Sreya Basu, TWF, Bollywood Trade News Network

Bollywood during her breezy visit to Kolkata for the promotion of her film

Q-How did you make it to the Bhatt camp?

A- Till the shooting for JANNAT started I did not have the remotest idea that I will take up acting. I was into part time modeling and wanted to become a journalist. But never

thought I will land up being a heroine in a Hindi flick. Kunal Deshmukh, director of JANNAT, saw me at a restaurant in Mumbai. He came to me and asked for my contact

number. In a week I was on the floors shooting.

Q- Have you ever taken a formal acting course or felt the need of it?

A- I don't have a formal training in acting. But now that I have made up my mind to become an actor, I feel that a formal training is very much required. I will soon join an

acting school.

Q- Tell us about your character in JANNAT?

A- My character Zoya is not a typical 20th century girl. She knows her limitations and knows how to react in different situations. Unlike a typical girlfriend, she refuses gifts

from her boyfriend Arjun (Emraan Hashmi) and prefers shopping with her earnings.

Q- Are you comfortable acting with Emraan Hashmi? Please don't give a politically correct answer.

A- Emraan is a delight to work with. I know what the media wants to know- it's about my two kissing scenes in the film. Yes there are kissing scenes and I didn't feel

uncomfortable with those. I was a bit uncomfortable about wearing a bikini in the movie and when I told my director Kunal Deshmukh and producer Mukesh Bhatt about it,

they said I need not wear it. I will never do any thing that I am not comfortable doing.

Q- You share your birthday with the release date of JANNAT (May 17).

A- I feel blessed. This is the best birthday gift that I can ever have. I turned 21 this year and I take this as the happy beginning of my career.

Q- Were you nervous before the release of the film?

A- I almost had a nervous breakdown in anticipation of the fate of JANNAT. I was not worried about the box office results but audience reaction, if the audience will accept

me or not. But seeing the response of the film after the first show I am relieved. People have liked the film, and thankfully me as well.

Q- The role of Zoya was first offered to Esha Deol. What's your take on that?

A- I thank her from the bottom of my heart that she refused the film. Or else my life would never have this 360-degree turn.

Q- We heard that in the climax of JANNAT the hand of the heroine shown is not yours. Is it true?

A- Yes. There was a change in the climax. But as I was shooting for a Telegu film I could not give dates to the film. The hand shown is of Kangana Ranaut's. It was really

nice of her to come at such a short notice and literally "lend me a helping hand".

Q- Your forthcoming films?

A- I have two untitled films with the Bhatts and one film with Kumar Mangat.