At a five-star hotel in Mumbai on Thursday evening, Kareena Kapoor Khan asked the room for something specific. A good opening weekend, as a birthday present. Daayra hits theatres on September 18, three days before she turns a year older, and she made sure everyone at the song launch did the math with her.

"I can't wait for September 18, the day Daayra releases. I want the audience to give me a birthday present as my birthday is on September 21," she said, according to Bollywood Hungama.

The event, for Meghna Gulzar's film starring Kareena opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran, ran late. Nobody seemed to mind once Kareena got going. Her character Ajooni, she said, barely lets her face move. Which, if you have watched Kareena Kapoor Khan work a red carpet or a promo tour, is not exactly her comfort zone.

"My character Ajooni is very restrained. As you guys know, I am very expressive," she said. "Trailer launch pe maine sau expressions diye. Mujhe film mein mauka nahin mila. Isliye maine trailer launch pe kar diya!"

She kept the bit going, describing the anxiety of holding still on set. Her legs would be shaking, she said, waiting for the moment when "woh Bebo wala expression" would finally get its cue. Meghna would shut it down every time.

That discipline, Kareena said, came from working with a director unlike any she has had in 26 years. She called Meghna a "taskmaster," someone loving and kind who still runs a tight set. Tight enough that Kareena found herself showing up half an hour early just to avoid upsetting her. "After 26 years, to have that makes me feel like a newcomer," she said. "It keeps us going as actors."

The evening had a quieter turn too. Kareena spoke about her mother-in-law Sharmila Tagore's history of working with Gulzar, and framed her own film with Meghna as closing that loop. "Woh career hi kya hai agar uss career mein ek Gulzar saab ka gaana na ho," she said, calling it a full-circle moment. Gulzar, visibly moved, thanked her from the stage.

The song launched at the event, Sach Ka Daayra, carries writing from Gulzar and music from Amit Trivedi and B Praak. Meghna Gulzar and Kareena were joined on stage by Prithviraj Sukumaran for the unveiling.

Daayra opens September 18. Whether the box office hands Kareena the present she asked for, three days before she turns a year older, is now down to the first weekend.