Monikangana Dutta, the tall model, never planned to step out of the modelling world, but she says the opportunity to work with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali enticed her to sign up for Guzaarish.
She signed Guzaarish because it was a Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie. She was shocked when he called me himself and the other shock was when he offered me the movie. I readily agreed,'
Monikangana is paired opposite Hrithik and she plays his love interest. Releasing Nov 19, the love story touches the issue of euthanasia and also stars Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Roy Kapoor.
Before Guzaarish, she had refused movie offers because she didn`t want to risk her modelling career by changing professions. 'I didn`t want to get involved into movie because I was so involved with my dreamland, my fantasy world, which is modelling.' She says
Says Monikangana, 'For me, to sacrifice all that and come down here was a huge decision. When you are at the peak of something and you are offered to change your profession, it's really a big step'.
While taking acting classes, the model discovered her acting talent. She decided to join Anupam Kher`s acting school (Actor Prepares). After attending a couple of acting classes, she got to know that she wants to be an actor.
Working in the film has introduced Monikangana to some of her personality traits that she wasn`t aware of. 'I wasn't aware of the fact that I was such an emotional person and so hypersensitive. I didn't realise these things until I played Estella. It has opened a completely new life for me.'
As far as her modeling goes, she says,' I don`t think I will be seen in any other show except Victoria`s Secret now.... I am the first Indian to be one among the six Victoria`s Secret angels,' she added.