/> A break in the signal of Madhur Bhaandarkar's Traffic Signal has his leading lady Neetu Chandra scurrying to another medium to sharpen her acting skills.

"I've joined a Hindi theatre group named Idea to make the best from the break. The director Mozaib Khan has been doing theatre for more than twenty-five years.

He'll direct twenty-three plays for the Munshi Premchand Festival to be held from 31st July to 4 August at Ravindra Bhavan (behind Siddhi- Vinayak temple). I'm in four of these Premchand plays."

Neetu has been involved with this theatre group for nearly two months ago. "We've staged reality plays on AIDS, drugs and the recent Mumbai blasts. Now we're all into these Premchand plays...I always wanted to act in theatre. I used to read a lot of plays.

But this is my first chance to go on stage. I think I'm making good use of the break in the Traffic Signal schedule. I'm not taking on any other film until Traffic Signal releases.

I'm totally into a regimented life that includes Yoga in the morning and theatre rehearsal in the evening. God has given me one body, one life and one opportunity to make something of my life."

Neetu is exceptionally excited about her role in Traffic Signal. "I play a Kathiawadi vendor who sells embroidery and mirror work on the street. I actually sat on the footpath for twelve days in front of Santa Cruz police station and made friends with these street –smart women.

I blended with them and asked them to teach me their craft. There're advantages to being an unknown face. I could blend with them without being recognized."

In Traffic Signal she has a romantic angle with Kunal Khemu. Neetu is cautious in her response. "He's involved with many other films. For me Traffic Signal is the only assignment on hand. We shared a good professional rapport.

I was too busy trying to follow instructions from my director Madhur Bhandarkar to pay attention to anyone else. In most of the film Kunal tries to bully me because that's what he plays."

All her hopes are pinned on Traffic Signal. "After Garam Masala I could've vanished. God has given me one more chance. Not bad for a girl from Bihar who had no Bollywood connections. Fortunately people here have been helpful.

But I wonder what would've happened to me if Madhurji hadn't discovered me. Sometimes I'd wake up in the night in a panic thinking my career had come to a deadend even before it started. My mother's hand would always be there to calm me down. She's my only friend."