Shilpa Shetty has reason to smile. After Dhadkan proved that she isn`t merely a bimbette, she has done it again. She has taken extra pains to emote before the camera in Hathyar. Just the fact that she has graduated to going beyond the physical appearance of her characters, which was hitherto an impossible thing to expect from her, is no minor feat.

Critics have appreciated her efforts at dubbing with a lot of feeling in the emotional scenes. So is she trying to go the Karisma and Raveena way by jumping over to the other side of the fence? "Not completely," she assures you. "I have interesting roles in Rishtey and Junoon and am looking at roles with substance."

But when India`s answer to Brad Pitt, Bobby Deol calls her India`s answer to Shakira, wouldn`t she be flattered? You bet she is. The end result: She has signed many more inconsequential films in big banner productions, where all she is expected to show off is her great bod. Sorry, Shetty, some actors are better off in the rut that they deiberately get into!