It's been a long time since Isha Kopikar hit big time with her item number, 'Khallas'. Those who have been waiting for her another hot performnace, look no further, Qayamat is here. With Neha Dhupia also stripping down to a killer bikini in Harry Baweja's 'Qayamat', Kopikar refuses to admit that the former Miss India-Universe has stolen her thunder. "'Kaante' and 'Company' may have been a huge success, but I hate people thinking of me as an 'item girl'. My role in 'Qayamat', though small, is an important part of my evolution as an actress. My one song in the film is certainly not an item number by any stretch of imagination", purrs Kopikar who was spotted by none other than ace photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha in 1995.

The 5' 7.5" beauty is in fact prepared to take Neha head on in the glamour stakes. "Those who have seen the rushes tell me I look sexier than Neha in the film. I am sure like my earlier song-and-dance routines, the 'Qayamat' number is poised to be a hit too. Unlike Neha I have the advantage of playing a slightly negative character and should be able to have a far greater impact on audiences than her", she exults. While Kopikar has no qualms about acting in a film that was reportedly turned down by Gracy Singh for being too steamy, she knows her histrionic abilities alone will not see 'Qayamat' through. "The glamour industry is all about making compromises and no actress can hope to survive without casting off inhibitions to some degree. The limits however are for her, and her alone, to decide.", says Isha.

Interestingly, she loses no opportunity to take a dig at her more illustrious co-star. "Even while sticking to the letter and spirit of my own definition of decency, I still manage to look more glamorous than Neha in 'Qayamat'", she quips. Her oomph-atic success means that Kopikar is today flooded with offers from tinsletown and she cannot help gloating over the fact."