With the many substantial roles that are coming her way, it looks like Sushmita Sen will soon join the league of acclaimed actresses like Tabu and Konkona Sen in the industry.

Besides her role in Kalpana Lajmi's under-production film CHINGARI, Sen has now been confirmed to play the very challenging role of a woman who lived near the Gujarat border in the 1971 war and braved the trials and tribulations of the period, in Tanuja Chandra's RUNWAY.

"The role is of a very strong woman and it required an actress of caliber. Sushmita definitely fits the bill. She has both the talent and the versatility to enact such a role, though I initially had Aishwaya Rai in mind," says Chandra.

Chandra isn't the only one who feels so. According to Kalpana Lajmi, Sen has the "actress of substance" quality about her, which gives her an edge over other actresses, which will be evident in her performance in CHINGARI.

"It is an extraordinary performance by any means which is possible only with a committed actor," Lajmi reveals.

In the film, Sen portrays the journey of a 16-year old, who is forced to become a prostitute after she is sold by her alcoholic father and later leads the women of a small village in Bihar, against male oppression.

Interestingly, Sen recently made a remark in a section of the media that she was not bitter about not being nominated for her role in MAIN HOON NA, but she would be definitely disappointed if her name did not figure in the nominations next year for the role in CHINGARI.