I don't know why Benegal chose me: Minissha

When we got to hear that Bollywood hottie Minissha Lamba was shooting in the city, the first thing that crossed our mind was, is she doing a Tollywood film? Our guess proved wrong, when she told us on the phone that she had been shooting in the city for over a month for a Shyam Benegal film. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:
Why did Shyam Benegal zero in on you?
I still don't know why Shyam Benegal chose me.I just got a call one day and agreed to do the film without even looking at the script. He's a living legend and working with him is an experience to be treasured. He knows how to get what he wants from his actors and technicians. I think it is an art.
What's your role in the film?
I am playing a village girl from Andhra Pradesh. I was able to pick up Dakhni quickly from the dialogue coach Rehman. I was so into it that I would speak Dakhni with my friends on phone. And they'd be wondering what's up with her these days. I find the sound of the language so lilting that it's addictive.
Tell us about your co-stars in the movie?
Boman Irani plays my father in this film that explores the father-daughter relationship. Working with him was a superb experience. He is an amazing actor and I would constantly be observing him. He would just switch on (when he had to act) and switch off (after the shot). I got so attached to him that bidding him farewell was difficult for me.
Apart from shooting what have you been doing in Hyderabad?
I hardly wandered away from the sets. I binged on curd rice and gorged on peanut rice and tomato rice. I think idli sambhar is the best breakfast in the world.
Any Tollywood dreams?
Let's see. I don't know what the future holds. I've grown up in Chennai and Tamil films were so much fun to watch. I think Telugu films wouldn't be much different from them.
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