Lara Dutta awaits her first Yash Raj venture Jhoom Barabar Jhoom which releases next month. In an interview at her residence, she talks to TWF correspondent Vickey Lalwani about the film, her crazy fans, friendship with Bobby-Tanya and marriage plans. Blame it on load shedding, there is no power supply when we reach- but Dutta is still high voltage! Read on.

Excited about Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (JBJ)?
Certainly. And I remember how it came to me. I was in Bangalore and I got a call from Shaad Ali's (director) office. Big films tend to come to me when I am not in town. Andaz fell into my lap in exactly the same way. Those who loved the madness of Bunty aur Babli will definitely enjoy JBJ.

What's your role in JBJ?
Adi (Aditya Chopra) was clear that that I look different from all my films so far. Aki Narula designed my look. I play a Pakistani French girl. So I had to speak Hindi with a French accent. That's difficult and it took a lot of trial and error.

How was it working with Amitabh Bachchan in JBJ?
I didn't get much chance to work him in Ek Ajnabee and on foreign locales in JBJ either, but when we returned, we did a 21-day schedule in Yash Raj Studios. He looks like a Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean in JBJ. He is unarguably the most professional and dedicated actor on the sets. He puts you into perspective where you stand and what a long way you have to go.

There was a problem in London gurdwara (Sri Gurusingh Sabha Gurdwara in Southhall) when you and Abhishek were shooting?
The problem was on the grounds of gurdwara and not inside it. Some people from the foreign crew were smoking and an objection was raised.

That foreign crew even had scantily clad women, which aggravated the objection?
No. The objection was only against smoking- and rightly so..

Your JBJ co-star Bobby Deol, his wife Tanya, Kelly Dorje (Lara's boyfriend) and you have been thick friends hanging out together. Buzz is, you'll have fallen apart?
Nothing like that. Those were the days when I was doing Dosti with Bobby. Bobby and I have always shared great camaraderie. There is no friction between us.

It's a normal thing in the industy that when you shoot for a film together, you hang out with your co-actors more. When you go to another film, your focus shifts but friendship does not.

We heard, a man wouldn't allow your flight to take off from Muscat recently?
Gosh! How did you know this? Don't even remind me of that. It was scary to begin with. They called out my name to come out from the aircraft just when the doors were about to close for the take off. They said that a man was obstructing the aircraft and he wanted to talk to me.

Actually, he was a crew member of some airlines and hence had access right up to the tarmac. Top of all, he was staying in the same hotel as I was. So I guess he knew my departure plans.

You came out and spoke to him?
I had to. They put the stairs back, but thankfully, didn't allow him to come up. So, I was speaking from the top and he was standing below.

What did he tell you?
He said that he wanted to marry me.

Oh, the 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi' types. What did you reply?
(laughs) Obviously no.

Have you kept in touch with Robert Redford after sharing the stage with him in Barcelona at the 3rd GSM Mobile Conference?
Redford is a very charming guy. I did email once to his office. I guess, they are busy now with Sundance.

What's next after JBJ?
David Dhawan's Partner. I play a gutsy girl who locks horns with people but ironically is subjected to being a damsel in distress. It's nice to be paired opposite Salman and work with him for the first time. He is a wonderful human being. Shooting for Partner has been fun. And hey, how can I forget that Govinda kept calling me as Pride of the nation and Beauty of Punjab!

But you too have this habit of nicknaming your co-actors- like you call John as 'Sidey', Have you nicknamed Govinda and Salman?
(Laughs). I do that, but with only my contemporaries and those who are of my age. I can get away with all that, then. I wouldn't dare call Govinda or Salman by any nickname.

How satisfied are you in your career? You feel you could have done more films?
I am not satisfied at all. I'll never be satisfied. But yes, I am much more contented and secure. Today, I know the kind of work I want to do and the people I want to work with. I have realised that I am a good comic actress.

Both, Bhagam Bhag and Partner, taught me a lot in the comic genre. And, I am getting to read scripts which have roles like Sridevi and Juhi Chawla did. And that's great; there aren't too many actresses who can carry off that genre.

Marriage?
Ne... (makes a face).

You almost said 'Never'. Right?
Yeah (laughs), but I stopped. I thought what if I change my mind later (laughs).