Sonali Kulkarni is thrilled to bits these days. Her Italian film "Fire At My Heart", which features the legendary Omar Sharif and Massimiliano Varrese, has been shown at the 36th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

"This is probably the first time that an Indian actress has played a European character in a film," says Sonali. "I am really proud of the fact."

In the film, screened here Tuesday, Sonali is cast as a spiritually inclined Neapolitan girl, Graziella, with whom the film's hero, Eugenio, falls in love.

"Fire At My Heart" was premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year and is currently being readied for release in Italy. Which explains why its director, Lamberto Lambertini, has had to skip IFFI.

"Someone had to stay back in Italy to take care of the baby," says producer Sergio Scapagnini.