Pakistani model turned actress Veena Malik and co-star Rajan Verma were in Kolkata to promote their new film Zindagi 50:50, on Wednesday with the controversial Pakistani star going ga ga over the character of a sex worker she played in the film.

Veena said that she plays the character of Madhuri, a sex worker, in the film and felt fortunate to be able to essay the role.

She said that director, Rajiv Ruia had come to her with the role of Naina, a struggling actress, but on her insistence the role of Madhuri was given to her.

"I think they are very fortunate who get to play such impressionable characters so early in their career, and I am very fortunate. The character is based on a real person, and she has helped me a lot with this character's research, " she said.

"You can play around with fiction, but you can't do that when you're playing a real person.The dialogues seem funny, but when you think about them, they actually bring out the pathos in the woman's life, " she added.


Naina is played by Riya Sen.

The film also has Arya Babbar, cast opposite Riya. Rajpal Yadav, Murli Sharma and Supriya Kumari add to the cast.

Rajan Verma said, " I play Birju, an auto-rickshaw puller, and Rupa's (Supriya Kumari) husband, who ferries Madhuri on her night time visits to clients, to earn a few extra money."

Veena said she began her career while in the eighth grade with a commercial. "I was born to act, " she added.

The controversy's child added some more to her name by refusing to acknowledge knowing co-star Riya Sen.

She said, "I don't know who she is. I have not worked with her in the film, let alone speaking to her anywhere else."


Verma confirmed that Veena and Riya do not share screen space at any time in the movie, but his character, Birju was the link to all the other female characters- Madhuri, Naina and Rupa.

Veena also clarified about an MMS scandal saying, "It was actually a scene from the film Zindagi 50:50, shot between Rajan ji and myself. It was a song sequence, 'Toh se naina lage', that must have been leaked and someone dubbed and made it look like that."

On her future projects, she revealed she had 'Mumbai 125 km' which is a 3D thriller, 'Supermodel' and a Kannada female-centric film 'Silk' are lined up for release.

Zindagi 50:50 is slated for a May 24 release.