Manisha Koirala has been travelling a bit and has decided to turn student. But fans need not worry -- she will very much be in touch with cinema. Manisha, who is of Nepalese origin, is going half way across the globe to the US to learn direction and also has plans to act and produce in Bollywood.

The actress almost disappeared from the Bollywood scene for a few months. "I needed time off to think about my life and career," says Manisha. Excerpts:

Q: You've gone underground!
A: Not at all! I'm very much on the ground. I've just been travelling. I love travelling. Earlier I was very reclusive. But now I like to reach out to people. I know there're rumours that I'm migrating to the US. Not true.

It's true that I'm getting myself a place to stay in New York. But that's because I'm doing a two-month course in direction at the New York University. It's an annual summer course. I got the idea from Kamal Haasan who's always a student of cinema in spite of knowing so much.

I want to know more about cinema than just acting. I know a bit about that (laughs). I also want to learn cinematography and then maybe study non-cinema subjects like political science. It's great to be a student.

Q: What about your acting career?
A: I'll be starting a couple of acting projects before I leave for New York. The one that I'm really kicked about is a script by Makarand Deshpande. It's an art house film, but what's wrong with that? Aparna Sen has offered me a Hindi film, though not "Gulel", but a film that will probably star Vivek Oberoi.

She had offered me a role in "Gulel", which wasn't really substantial. There's also the bio-pic on Indira Gandhi. It's being revived.

Q: What preparations are you making?
A: It's a big film (on Indira Gandhi). The producers say it'll start in September-October. I want to be mentally and physically ready. The director N. Chandra is working hard on the project.

The other project I'm excited about is a Nepalese film called "Nepal Amma", meaning "Mother Nepal". It'll be a faithful remake of "Mother India". It'll probably be dubbed into Hindi later on. I wanted to do a Nepalese film for a long time. But nothing worthwhile came up.

Q: Are you looking at a political career in Nepal (being the granddaughter of late Nepalese prime minister B.P. Koirala)?
A: Not at all! I keep getting asked this question whenever I'm in Nepal. It won't be difficult for me to win elections in my home country. But I need to be sure that I'm ready for it. Maybe after playing the greatest female politician in India (Indira Gandhi)!

Q: The acting career seems to have stagnated?
A: In our country they don't make films for actresses who are above 30. We make films for women who are in their 20s, or give the impression of being 10 years younger than they actually are. I now want to work with directors I really feel enthused about.

Recently, Gautam Ghose narrated a script that I really liked. All my favourite filmmakers, like Sanjay Bhansali and Mani Ratnam, have moved on to the next generation of actresses like Rani Mukherjee and Kareena Kapoor. That's understandable since they need to get the younger generation into the theatres.

Q: So, a hiatus?
A: I haven't shot for four months. But it was deliberate. I needed time off to think about my life and career.

I kept some scripts on hold. That was interpreted as uncertainty on my part. And those filmmakers decided to sign other actresses. But I don't regret it. Acting cannot be the complete reason for my existence. I need to spread my wings, tap other talents within me. Hence I started producing films last year.

Q: So what production plans?
A: The next one will be my brother Siddharth's debut film. It's a project called "Raja Dil Ka Ghulam" that I'm co-producing with Sahara. Makrand Despande is directing it.

After that, I'll make a film probably with me in the cast. I've met Sudhir Mishra who's a dear friend. We've had discussions. That could be my third production. But I'm not too sure whether I want to act in films that I produce. I can only concentrate on one of these two jobs.

Q: Is the brother's launch a family obligation?
A: Not really. I definitely feel he's going to make it big. I've seen his growth as a human being. He has the dedication to work hard. He has waited long. And I'm glad. Earlier when he made a bid to be launched as a hero he looked too childish. I'm very proud and protective of him. I must admit right now Siddharth is the most important man in my life.

Q: Were you disappointed by your first production "Paisa Wasool"?
A: It went over-budget. Money was spent and it didn't show on screen because people had made bad deals on my behalf. I've learnt the hard way. Now I know exactly where and how to avoid the loopholes as a producer. I'll only sign people on paper. No verbal deals for me.

I never realised things could go so wrong until they did. I don't blame my director Vaz because he too was a fresher. His career was at stake. We were friends. I thought we could've worked well together. I guess we both faltered in "Paisa Wasool".

Q: Is your current man Cecil for keeps?
A: Yes, he is. We have decided we're meant for each other. We're renovating my home in Mumbai right now for the two of us. But we don't know when we'll actually tie the knot.

Cecil will be with me in New York from July. He'll work from there but basically be with me. Long periods of separation are the death knell for relationships. In fact, if he had stayed away one more month, we'd have separated.