"I don't like people calling me an item girl. I think it's another way of showing talent and skills. I found it very artistic. People might criticise and label you, but there is nothing wrong in doing an item number," Nathalia told in an interview.
"The word item girl doesn't hit me, I don't see this as obscene or vulgar, I found this very artistic," she added.
Nathalia will be seen dancing on item number "Dan dan" in "Department". Choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, the soundtrack is composed by Dharam Sandeep, Bappi Lahiri and Vikram Nagi.
"The song is part of the movie and contains a lot of meaning. It's very well-placed in the film. I think, the song gave me a chance to show my talent," she said.
Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, "Department", starring Sanjay Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan and Rana Daggubati, will come out May 18.
Nathalia, who started her career with modelling in India, also featured as a Kingfisher calendar girl.
She believes that her modelling helped her bag roles in Bollywood films.
"I started modelling at the right time and at the right place. And at that time only I met Ram Gopal Varma. We kept in touch. After that I was selected for Kingfisher calendar and that really helped me to be known in the industry. Right now I'm doing a film, the item number was just to launch myself in the industry," she said.
The 21-year-old is a trained Opera singer.
"I'm a trained opera singer... I'm a very artistic person. I like things related to arts, be it anything. I love singing, I learned singing for three years but acting is my passion. Singing makes me complete and add meaning to my life," she said.
Asked whether she wants to continue her singing in future, she added: "I'll be singing a song in my next movie under the banner of Ram Gopal Varma."
RGV not my mentor
Although the Brazilian model-turned-actress is thankful to the director for giving her the opportunity, she doesn't consider him her mentor or godfather
"Ram Gopal Varma is not my godfather or my mentor. I am working with him just as Sanjay Dutt is working with him. We are working on projects together and that's it," Nathalia told reporters here Monday.
"I am an actor, I am playing a character in this song ('Dan dan'). It has been amazingly done. I am honoured to have got a chance to work with people like Sanjay, Rana (Daggubati) and Ram Gopal Varma," she said.
RGV has roped her in for his romantic thriller where Nathalia will play a lead role. She will team up with Rana Daggubati in the yet untitled film.