Actress Kirron Kher wishes "Khamosh Pani" were screened in Pakistan. And the wish has nothing to do with her belief that it's her best performance till date.

"It must be seen for its deep understanding of human nature," tells Kher in an interview about the film which deals with India's partition and which has just been released commercially in India.

Kher though is equally thrilled at bagging roles in Bollywood films like "Hum Tum". Excerpts:

Q: You've been a part of three films this year that talk about India-Pakistan friendship.
A: Oh, I never thought of that! Of course. "Main Hoon Na", "Veer-Zaara", and now "Khamosh Pani"...Strangely it's my peace trilogy. I think cinema can both mend and break bridges. It's such a powerful medium. Common people on both sides of the border are the same. They want to get on with life. They don't want all this talk of stress and violence.

Q: "Khamosh Pani" is a big leap ahead for you as an actress?
A: You bet. This is another pivotal role for me after Shyam Benegal's "Sardari Begum", Kalpana Lajmi's "Darmiyaan" and Rituparno Ghosh's "Bariwali". And arguably the best. It's a very important film. "Khamosh Pani" must be seen for its deep understanding of human nature.

Q: After hits like "Devdas", "Main Hoon Na", "Hum Tum" and "Veer-Zaara" you've acquired a growing reputation for being a lucky mascot in our films.
A: Have I? I guess I've just been lucky to be in films that were meant to do well. Otherwise who am I? Who is anybody? Even the films of big stars fail. I guess my career has managed itself. My favourite saying is, 'If you want to make god laugh, tell him about your plans'.

Bollywood didn't know what to do with me. And I didn't know what to do with them because I didn't want to do their kind of films. I'd say "Devdas" was definitely a turning point in my career. Earlier on I had turned down most of the commercial cinema that was offered to me.

I was so used to doing the pivotal part in art house films I wasn't willing to settle for a second place in mainstream cinema. I took on "Devdas" because of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Both Rituparno Ghosh's "Bariwali" and Sanjay Bhansali's "Devdas" made me familiar in the festival circuit. When they saw my contrasting characters in the two films, they got blown away.

Now they got "Khamosh Pani" and "Hum Tum". Before "Hum Tum", I had never done comedy. I was quite scared actually. I chose to play it as a real person. I sat down and rewrote most of my dialogues with director Kunal Kohli. Being a Punjabi I could feel and speak for my character with some authority.

Q: Shah Rukh Khan is so integral to "Main Hoon Na" and "Veer-Zara", don't you think?
A: That's not a bad idea at all. But more than any one individual it's the entire creative output that can bring the two countries together. No one person can do it. The two nations collectively must learn to respect each other's space.

"Veer-Zaara" and "Khamosh Pani" fill that space. You must remember that I did "Khamosh Pani" two years ago, and that was the era of "Gadar" when our filmmakers were busy blasting our neighbours. When I went to Pakistan there was tension on the border.

Q: Was that why you were secretive about it?
A: No, I was secretive about "Khamosh Pani" because my contract stated that I don't talk about it. They didn't want politics to jeopardise the film. I must admit there was some trepidation while doing it. But once I did "Khamosh Pani" I was sure it would get great appreciation for its sincerity. I wish "Khamosh Pani" would get a release in Pakistan.

Q: How did you get "Khamosh Pani"?
A: See I got a call from Amal and Nissar Allana. They told me about Sabiha Sumar, a documentary filmmaker from Pakistan who's married to a Sri Lankan and lives in Delhi. Sabiha said, "I've a film, this is the script, and I can't pay you much." Then she told me that it had to be shot in Pakistan. We had to meet. When I had two days' break in my shooting I flew down to Delhi. This very tiny girl came to pick me up from the airport. Sabiha insisted I stay in her house, and then left me at home to read the script.

Once I read it, there was no question of not doing it. She wanted me to put on more weight. I wondered how that was possible. I was committed to do another film, "The Perfect Husband". But as luck would have it, I tore a ligament in my leg and had to beg off that project, much to Sabiha's joy. I was wheeled into Pakistan in a wheelchair. Once there I was swept off my feet. I built a limp into my character's posture.

Q: I think you were the first Indian actress to shoot in Pakistan.
A: I think Shabana Azmi shot in Pakistan many years ago for "Immaculate Conception". But that was an English film. I'm the first Indian actress to shoot for a Pakistani film in Pakistan. I did it because it was such a wonderful role. After "Khamosh Pani", I've been offered so many roles out there. But I've begged off.