Item girl Meghna Naidu says the role of a blind girl she essays in her forthcoming "Rain" is not inspired by Rani Mukherjee's in "Black".

"I did not derive inspiration from Rani Mukherjee's performance in 'Black' for the role of the blind girl in 'Rain'," Meghna was quoted as saying.

"I had seen 'Black' earlier. It is an entirely different film with a different set of circumstances, so there was no question of being inspired by Rani's character from the film."

Meghna, who until recently was better known for her skin show, feels her role in "Rain" will open the doors to new possibilities in her acting career.

On her image as a glamour doll, she says: "'Rain' is not a deliberate effort to break through the sex-symbol image. I am not going out of my way to change my image.

"I got this offer while I was working on my other films. The director, Amol Shetge, for some reason felt that I could do justice to the role. I decided to give it a try and I am happy I took the decision.

"It gave me a new experience in playing a very challenging role. Post 'Rain', I am expecting that filmmakers will come to me with more substantial offers but it's still premature to talk about it.

"I and Himanshu Malik participated in a rigorous 20-day workshop and Amol himself took great pains in ensuring that I had the perfect body language. It was a bit difficult in the first three days but gradually I got used to the idea of walking on the sets with my eyes closed.

"The role in 'Rain' would not have been possible without the excellent chemistry that I share with Himanshu Mallik. The chemistry that the two of us share has made a big difference to the way our roles have come across on screen.

"It is not as if my role in 'Rain' does not have its share of glamour. There are a few sensuous scenes in the film towards the climax but they are all in keeping with the need of the script.

"However, there is no vulgar skin show or anything overtly sexual in my role in the film. In fact I am portrayed as a very simple girl in the first half of the film.

"I don't consider my image as an advantage or a disadvantage. The bold and sizzling image works for me at times and also goes against my career at times, but it doesn't really affect me.

"In one of my forthcoming films called 'Bad Friends', I play a sati-savitri wife to a pop singer. My role in Karan Razdan's 'Eight' also does not have the characteristic sizzle that is associated with my image. Occasionally, it pays not to sizzle on screen."