Ashima Bhalla, the look-alike of Shilpa Shetty, has no regrets that her Bollywood career didn't do well. She is in fact, happy about whatever came her way in her career.

After working with the superstars of the south, she now makes her debut on the tube in a prime time show 'Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni' on Star Plus which replaces 'KBC3'.

Q: You were busy with films down south, probably happy too. What made you take up television?
A: I did get a few offers from television before too but they lacked appeal. But when I got this offer, I felt this will be a different kind of an attempt and particularly my role was very nice and that made me say yes.

Q: People know very little about you... tell us about your journey?
A: I am from an army background and my dad is still serving the country. Like most of the stories you have heard, I came from a small town Chandigarh five years ago with my mom, totally new and unknown to this industry.

I got my self enrolled for an acting course in the Kishore Namit Kapoor Academy and after that a dance course. But the task was not easy, as was my dream. I didn't knew anybody here but somehow got a break in Pyaar Zindagi Hai (2001) and after that a couple of other flicks. Immediately after that I started getting calls from the south.

Q: Does your role in the show relate to your real life?
A: Yes, very much. My character is Sudha, a small-town girl, who arrives in Mumbai aspiring to be a singer, just like I came here to be an actor. Like Sudha who is very close to her mother I too love my parents very much.

Q: To work in a daily soap you have to give at least 20 days!
A: Its not 20, but 30 days. I think for the first two three months, I won't be able to give any dates to South film makers. I am just waiting for this show to come on air and after that will decide my next move.

Q: Will you miss doing South films?
A: No regrets as such. I have done films with many big stars and have played different roles. That gave me much satisfaction as an actor.

Q: You didn't get good response from Bollywood producers initially and that made you take refuge down south. What went wrong here?
A: As I told you before I came here without any Godfather and at that time I didn't have a secretary either. Here all what matters is right approach and to be at right place at right time; whereas I was totally ignorant. Though I was getting offers here but I was not satisfied. There were a few ones which required a lot of skin show and that is a strict no no for me.

Q: How was your experience in Bollywood, any friends you made here?
A: It can be called a mix of positive and negative. Positive because being totally new I managed to sustain and worked in a couple of movies. I am still in touch with a few friends which I made during my stint in Bollywood. I am still looking forward to working in Hindi films.

Q: People said you even tried to use the item song trick to get popular in Bollywood?
A: I did an item song in a film called Hathyaar with Sanjay Dutt in the lead role. (Laughs) But I haven't done any scenes with him; he just sat and watched me while I was dancing. I felt very nice.

I agree with the fact that this song was not of much help to me as promotion for the movie was very poor, only for a week. But still I have no regrets.

Q: How did Fox television find you in the south?
A: A couple of coordinators had my number through which people from Fox got in touch with me and sent me a brief of the lead character. When I agreed they called me for a screen test, after which I was finalized.

Q: Is the money in television more than what you used to get in southern movies?
A: See, for me the kind of work matters. My show 'Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni' is on the prime time and is replacing KBC. Now, isn't that great?

Though the money I am getting here initially is less than in South films but I expect to get a raise when the show hits the screen and we get a good response, which I am confident of.

Q: Acting in south films or acting in TV, what is moreeasy?
A: Its really very difficult and hectic working for TV. Here we have to shoot 8-9 scenes per day as we have to deliver them daily, there is no space to breathe.

However, in the south, we worked in a very cool and relaxing atmosphere. (Laughs) There were only 2 or 3 scenes per day and sometimes we also postponed it for the next day.

Q: Are you planning to start your journey in Bollywood again?
A: I haven't dismissed my journey. I still get offers and am still looking forward for some good work to happen. - Amit Narnoli (SAMPURN)