Sameera Reddy on a high after 'Kaalpurush' ...

By Swati R. Chaudhary, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Actress Sameera Reddy is on a high as her

Bengali film "Kaalpurush" is one of the frontrunners in the best film

category in this year's National Awards. And director Buddhadev

Dasgupta is so impressed that he has already signed her for his next

film.

Dasgupta even said that Sameera reminded him of the late Smita

Patil, reports Bollywood Trade.

"It's an honour to be associated with someone like Buddhadev

Dasgupta. His sense of vision is just so amazing and he's got the best

out of me. I gave up my Diwali and worked extremely hard. I'm glad my

sincerity paid off. I went to Kolkata, learnt Bengali and actually saw

how the women draped cotton saris there," says Sameera.

"I play a frustrated wife who wants to become a writer. She's caught

in a bad marriage and it's about the struggle that she goes through.

Women will be able to identify with this film since it addresses real

issues. As for Buddhadev's next film, I haven't even heard the script,"

she adds.

About her forthcoming film "Naksha" she says: "I play a TV

presenter, a city bred girl who lands up in a jungle with two guys. I

had to get physically fit for this character. I learnt horse riding,

river rafting and sword fighting.

"I felt very protected with Sunny Deol and Viveik Oberoi. I couldn't

have done those stunts without them. Initially, I was scared out of my

wits while preparing for the cliff sequence. One safety rope was

holding all of us. But the safety measures were really good. Sunny and

Viveik made it much easier. They are real Punjab da puttars."

Sameera doesn't quite agree with Sunny's reclusive image. "I don't

think Sunny is shy and reclusive. He is one of the cutest co-stars I've

ever had. He used to crack jokes at 5.00 a.m. when we all were drained

out."

A gizmo freak that Sameera is, she carries her portable play station

everywhere. That probably explains the new mobile game that features

her as a warrior princess.

"I am a big gamer myself. As an actor I represent the young crowd

and my image also goes with it. I worked on the game for a long time

and it will be launched very soon," she says.

Asked about her equation with sisters Meghna and Sushma, Sameera

says she is thoroughly pampered by them though she doesn't see them

working together in the near future.

"I am like the baby of the house. My sisters really pamper me and

are very protective about me. We never discuss work at home. Sushma and

I are at different levels. We choose different roles. So I don't see us

acting together in future."

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'Dil Diya Hai' not a love triangle

Going by the promos, Aditya Datt's next film "Dil Diya Hai" looks

like another love triangle, but the director insists it is not.

"Dil Diya Hai" is not an out-an-out love triangle though at a point

it does take a triangular mode. It's a love story with lots of serious

drama and action," says Datt.

The film stars Emraan Hashmi, Ashmit Patel and debutante Neha Basra,

reports Bollywood Trade.

"Emraan plays Saahil who owns a private travel agency in Britain.

Ashmit plays Kunal who runs an illegal nightclub called Erotica and

Geeta plays Neha who is on a family vacation after her post-graduation.

The story is about how the three get connected unknowingly and the

subsequent drama," says Datt, who had earlier made "Aashiq Banaya

Aapne".

He adds: "Mithun Chakraborty is the key character and the surprise

package of the film. There is also a special appearance by Udita

Goswami."