Minissha Lamba’s last film, Joker may have gone unnoticed at the box-office but the actress is certainly not complaining. Things are looking up for the pretty girl as she awaits the release of the action-packed film, Zila Ghaziabad. In a tête-à-tête with StarWeek, Minissha talks about her role in the film, on-screen chemistry with Arshad Warsi and more.

Minissha Lamba made an impressive debut with Shoojit Sircar’s Yahaan in the year 2005. Eight years later, the actress has quite a few interesting films to her credit. Her next film, Zila Ghaziabad is all set for release and will see her playing a village belle. “My character, Anjali is a village girl brought up in Ghaziabad. Though she has lived in a village, she is extremely independent. She is also sexually aware of herself and does not think of it as a negative trait. So it’s a very different kind of role and I thoroughly enjoyed playing this character.”

Based on a true story in Ghaziabad, the film is an out-and-out action flick. So what is it that attracted Minissha to the film? “Well, I liked the whole concept of the film. The characters have a very Indian touch to them. I personally enjoy enacting roles, which give you an opportunity to do that.” The film sees Minissha paired opposite Arshad Warsi. Considering the actress has shared screen space with him earlier in Anthony Kaun Hai?, she must enjoy a good rapport with him, right? “It was great working with him and like you said, we have worked together earlier as well and are good friends too. So we shared a comfort level from day one. He is a supportive co-star. He really helped me while rehearsing and performing the scenes,” she gushes.

The film boasts of quite a few intimate scenes between the two. Did she feel a sense of discomfort while enacting them? “An intimate scene is just like any other shot. As an actor, you have to submit to the film and the character you are playing. And I did just that. The lovemaking scenes in the film are a central part of depicting the relationship between the two characters in the film who are together. And ensuring that it looks right is a big challenge. So there were no apprehensions while doing the lovemaking scenes in Zila Ghaziabad because the purpose was to make a beautiful scene out of it,” maintains the actress.

The actress has never really shied away from intimate scenes. So does she mind the bold tag? “People will tag you depending on the kind of films you do. Today it will be something while tomorrow it will be something else. You cannot focus on the tag or other things being said about you. It’s best to just do your work rather than pay heed to such things,” she states.

Considering the film belongs to the action genre, what scope does she, as an actress, have in such a film? She replies, “I would agree that this is a male-dominated film. The story is about dispute and the conflict that happens between the men in the film. But then the women too get dragged in the bargain. It’s not possible for women to have a minor role at any point when men are at war with each other. They too face the collateral damage.”

Since the film is based in the rural setup of Ghaziabad, was she required to learn the native language of the place? She says, “I definitely had to be aware of the Ghaziabadi language. It is very important to know the flavour of the region that the film is based on. It has to look natural without it looking overdone or emphasized.”

Besides being an action fare, this film stars superstar Sanjay Dutt and Vivek Oberoi in integral roles, which definitely is a boon for the film. What according to her is the USP of the film apart from these actors? “The USP of Zila Ghaziabad is the script, story, the star cast particularly Baba (Sanjay Dutt) who is playing an exceptional role, a true-life character,” she concludes.

By SHABDITA SHRIVASTAV

Courtesy: STARWEEK