/> How did your likeness for Rohit Narang blossom into love?
Rohit and I were in touch over the phone and text messages for more than two years now.

We've bumped into each other at social gatherings and I quite liked him as a person as he seemed to have a positive frame of mind and an honest approach in what he does.

I started going around with him from the longest day of the year in 2008, June 21. And as I got to know him, I discovered that he is a very generous soul and a helpful person. Whatever I liked gradually blossomed into love. So it's been a romantic journey since ten months now.

Post your new found love life, have you also found a new Eesha Koppikhar who'll be looking at films differently?
Yes, I found a new love life and a whole new Eesha Koppikhar but after Shabri, Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi and a couple of more films like these, with or without Rohit, I made up my mind that I am going to be more selective with the kind of scripts I'll be taking on.

I want to do films which portray some kind of a message now, rather than just be running around trees. I want to be a part of serious cinema. I'm not saying parallel or cross over films but some serious, substantial roles which label you as an actor more than just a good looker.

So you're saying that in your acting career, you've only had couple of films worth signing?
Not really. But the fact is that people still remember me for my Kya Kool Hain Hum performance. Having said that, I've never really been that happy with my roles in terms of performances as it's a male dominated industry where female actresses don't have much to do anyway.

Nevertheless, if something really nice comes my way which may not be that performance oriented, I may take it on.

Now you've got a helping hand at home, Timmy Narang aka Rohit Narang for your decision making.
Of course. Timmy is a businessman and he is very analytical about what one should do. So he definitely throws in his inputs on how I need to handle my career. If it makes sense to me, I listen to him. If not, I don't (laughs).

What about your long awaited and anticipated Ram Gopal Varma film?
Oh God, yeah. Shabri it is. I play a gangster in the film. Actually a slum dweller, a woman who is spoilt and sandwiched between the Mafia and the cops.

It is interesting to know that whatever films I've done for Ram Gopal Varma so far are all special appearances. A role like Shabri is given to you once in a life time. The role was so demanding for me that I had to be hospitalized after the film was over. You can imagine the amount of stress I got under to play a role of a slum dweller.

If the role isn't done well, it can just fall flat on your face. I still don't know how the audiences are going to receive it but everybody I meet talks about when Shabri is going to release. Well, only RGV has the answer to that I guess.

Do you thank Lalit Marathe for watching RGV's D.
Yes, you can say that. Lalit who is still waiting for his directorial debut Shabri to be released saw me in D.

He liked the scene from the film where I am washing the utensils just before Chunky Pandey gets killed. That's when he decided to cast me for Shabri of course it was also Ramu who had his say.

In fact, even after the death scene of Chunky, I got a call from Javed saab and Shabana ji saying that they hadn't seen an actress cry like that in any film. I was really ecstatic that evening after the comment.

But you were not Ram Gopal Varma's first choice for Shabri.
I still remember the day when Ramu called me to his office where he showed me a promo of Shabri which was cut with Antra Mali in it. But for some reason, things didn't work out with Antra and the director. Ramu too wasn't keen.

But we all know how Ramu is. He was in two minds before he finalized me for the title role. But once he saw the rushes, Ramu was convinced.

He said, "I can't believe it. I thought you would be the one who'd stick out as a sore thumb". Even now when I look at my Don pictures and put them next to my Shabri pictures, I can't believe it.

We also hear about the Kali Mata's blessings in disguise which got you your dream role Shabri.
Yup. This incident took place just hours before I got my role as Shabri. I often visit the Sitladevi temple. Just next to Sitladevi is my kuldevi Shantadurga and bang opposite her is Kali Mata's temple.

I paid my respects to Kali Maa. There is a saying in the temple that only a crying baby gets milk. So I asked. Asked for a rocking film to come my way. Then suddenly a flower fell right in front of me and I took it with me as her blessings.

The same day I got a call from Ram Gopal Varma to come to his office. The rest is history.

What are the other things you've realized about yourself besides being an actor?
Apart from Eesha Koppikhar the actor, there are a lot of other things I want to do in my life. I love fitness and food. Timmy is an hotelier and I want to do something there as well. I don't want to work all my life doing just movies.

So I am tapping different sides of my talent. Meanwhile, because of the current meltdown, I am also doing other activities. Like, I am appearing for my black belt in Tae Kwon Do. As for films, I am in and out of narrations, listening for new scripts, etc.

My idea is not to do just anything to be busy and to keep my diary full. I want to do something like Shabri and Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi. The fate of the film does not matter to me.

Aren't you fed up of the 'Khallas' song? I mean, you're still known in the media and your fans as the 'Khallas Girl'.
(Laughs) Khallas was a benchmark song for me. That's the song I was and I am still recognized by.

That was a monster of a song. People had not seen a song like that. I mean, there is so much of me than just that song. Love it or hate it but you can't ignore 'Khallas'. Again, thanks to Ram Gopal Varma.

Any of your films which Rohit has seen and has liked?
He liked Kya Kool Hain Hum, he cried seeing Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi and loved Shabri. Me, Lalit and Rohit saw Shabri together. Rohit also said, "I don't know how this film will fare but you have done your best ever work in Shabri". I then told him, "You look like this YRF film hero. You're tall, smart and suited all the time".