Rani Mukerji has much to celebrate. After winning accolades for her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, the lady is now enjoying box-office joy with her new film, Shaad Ali Sahgal's Bunty Aur Babli. Costarring Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, the film is a Yash Raj Films product.

In the inteview Rani talks about her new film.

Q: You are Babli!
A: (Giggles) Yup! Totally fun-loving. Babli is hysterically funny, and so am I. I just hope people find me funny too.

Most of my directors love to see me cry. And I love crying because it cleanses your soul. This is a rare occasion when I got to laugh. Bunty Aur Babli was fun because I was working with Shaad Ali again. He's a very close friend of mine. We share a great chemistry. He really brings out the best in me.

I am sure the audience will enjoy themselves as much as we did. Abhishek and I have put in energetic performances.

Q: Women have a tough time with comedy.
A: Men are more boisterous and can express themselves more vocally. Women with a sense of humour are really appreciated by men. And I get to be quite funny in the movie.

I like to show my mad side to my friends. Now, the audience will get to see it. I was also quite whacky in Milan Luthria's Chori Chori. Babli goes many steps ahead.

It's a masala film. Shaad has paid a tribute to the cinema of the 1970s. It has situations in the plot where the audience would want to dance in aisles.

Q: Both Abhishek and you get to do a series of masquerades.
A: Yeah, that was funny. Seeing each other in different get-ups was an experience. The one that had me in splits was when Abhishek dresses up like a sadhu. As for the one that I was best in, you'll have to ask Abhishek.

Q: Post-Black, was Bunty Aur Babli a good follow-up?
A: Black will always be special to me. I can't expect every film to have a character like Michelle. For me, it's important to have a different character in every film. And I give 100 percent to all my characters, regardless of whether they are light or serious.

But if people feel that I'm not on par with Black in Bunty Aur Babli, then I can't help it. Every film and character has its own rhythm. It's my job to make every character convincing.

Even in my next release Paheli, I'm a completely different person. I play a surreal dusky Rajasthani beauty. I'm looking forward to Paheli because it's Shah Rukh Khan's second home production with me, after Chalte Chalte.

My character Lachi in Paheli is nothing like Babli. Just as Michelle in Black was different from both.

Q: People say that Abhishek and you are the Amitabh-Jaya of the new millennium.
A: Really? I hope we can deliver even one-fourth of what they did in Abhimaan and Mili.

Abhishek and I haven't done that many films together. But we had a ball in this film. We're very fond of each other. I'll always wish him all the best. I've watched him grow as an actor, and I feel very proud of where he has reached. We're very similar in our working style. Then we had Shaad to direct us in Bunty Aur Babli. It was a great team.

Q: I think Shaad is in love with you!
A: (Laughs) It's very important for every director to be in love with his actress. That's the only way he can get the best work out of her. We have shared a rapport right from the time Shaad used to work for Mani Ratnam.

Shaad mediated for me to do Mani's Dil Se and Kannatil Muttumital. In those days, Shaad would say that whenever he would direct a film, I would star in it.

I would tease him all the time about it. We worked together in Saathiya and now Bunty Aur Babli which are completely different experiences. We gel very well because we meet socially. He knows me well.

Q: Do you think this is the most rewarding time of your career?
A: I'm scared. To sustain this momentum is tough. I work hard and leave the rest to luck. I make sure I work only with the people I'm comfortable with, directors who can tap new facets in my talent.

After working with someone like Sanjay Bhansali, I'm spoilt as an actor. Last year, another dream came true when I worked with Yash uncle in Veer-Zaara. I gave a hit with Kunal Kohli in Hum Tum. Mani Sir's Yuva was critically acclaimed. So it was a great year for me.

This year started with Black and Bunty Aur Babli. Now I've got Paheli and The Rising. I hope my streak of success lasts until I get married!

Q: Do you have much to do in The Rising?
A: Not as much as my other films. But it's my first period film and I've done my best.