Though she's only acted in a few films, actor Mahi Gill has struck a chord with both audiences and critics.

"I don't consciously choose intense roles. I am simply lucky that I am getting to work with good intelligent directors," says the doe-eyed lady who was recently seen in films like Not A Love Story and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. Mahi, who is gearing up for her next release talks to CS about her roles and passion for acting:

Camera call
I feel great being a part of the new age cinema, where there are diverse scripts and roles to choose from. I am an entertainer. I need to explore myself as an actor. I have done my Masters in Theatre. In fact, I am a gold medallist. So theatre has always been in me. I would like to try doing comedy now. I love doing serious cinema. It's my first love as that's my identity right now.

Irr-fan!
I recently worked with Irrfan Khan playing his wife from a village in MP. It was a great experience. I think he is an amazing actor and a very humble man. He is a down to earth person and a very serious actor. His work is effortless. He is a natural at it and when you work with such an actor, you tend to improve and perform better.

Social connection
In an upcoming movie, I will be playing a glamorous socialite and that's going to be a big challenge as I am hardly a social butterfly. I need to discuss the role with the director. Once you know what the director wants, it becomes easier to play the role. In fact, off- screen I am a very private and shy person. With friends, I am the most bindaas person. It's the other side of me. I don't like socialising and that's why you don't see me much in parties. I am quite satisfied with my life.

Reminiscing my childhood
As a child, I would visit my village and have sugarcane on our farms with my two brothers. We would then bathe at the tube-well in the open. I miss that. Both my brothers live in the US now. But I prefer my India. Mera Bharat Mahan (laughs). I will never go anywhere else. I am still a small town girl at heart. So, when someone asks me to do such roles, it comes quite naturally to me.