I am lucky to be a part of Chameli

Why did you agree to do Chameli?
My role of course! This is for the first time that I'm playing a prostitute. Mind you she is not the typical kothewali or tawaif that we usually see in Hindi films. She also not this sophisticated sex worker like the one people saw in Pretty Woman.
She is a common street walker who happens to meet a stranger one stormy night. Actresses usually get to play this kind of a role after being in the film industry for over a decade. But I'm getting to do it right now-barely having been in it for three years. I'm lucky I guess!

Didn't you turn down the film when producer Rangita approached you initially?
Yes! That time I wasn't sure whether I wanted to do this kind of a role or not. I wasn't sure about the idea of playing a prostitute. I didn't know how my family and friends would react to it. But when producer Rangita Nandy approached me again after a year I immediately said yes because my perception about things by then had changed. I was open to doing challenging roles.
Also the audience today has become more open to films with different subjects. For instance Koi Mil Gaya that had a mentally challenged hero and an alien was the biggest hit of 2003. What more proof could one want? I'm happy for Hrithik! I realized that I had too branch as an actress. I had to roles that would be bold and different if I wanted to be taken seriously as an actress.

Was it difficult identifying with your character in Chameli?
Yes! It was while shooting for this film that I realized that prostitutes are humans too. Like all other professions this was a profession too. I realized that prostitutes don't need our sympathy. Of course her world was very different from mine but what made the role special was the story was within the parameters of reality and does not have any typical scenes often witnessed in Hindi films-love, songs and hero rescuing the heroine from the brothel. Chameli has just two songs that's it!

Did you enjoy working with Rahul Bose|?
Oh he is a fabulous actor! Also a wonderful human being! I know the casting is a bit unusual but then it that what makes the film special. Rahul has done films that have been off-beat… not the run-of-the-mill-kind and here I was a typical commercial heroine. It was an absolutely unique combination.

What are your future projects?
At the moment I'm busy with Dharmesh Darshan's Bewaffa-The Unfaithful that has Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen as my costars. I'm looking forward to shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani. I'm glad that I'm finally working with a best director that our country has. I'm lucky that he thought I was worthy enough to enact the role of Mastani the dancer.
I enjoy dancing too. I hope full justice to the role. I have just completed Mani Ratnam's Yuva. I'm also doing Ken Ghosh's film Shahid Kapoor. There's also Govind Nilhani's Dev. I also have a thriller with Abbas Mustan that has Vivek Oberoi as my costar.

How was it working with directors like Mani Ratnam and Dharmesh Darshan?
It was Great working with Mani Ratnam! It was an experience I will always cherish. Vivek Oberoi is my costar in the film.

For Yuva I have opted in for a new look?
You know Bewaffa-The Unfaithful have the people notice me as an actress. In this film I'm playing a mother-I have two children in the film-who gets into a relationship outside marriage. The story is very bold and the role was very challenging that's why I did it. Dharmesh Darshan has been one of the best directors to work with.