Urmila must be thrilled. According to a reliable source, Yashraj Films decided to market Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara — a small, meaningful, experimental and avant-garde film mainly because of Urmila's presence. Which is not to undermine that Anupam Kher is a good friend of the Chopras.

Says an insider from the Chopra camp, "Let's be brutally honest. A film titled Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara would immediately limit itself to an enlightened audience who have an interest in films with a historical perspective. The fact that it's being released on the occasion of Gandhiji's birth anniversary only adds to the film's esotericism."

We hear that Urmila has given an award winning performance in the film. Are you vying for the National award with this offbeat film, we asked her? Urmila counters, "An award? I don't even think about it. I don't think any actor works for an award. I've been singularly unlucky with awards."

Talking about her role in the film, the actress says, "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara is my second pseudo-historical after Pinjar. At first, I was slightly unsure about going into a film that was almost totally offbeat and definitely very profound.

Finally, I surrendered to my instincts, partly because Anupamji and I work so well. I was in his first directorial venture Om Jai Jagdish. Since he was the producer of Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara, I could not say no to him."

Urmila is decidedly hopeful about Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Maara. "All of us had to reduce our fee to be part of this unusual and rewarding film. Thank God Yashraj Films is distributing it. Otherwise it would just be another offbeat film that gets into theatres on Friday and slips out quietly on Thursday.

This film deserves a lot more. I've got to know so much about Mahatma Gandhi while doing this film. It would've been the easiest thing in the world for me to slip into the role and walk away after giving a performance. But Maine Gandhi Ka Nahin Maara is the kind of film that must touch lives. It touched mine. And I'm pretty sure it will shake and stir some souls out there."

We hear that Satish Kaushik couldn't stop raving about Urmila's performance after a special screening? She dreamily re-lives the experience.

"Yes, he was very sweet and lavish in his praise. I'll tell you a secret. The film isn't so much about Gandhiji as it is about a father-daughter relationship. My father being a politically informed person helped me understand the Gandhian theme. But just my relationship with my father helped me far more in understanding my character."

About her string of films with first timers, Urmila says, "At this stage of my career I like doing films that help me grow. As a director, Jahnu Baruah brings a special flavour to the storytelling. I've worked with lots of first-time directors, from Dr Chandraprakash Diwedi in Pinjar to Shriram Raghavan in Ek Hasina Thi. But this one was special."