Her performance in Gurinder Chaddha's "Bride and Prejudice" had won her a lot of praise among the critics and audience alike.

Former Miss India Namrata Shirodkar's portrayal of the "non-glamorous" Jaya in the film is being seen by many as the only saving grace in the otherwise disappointing fare which, despite tremendous media hype that preceded its release, had met with a lukewarm response in the country.

For Namrata, who has over the years, established an image as an actress adept at doing sensible and "realistic" roles in films like Boney Kapoor's "Pukar", Mahesh Manjrekar's "Vaastav", "Tera Mera Saath Rahe", "Astitva" and "Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye", Ananth Mahadevan's "Dil Vil Pyar Vyar" and Tigmanshu Dhulia's "Charas", it was the "different kind of role" in "Bride..." that led her to take up the film.

"It was a different role from the usual Bollywood potboilers.

Which is why I chose to take it up," tells Namrata in an interview here.

A former Miss India who came fourth in the Miss Universe Pageant, Namrata is among the few actresses in Bollywood who, like many of her counterparts from the modeling world, did not go on a signing spree after her debut in "Hero Hindustani" in 1998, choosing to do a few films offering sensible and realistic roles.

"I am not willing to do every other role that comes my way. I like to do roles which have lot of comfort level, and films that offer a different storyline than the usual commercial films made in Bollywood," she said.

Over the years, she has charmed cinegoers and critics alike through her varied roles. Her role of a prostitute in "Vaastav" especially won her praise in critic circles.