Ritesh Sharma, TWF, Bollywood Trade News Network

She was missing from the scene for a while now. But here she comes with a bang, loaded with plump projects and roles that will make her contemporaries envy her. Lara Dutta is all geared up with Priyadarshan's BILLU BARBER and a spate of other releases that will see her in the theatres almost throughout the year. The former Miss Universe speaks to our correspondent on BILLU BARBER, acting alongside Shah Rukh Khan, her career and forthcoming films

It's quite some time we have seen a big release from you except for a special appearance in OM SHANTI OM and RAB NE BANA DI JODI.

Yes...it's quite some time if you leave aside these two films and the voiceover I did in JUMBO (smiles) but this absence was the reason why I will be seen more this year. The last two big releases were PARTNER and JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM and after that I was almost out of India throughout the last year. I was busy shooting for BLUE, which were all real location shooting and for that I needed to travel a lot.

Now it's BILLU BARBER and it's a big film. Are you excited?

Who wouldn't have been excited!!! It's not only BILLU BARBER or acting alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan Khan. It's also Red Chillies Entertainment. Actually every actor waits for a chance to work with Red Chillies and wait to get a call from them one day.

Did the same thing happen to you?

Yes, I got a call from them but at the same I also had in my mind that the script has to be good. And finally, when they came it was a great script. I would say the script is everything in BILLU BARBER. They were skeptical if I would be able to play the role of a mother of two ... there are already actresses who have played such roles with ease. But I was bang on to lap it up.

Okay. Okay. You play a villager in this film, which is something completely different from your real life image.

What matters is a good story...hmmm. It's a very cute story that has come my way at this point of my career. Here the story is more important than anything else. (Smiles) And I just wanted to be part of this film. I wouldn't have mind even if I had only a couple of scenes or even if I was playing the mother of 10 children. And above all I knew I was working alongside two of the best actors- Shah Rukh and Irrfan.

And the film is directed by Priyadarshan.

True. So wasn't it obvious to work in a film, which has got everything...from a good story to good actors and a brilliant director?

So how was it playing the role of a rural woman? You have played that once earlier in MUMBAI SE AAYA MERA DOST.

This time it was tougher. In the first place Priyan sir is very accurate, perfect and particular about things. So there wasn't any room for any mistake. And I knew that from the very beginning because I have worked with him earlier. He is a delight to work with. Secondly, this role is completely deglamourized. In MUMBAI SE AAYA MERA DOST, there was still a bit of glamour but this time, the role was more rustic and I had to look a lot more deglamourized with almost no make up.

And what about Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan?

I don't think there's anything that remains to be said about Shah Rukh. He is full of energy ... and Irrfan seldom makes any mistakes.

So you enjoyed playing a rural woman?

(Laughs). I think I am more comfortable playing deglamourized roles, now. I am really enjoying doing this.

You next film, BLUE, however, sees you in a glamourised role?

I love playing deglamourized roles but at the same time that doesn't mean I will play the same kind of roles. I don't want to be typecast...that was never my plan and that's why I take time to choose a role and do fewer films. BLUE is a wonderful film complete with action and has an element of thrill.

Did you have to do all those stunts?

It's mainly the boys who do it but I too had to do my bit.

So, where do we see you next?

There are two more films that release this year. The first is Ravi Chopra's BANDA YEH BINDAAS with Chi Chi (Govinda), Tabu and Boman Irani. It's a hilarious film. And you know how much I had to work on this role because all the three, Chi Chi, Boman and Tabu are fabulous actors. I share a great chemistry with Govinda and we complement each other. So in a way it was fabulous working with him again. And then there is David Dhawan's DO KNOT DISTURB again with Govinda and Ritesh Deshmukh. So there's a lot happening.

In fact, you have also launched your website recently.

Yes, it has been finally launched and is called mylaradutta.com. It's for my fans who want to know about me and it will be only me who will be replying and interacting with them. There are a lot of things that come out... but this will answer only the true things, as it's only me. (Smiles)

So a lot happening indeed. All the best.

Thank you.