The action, the thrill, the suspense — it’s been like one of those James Bond movies. But here we are, married and happy,” says Kareena Kapoor during a visit to Chandigarh on Monday. Dressed in black tights, an apple green shirt and jacket, Mrs Saif Ali Khan flashed her pearly whites and dazzling diamonds, and declared that marriage really didn’t make much of a difference to her relationship with fellow film actor Saif Ali Khan.

“I have been with Saif for five-and-a-half years, and we are perhaps one of the first stars of the industry to have a live-in relationship and be open about it. So, it was no big deal for us,” says Kapoor. According to her, living-in is in sync with a contemporary lifestyle. “I have tried and tested it and personally endorse the live-in relationship formula in India. We gave it the stamp of marriage for our friends, family and fans,” she says, adding that Saif agrees with her on this issue. “He was very happy with the marriage, because we won’t have to answer the where, when, how and why questions trailing us everywhere,” she says with a laugh.

Was the stamp of approval necessary? “I guess, I could’ve married at 36, too, but I chose to tie the knot at 32, for I felt it was time to cement the relationship,” she answers.

It is a common fear in the Mumbai film industry that, unlike men, women actors find themselves out of favour with filmmakers after marriage. “I don’t agree,” says Kapoor. “My value as an actor is based on how I handle my work. I am a born actor, I come from a family of actors and performers, and it is in my blood. Marriage doesn’t change that because I keep my personal life different. Both Saif and I are here to work, and, as long as I look great, keep fit and work, I stay,” she says.

Kapoor has reason to be confident — she has Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha with Ajay Devgn coming up, where she will play a journalist. “Now, I won’t be asking questions on marriage and children (in her avatar as a scribe),” she says.

There is also a film with her “favourite actor”, Imran Khan, “because Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu with him was special”. What is worth the wait is Talaash with Aamir Khan. And here, the bubbly actor clams up. “I play a very integral character in the film,” is all she says. Is this the Aamir Khan effect?

About her perfectionist co-star of Talaash, she says, “Aamir has a different strategy — of not over-publicising the film for it loses its importance. I feel films are being publicised too much these days and it makes actors come across like monkeys, shouting, screaming and dancing at malls,” she says, “One decides whether the movie is worth it after one promo. For instance, people are waiting for Dabangg 2 because Salman Khan is a brand and Dabangg was a success.”