The most significant milestone in my career was acting in Anees Bazmee’s comedy, No Entry, in 2005. Before this I didn’t have a clue that I was good at comedy. The film won me accolades and I was flooded with offers for comic roles.

David Dhawan’s Partner released soon after No Entry and this too was a laugh-riot. The film established me as an actor who could ably handle funny roles. It was a challenge for me to match Govinda’s comic timing in this Salman Khan-Govinda starrer.

However, after the success of Partner, I didn’t go on a signing spree. Instead I became quite careful about the films that I signed. And though films like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (in 2007) failed at the box office, they gave my career a boost nonetheless.

More recently, Billu has been another important turning point for me. Shah Rukh Khan invited me to play the deglamourised wife of Billu (played by Irrfan Khan) in his home- production. It was a wonderful experience to act in a film directed by Priyadarshan.

Right now I am also looking forward to the release of another David Dhawan comedy, Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai. There’s also the soon-to-be released action thriller, Blue, with Akshay Kumar. For this one I had to slog hard to acquire a lean look.

Though I love doing comic roles, it doesn’t mean that I won’t be seen doing other kinds of roles. I am going through a very happy phase in my career when I am getting to work with some of the best directors in Bollywood like David Dhawan and Priyadarshan.

I have come a long way from my earlier days as an actor when I signed movies by judging the film’s banners. But today I want to do films with people I gel with. I know that in order to survive in this industry I cannot lose my patience but must wait for bigger opportunities.

Last year was very quiet for me but I am looking forward to this year as I have a number of releases lined up.

(As told to Sushmita Biswas)