Neetu Chandra performs martial arts in Mumbai. Telegraph picture

Eleven years of martial arts training has finally helped Neetu Chandra who will showcase her fighting skills in an upcoming Tamil film.

A black belt in taekwondo, the actress has bagged the female lead in Ameer Sultan’s Aadhi Bhagvan.

“I never thought I would get the chance to showcase my martial skills in a film,” Neetu told The Telegraph. “At first, I was not even aware of the action in the film. But when Ameer told me about it, I was delighted.”

The young actress has represented India in taekwondo at an international competition in Hong Kong in 1996.

Neetu, who did her schooling from Notre Dame Academy in Patna and graduated from Indraprastha College, New Delhi, said: “As soon as the shooting for the martial arts scenes began, I felt very nostalgic. It is an action film and I got plenty of opportunities to stretch my legs and kick a punching bag.”

She added: “It was the demand of the script and I had to perform.”

Neetu would star opposite Tamil actor Jayam Ravi, who is playing the role of an undercover CBI officer. “I never got chance to perform martial arts before this film. This is the first time I shall be seen doing action,” she said, adding that she had trained for 25 days with experts before performing. It was amazing.”