Karisma's face lights up as she reminisces about her latest comedy with oneof her favourite directors. Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge is a typical David Dhawanentertainer, said Karisma in Udaipur, where she was shooting forjournalist-turned-director Khalid Mohammed's Fizaa. About her rapport withDhawan, who featured her in his 1999 blockbuster, Biwi No. 1, and the highlysuccessful Haseena Maan Jayegi, Karisma said, "The bond between David and meis very strong. We've both grown during the films we've done together rightfrom Raja Babu."

Referring to the rumours that she had decided not to do any more films withher one-time favourite co-star, Govinda, Karisma reverted back, "I think anon-issue has been blown out of all proportion. I felt we shouldn't give theaudience an overdose of our pair just because they liked watching us. Ididn't want the audience to be fed up of the Govinda-Karisma pair. I haveseen this happening with a lot of successful star pairs in the past. "

A month after Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Karisma will be back in another DavidDhawan comedy, Chal Mere Bhai, with Salman Khan as her co-star again. Cleverand thoroughly professional, Karisma is a completely self-made heroine.Though she had the mighty Raj Kapoor production house behind her, she madeher debut in a south Indian film, Prem Qaidi, which however proved to be amild box office hit. Today, when she looks back, Karisma feels the low-keylaunch was for the best. "I have gained so much experience over the yearsand had a chance to learn from my mistakes," she quipped.

Critics agree that the two films that changed Karisma's career wereDharmesh Darshan's Raja Hindustani and Yash Chopra's Dil To Pagal Hai.Karisma, however, is not ready to give the full credit to director DharmeshDarshan for bringing out of her the performance in the film, Raja Hindustani.She argues that she had the talent to give that performance. But for Dil ToPagal Hai, Karisma holds the experience very close to her heart. "When Iheard the story, I knew the character of Nisha was me. I had to do the film.Today if I am offered Dil To Pagal Hai all over again, I'll grab itreadily," she said.

Even as she continues to further her image as a glamorous heroine, Karismais all set to add substance to her repertoire with two serious dramaticroles, in Shyam Benegal's Zubeida and Fizaa. "I feel I'm being offered thebest roles and opportunities with films like Zubeida and Fizaa. I neverdreamt that one day I'd do a movie with Shyam Benegal. I've been trulyfortunate," she said.

Karisma's sister, Kareena, is also about to make her debut in J P Dutta'sRefugee. Does Karisma advise her sister on how to go about her career?"Actually, she gives me advice. She takes her own career decisions and Ithink that's only fair. I think she should do what she thinks is right,"replied Karisma.

--IANS