Minissha Lamba, last seen as the tame Mahi in Bachna Ae Haseeno, has been in the news for her sexy avatar in the forthcoming Kidnap.

About how and why director Sanjay Gadhvi zeroed down on her, he revealed exclusively, "I believe that there is a shortage of good young talent in the industry.

I was looking for a young and effective girl opposite Imran (Khan) in Kidnap as the film centres around her getting kidnapped. I had a number of names in mind but when I put Minissha through a test shoot I knew she was my Sonia."

And what exactly made her clinch it? "I gave her the setting of the shot and she enacted it with the level of meticulousness that one gets to see only with seasoned actors.

I told her immediately after the test shoot that she'd be doing Kidnap but would have to lose a bit of weight. She hit the gym immediately and worked out like a nutcase, as you can see in the promos! She's fabulous in the film!"

Commenting on Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Bachna Ae Haseeno, Sanjay adds, "It's funny because I signed both Imran and Minissha way before these two films. The fact that both these films did it for them only proves how proficient the two are. Kidnap will showcase them in a completely new light."