Lara Dutta Is On A High. After The Success Of Partner She's partnering Govinda in Ravi Chopra's New Film. Lara shares her joy with Subhash K Jha.

After being Salman's co-star in Partner, you're paired with Govinda in Ravi Chopra's film?
That's what I'm shooting for right now. I feel I'm stuck in a twilight zone between Jhoom Baraabar and Partner because I've got Rajpal Yadav, Govinda, etc as my co-stars in Raviji's film....

I play Marisa Tomei's Oscar-winning role from My Cousin Vinny which they're adapting. It's a great challenge to match comic timing with Govinda. I think it's a huge compliment to my abilities when they come to me with roles alongside stalwarts like Boman, Paresh, Govinda,etc.

How do you react to stories, like the one about you being linked with a married man like Bobby Deol?
Of course it affected me. But two days earlier I was being accused of going out with my other co-star in the same film (Abhishek Bachchan) while his fiancée was with him. How much will I protest?

After writing about my link ups they've moved on others for now, and that's a relief. I realize the media persons are only doing their job. I'm not here to judge anybody. But with the job comes a certain amount of responsibility. That, I see is on the decline.

Your career is on the upswing. The latest rumour doing the rounds is that you've been offered a role in Karan Johar's production featuring Abhishek Bachchan?
Not true. This offer never came to me. But Inshan Allah, I'm making the right career moves. I've taken the necessary steps. I realize people will perceive you the way your perceive yourself. I guess a sense of maturity has crept into my attitude to work..

Like avoiding walk-on parts for the sake of friends?
Yeah....you suddenly realize there are no friends out here. Everyone is here to do his or her work.

Devdas will be your first film with Pritish Nandy Communications?
There were talks for others films...Do you know, Mr Nandy was one of the judges when I won the Miss India crown.

Oh, and did he ask you the crucial question that clinched the crown for you?
No, Waheeda Rehmanji did. I think that's a sign. Though I'm perceived more as Zeenat Aman from the outside I am more Waheedaji from inside. But I'm not complaining. I'm very happy to be where I am.