From playing a glamorous airhostess in "Garam Masala" to a dusky Kathiawadi street girl in Madhur Bhandarkar's "The Signal", Neetu Chandra has undergone quite a radical transition.

Neetu plays an important role in "The Signal", and says it is an honour to work with a director like Bhandarkar at the very onset of her career.

"Madhur was looking for someone like Smita Patil along with the innocence of Manisha Koirala. I felt I fitted the bill perfectly and immediately requested him to meet me. It is a great opportunity for someone like me to work with Madhur, the winner of two National Awards.

"I feel really blessed and lucky, having got a chance to work with him at such an initial stage of my career. He is like an angel in my life. As a newcomer it was difficult for me to get through 'The Signal'," she said.

Neetu, who hails from Patna and has no film connection, has a strong martial arts background.

"I am open to all kinds of roles whether it is as alluring and glamorous as Sweety in 'Garam Masala' or the de-glam look in 'The Signal'. Being an actor I have no issues about these things. I just want to be versatile and give my best shot at acting."

The title of the film was changed from "Signal" to "Traffic Signal" and is finally "The Signal" now.

"The film looks into the lives of people at traffic signals. It is about how they earn money to make a living. I play a Kathiawadi girl who sells mirror-work and embroidery on the footpath. I come to Mumbai to earn money and join my younger cousin already residing there."

To prepare for the role Neetu actually sat on the footpath near Santa Cruz police station. "I sat for nearly five hours for 10 days to understand the body language of those people but fortunately no one recognised me."

Is she also on signing spree like other actors?

"Well, lots of good offers have poured in after I signed Madhur's film though I can't reveal much as of now. Acting is my passion and I am very confident about it. I am here to do good work and am looking forward to it."