Lara Dutta : I’m having too much fun with my career right now

Acouple of years ago Aishwarya Rai had agreed to do the Kajra re number on Aidtya Chopra’s special request. It was her way of getting back into Yash Chopra’s camp after her professional fall-out with Shah Rukh Khan over Chalte Chalte. That fall-out had cost her Veer-Zara, among other roles. Lara Dutta has learnt it’s never right to say no to a banner as big as that of Yashji’s. She admits she did Fanaa to get into their good books. “It helped me get an entry into Yash Chopra’s camp,” she admits candidly. “Though I didn’t strike any such bargain with them, in the back of my mind, I did know that doing the part would put me in their good books. And to be in the same frame as Aamir Khan and Kajol…wow! Would that ever happen again? Also Kunal Kohli had asked me to do a cameo in Hum Tum. At that time I was busy shooting Aisa jadoo. I was petrified to say no to Fanaa. Because having said no once to Yash Chopra’s banner, I thought I was out of the camp. Obviously not,” she laughs about getting Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom.

Jhoom… has indeed changed Lara’s positioning in the movie market. “I’ve become very choosy. I don’t perceive myself as frivolous any longer.”

To prove her seriousness, Lara is going places other than Bollywood. After Shilpa Shetty, the British House Of Commons had yet another celebrity guest-speaker last week. Lara Dutta addressed the House Of Commons on the sensitive subject of human trafficking. Her oratorical skills were received with thunderous applause. No wonder Lara is glowing. “It was a wonderful opportunity, and to my good fortune, it was very well received. I believe this was the first time that the Medical Aid UK was allowed to have a say in this way within the British House Of Parliament,”

Lara says she has always enjoyed her role as a spokesperson for her country over and above her other roles. “But being an actress is also fun. It certain was fun working in Partner with David Dhawan and Salman Khan for the first time.”

Surprisingly, Lara isn’t taller than Salman. “(Laughs). Fortunately, I wasn’t taller. Because of Salman’s court cases Partner took 15 months to finish. But it was so much fun. Working with David Dhawan on a comedy was very different from working on a comedy with Priyadarshan (Bhagam Bhaag). Also, in Partner, Govinda is in full form. After No Entry, I haven’t laughed so much doing any of my films.’ Then comes the tonguein-cheek remark, “Considering how much of me has been seen in some recent films, you’ll see me doing enough in Partner.” Personally, she has been with Kelly Dorji for years. “I just don’t feel the need to make it legal. I’m having a bit too much fun with my career right now. I feel I’ve walked into the industry now,” she says.