There's something enormously elevating about Juhi Chawla. Even after marriage and motherhood she remains effervescent, bubbly, chirpy and girlish.

Perhaps the roles that she's most remembered for in "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak", "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" or "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani" all tapped her potential for airy impishness.

Of late Juhi was seen giving an amazingly serious performance in "3 Deewarein". She sighs at the memory.

"Would you believe I missed all the excitement of '3 Deewarein'? I was in London. I had my baby there. I missed all the praise for '3 Deewarein' and 'Jhankar Beats'. But when I returned with my baby everyone had nice things to say. Wow."

Juhi has never been able to fathom the importance of being Juhi Chawla. Success, as it came her way, was something she accepted as a bonus. She still giggles away at compliments. "Please, please! It's nothing so much. I loved working with the unit of '3 Deewarein' and 'Jhankar Beats,'" she says.

"They told me I won't need make-up. At first I cheated a bit. But the cameraman would look into the camera, shake his head and ask me to clean my face. Finally I was left with nothing on my face... But the way Nagesh Kukunoor (3 Deewarein) and Sujoy Ghosh (Jhankar Beats) shot their films was amazing.

"There would be times when Sujoy wouldn't call 'cut' and I'd wonder where and how the shot would end. I was aghast. I thought 'big mistake, this director doesn't know what he's doing'. Finally 'Jhankar Beats' left me amazed," Juhi says.

Now there's "My Friend Nikhil". "Sanjay Suri and I had worked together in 'Jhankar Beats'. He came to me with this offer and said he was playing Nikhil. He asked me to do the sister's role. I wasn't very sure. But when I read the script I jumped at it. The sensitive subject is beautifully handled. The film has a beginning middle and end," she says.

"We went to Goa and shot the film almost at one go. Everyone got so involved with the subject, there was never any ego clash on location. It was lovely working with Sanjay, Purab Kohli, Victor Bannerjee and Lilette Dubey.

For Juhi, "My Friend Nikhil" was like going back to the 'no make-up' days of "3 Deewarein". "But in all fairness, I was beautifully shot. Though this wasn't a light film like 'Jhankar Beats', we had lots of fun," says the actress of several Bollywood hits.

Though Juhi is recognised for light roles, she says many of her serious roles went unnoticed. "I worked hard and with a lot of conviction in 'Daraar'. And had to cry so much in 'Saajan Ke Ghar'. I was this little persecuted creature in that film. But these films didn't work. So yeah, I guess I am remembered for my light films," she concludes.

So does "My Brother Nikhil" have light moments? "Hey, it's the way real life is. Sometimes pleasure, sometimes pain... There're little moments of happiness."

Speaking of happiness, Juhi seems pretty content in her domestic bliss. "One day I want to do more work, the next day I'm happy just being a housewife. ...finally it's a well-rounded life. By the time I got married I was completely ready to settle down. No one forced me to give up an active career. If the decision was imposed on me I'd have become bitter and sulky.

"Yes acting is all I know. But I was completely ready for this other life. I love my two kids. Motherhood is an amazing feeling," Juhi says.

Asked if she is a good mom, Juhi says: "I'm a decently good mother with my daughter and son. Luckily I've managed to do quality work after marriage. Like '3 Deewarein' and now 'My Brother Nikhil', which is just the kind of work I need to do at this stage of my career.

"This is a good time for someone like me. All kinds of interesting films are being made, thanks to the multiplexes. Otherwise, mera kya hota? It's not as though I've roles coming to me every day. But I'm getting the work the way I want. There's no way I'd want to work every day. There's enough quality work to keep my interest alive. "

Juhi is in touch with all her good friends in the industry, including Shah Rukh Khan. "We still have our production company going. Though nothing is happening there. But Shah Rukh and I are as connected as ever. In fact I'm making a tiny appearance in his new production 'Paheli,'" she informs.

"But there's a lot more of me in 'My Brother Nikhil'. I hope the audience can still tolerate me," says Juhi as her domestic duties beckon.