By Subhash K Jha

Trust the lovely Hema Malini to call a spade a spade. While everyone has already commented on the shockingly abbreviated size of her role on Ravi Chopra's Baabul, the lovely outspoken lady has so far kept her peace.

"That's because I hadn't seen the film.Finally I saw the first-half in Kuala Lampur at GIFA and the second-half in Delhi on Tuesday. Franlkly I am shocked. Where am I in the film? I just seem to be hanging around while Amitji, Salman and Rani look like a whole family."

Wasn't she aware that the drama centred on the characters played by Mr Bachchan and Rani? "I was aware. But surely I could've been part of the main drama. Instead I look like an outsider! After Baghban the audiences wanted to see more of me and Amitji together.

Everyone thought we made a terrific couple. Now everyone is disappointed. What was the need to sign me ? My role could've been played by anyone else."

Worse still is the fact that the Dream Girl has been captured in a very unflattering close-ups. "In fact I've been very badly photographed. Why? I don't have a clue. I don't think I've ever looked so bad. In fact I called up Renu (Mrs Ravi Chopra) and put in my complaint."

But all said and done Hema Malini is more than willing to work with Ravi Chopra again. "They're a wonderful unit, very profession and easy to get along with. I had a wonderful time shooting both Baghban and Baabul."

She has been offered another film, a remake of the Clint Eastwood-Meryl Streep drama The Bridges Of Madison County. "But I am willing to do only if my role is well-defined. At this stage of my career I don't want to be a prop."

In Delhi attending Rajya Sabha, Hemaji has just finished putting together an idea for a project which would star daughter Esha Deol in an exotic and agile avatar. "It's an ambitious project. But I think I'm allowed to be ambitious, aren't?"