Once you`ve decided to wear greasepaint, Bollywood dreams are hard to resist, no matter what your stance against mainstream cinema is. After mouthing platitudes against the inane "potboilers churned out with alarming regularity" by filmmakers in Mumbai, Nandita Das has finally fallen for the bait, but strictly on her own terms.

The dusky Delhi-based actress has just signed a film Bas Yun Hi (Just for the heck of it) opposite Channel V`s VJ turned actor Purab Kohli. The film has the usual ingredients of a masala film and is about the urban youth`s confused state.What surprised many in the industry is this determined, articulate and no-nonsense girl`s sudden decision to accept films which one thought would go against her grain. But the actress is quick to defend herself, "I never ever said that I won`t do commercial cinema. Reena (Aparna Sen) and Shabana have been constantly telling me to do at least one such major film so that it`s easier selling my other (read offbeat) films," comes a well thought out explanation from her.

Further prodding revealed that she is playing an aspiring actress along with a bunch of young men on the verge of taking off – while somebody wants to be a filmmaker, another one wants to be a professional singer.So you want to be `realistic` even in a hardcore money-making venture, Nandita. Do make sure your penchant for realism doesn`t make you stick out like a sore thumb. Remember Aks?