The relatively new Bollywood goddess Katrina Kaif was 24 on the 16th July. It’s often said that sixteen is the best age for a girl but twenty-four is the best age for a single woman and Katrina is the living proof, with her looks, charm, poise and personality the envy and admiration of all.

She recently adorned the cover of FHM magazine where she was described as the sexiest woman alive! “I don’t consider myself sexy,” she says modestly. “My friends laugh and say, ‘Sorry, but we don’t find you sexy.”

At first, she struggled in Bollywood when she arrived from the UK five years ago – her Indo-Brit Hindi accent was mocked by the press but she has doggedly lifted herself to the top of her profession with hits like Namastey London, Apne, Partner and Welcome. Most of all, she hit the A-list with her performance in this year’s Race and will soon be seen in Singh is Kinng, this summer’s predicted smash, and Yuvraaj, where she will star opposite her boyfriend Salman Khan. Modestly, she attributes her success to her fans, "I don't think it's a matter of where you place yourself. It's a matter of how your fans feel about you and where the industry finds you,” she says, “At this particular place I think I am lucky to be able to say that I do get offers for a lot of films,"

What’s next for Kats? “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Ranbir Kapoor and a Yash Chopra film with John Abraham. Ranbir is in my circle of friends. I know him, so it’s cool to work with him,” replies Kats.

Katrina is one of eight sisters in the Kaif family. Her father is from Jammu and Kashmir but her mother is British. Is she happy with her career so far? "I am pretty clear about what I want to do. I don't want to go down the road doing serious cinema. I am happy doing commercial films. The fun films give the audience time to escape the monotony in everyday life," she explains.

Salman threw an expensive birthday bash for her on Wednesday at trendy Mumbai restaurant Olive. The guests included SRK, Aamir, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone – as well as Katrina’s mother and sister who had flown in from London. The previous evening had seen a quieter dinner party at their home where Sohail Khan, Atul Agnihotri and designer Rocky S were also present and which Aamir attended a little after midnight.

During the Olive party, Salman played Mujhe Shaadi Karogi (Will you marry me)? He apparently went down on one knee and proposed to Katrina. “She didn't know how to react to Salman's gesture,” said one source present at the party.

Well, here’s my advice, Katrina – don’t do it! Of course, you could marry Salman with his millions, his hit TV show, his booming film career, his six-pack and his effortless charm – or (and think carefully about this), you could marry me instead with my puppy-like devotion to you, my cuddly personality and physique and my very reliable five-year-old Tata Indica motor car. I hereby rest my case and counter Salman’s proposal!