Pooja Kumar is Kamal Haasan's heroine!

The New York-based actress says she never asked the Ulaganayagan why he chose her. Speculation was rife over who would be playing the female lead opposite Kamal Haasan in Viswaroopam. Now, it emerges that New Yorkbased Pooja Kumar has been signed on for it. The actress, who has starred in a Broadway play called Barriers besides having won the Miss India USA pageant, is shooting in Chennai currently.Says Pooja, 'Though I grew up in New York, I used to come back to India every summer. I have great fondness for India.' Kamal's production company contacted Pooja's manager and that's how things fell into place. 'Just as you never say no to doing a Tom Cruise movie, you react similarly when offered a movie with Mr Haasan. Directors have their way of choosing actors. Personally, I have never questioned him about the reason for casting me,' says Pooja.However, Pooja isn't aware of the names of Bollywood stars that have been doing the rounds to play the female lead opposite Kamal. 'When I look back, I believe that it's my good karma that got me this film. I must have done something good in my previous life,' she says.Shooting for Viswaroopam has been an amazing experience for Pooja. 'Kamal is a legend and can adapt himself to every situation. One minute he plays the actor and the next minute he is the director and then the producer. Besides, he works for close to 15/20 hours a day,' she says.