Two months after German hot bod Claudia Ciesla stirred up the studios, Sydney-based Emma Brown is camping in Tollygunge for the Bengali film Shukno Lanka, starring Mithun Chakraborty and Sabyasachi Chakraborty.

Who’s Emma?

An Australian TV actress, in town to shoot for Shukno Lanka, produced by The Bong Connection-maker Moxie Entertainments. Emma has learnt acting from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Australia. “That’s where the likes of Mel Gibson and Cate Blanchett had trained too,” smiles she.

Her claim to fame is...

A Bombay Dyeing commercial where she features alongside Yuvraj Singh. “We shot the ad four months ago in Chandigarh and it’s on air now. Yuvraj is a very good player but it’s his personality that has bowled me over.... I hope to get noticed and bag Bollywood offers after this,” reveals Emma.

Her brush with Bollywood...

Began 11 months back when she flew down to live in Mumbai. “I have always been fascinated by India, especially Bollywood. I have watched Om Shanti Om and I think it’s a fantastic film. It’s my dream to work in Bollywood.” As part of her homework, Emma is learning Hindi by watching Hindi films. She has also picked up the Bollywood jhatkas and matkas! “I am open to all kinds of offers, whether it’s a role or a song-and-dance sequence,” says she.

Currently though, she has only Mithun on her mind...

“I am very happy to be a part of Shukno Lanka.... I have seen some of Satyajit Ray’s films and Mithun Chakraborty’s Dance Dance! It’s great to be working with him. He is very warm and I am learning a lot from him. Dada (Mithun) plays a junior artiste in the film,” she smiles.

In Shukno Lanka, Emma plays...

Isabella, who travels to Calcutta to shoot a film. “I could identify with my role when I had auditioned for it in Mumbai. It’s hard not to get involved with the characters one portrays on screen. But, of course, Isabella and I are two different people.”

Emma is also trying out...

Some of the city’s signature food items. “I love Hot Kathi rolls and mishti doi! I am enjoying my Calcutta tour. I am also learning Bengali and I would definitely like to work in more Bengali films,” she says.

Kushali Nag