Former Miss Universe-turned-Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen has said she experienced physical and emotional exhaustion while enacting the role of sex worker Basanti in Kalpana Lajmi's forthcoming film 'Chingari'.

''It is my best performance to date,'' Sushmita said during an interaction with mediapersons at her residence.

'Chingari' is due for release on February 3.

According to Sushmita, the painful life of a sex worker and the sacrifices she makes by settling for anything brought in her a feeling of disgust. ''My self-belief about the plight of women especially in rural areas turned into my vulnerability,'' she said.

''The role of a rural woman and that too a sex worker during the dated times offered to me was unlike the image and perception people have about me. It was a challenge to rise to the occasion and I did not want to miss the bus,'' she said.

The 30-yr-old actor who puts across her views articulately, said, it was perhaps for the first time in her acting career that she took time to portray Basanti's character in the movie.

''Our job is to act and not become the character. But, I fell in love with Basanti,'' she said.

About the film, Sushmita said 'Chingari' was not a statement against prostitution.

''It is looking at the profession through the perspective of the sex worker herself. It is a painful life to watch. The turning point in her life comes when she experiences love and respect from a man,'' Sushmita said.