal because they’ve all known each other from earlier. Now Karisma and Saif are the best of friends. Mom loves him. He comes over to meet them often. If he’s not in town, he calls them once every two-three days. There are times when I can’t talk to mom as often as he does. Saif is family now.

Do you remember the first time Saif took you to meet his family?

I don’t remember the specifics. But yes, until a year ago, I knew his family only socially. As soon as we got together, Saif took me over to his parents’ house in Delhi for dinner. I get along really well with his family. I’m very fond of both Saba and Soha (Saif’s sisters). I chat with them very often. Saba is a very warm girl, while Soha is very chilled out. They are both very grounded. I talk to his mom regularly. I love the fact that they love me for who I am and what I do. My parents also know his parents socially.

His parents liked you instantly?

What is there not to like? And why shouldn’t they?

What is the toughest challenge you both have faced?

It has to be the fact that we never get to see each other. The success of Jab We Met resulted in a flood of offers, and my relationship with Saif happened around the same time. I have been shooting for Kambakht Ishq in L.A. and Italy, and then I was in Ladakh for 3 Idiots. Through this time, Saif has been in London and then Punjab for his home production.

You’ve become quite the jet-setting couple...

Yeah, but that’s only because we want to spend time with each other. This relationship is very important. We meet in strange places or small towns across the world. The strangest place we’ve ever met was in Kargil on September 29 which was my birthday. Both of us drove seven hours each — I was in Ladakh, while he came in from Delhi via Srinagar. It was very romantic.

He knows some exquisite locations where we take off for short breaks. Recently we took off to a small village in southern Italy thinking that we will not be recognised. But a lot of my films like Asoka, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Jab We Met have been dubbed in different languages, so there were people coming up to me in restaurants or on the streets asking if I was from Bollywood.

Does Karisma advise marriage for you and Saif?

Yes, she does but she wants me to work for the next three or four years. She has told Saif to wait for me. Saif has told me that we’ll get married the day I’m ready.

What do you think of marriage as an institution? There haven’t been too many perfect marriages around you...

You can’t generalise what marriage would be like. It depends on the couple. Very often, people get married without having found the ‘right’ person. And those marriages break up.

What do you expect out of marriage?

I want to get married and have children. I would do anything to keep a relationship going. For me, time is a very precious commodity and I’m always there for Saif. And that says a lot. It’s very easy to talk about fidelity, loyalty and swimming the seven seas but considering the lives we lead, I think the most important thing in a relationship is the amount of time you can spend with each other.

What makes you think Saif is the one for you?

It’s the way he makes me feel. He understands me. It didn’t take me too long to realise that he’s the one for me.

Do you both ever discuss past relationships?

Not really. I respect the fact that Saif was married before and has two lovely children. I have been a fan of Amrita Singh. I haven’t met her ever but I know her through her films. For me, she’ll always have a place of importance in his life because she is Saif Ali Khan’s first wife and the mother of his children.

And, I’ve told Saif this. I would want her to have that kind of respect always. This is what my parents have taught me. At the end of the day, it was just a marriage that didn’t work out. I have always encouraged Saif to be friends with her because I think that would be great. I guess they will just need time but that’s something that they would need to deal with. I will always respect her. As far as any other relationship of Saif’s is concerned, I don’t think they really mattered.

Do Saif and you talk about marriage?

Of course, we do talk about the future. If I was to imagine what it would be like 30 or 40 years from now, I see Saif and me on a yacht, sailing across the world.

You let go of your deep friendship with Abhishek Bachchan after his engagement (to Karisma) was called off. Would you say your relations are cordial now?

We are cordial with each other when we meet socially. When we see each other we talk. He’s very warm and so am I because I’m fond of him.

So would you invite the Bachchans for your wedding, whenever it might be?

Well, I wasn’t invited (for Abhishek and Aishwarya’s), so there’s your answer.

Speaking of weddings, would you like to see Ranbir and Deepika get married?

I have never met them as a couple. I’ve only seen their pictures in the papers. I don’t have enough time for my relationship so I don’t think about others’ relationships.

What about Shahid and Sania? They are said to be in a relationship...

I don’t know Sania so I can’t say anything.