The trailer of your Bollywood debut Hate Story (slated to release on April 20) has generated a strong buzz for its erotic content and your bold, wild ways. Are you aware of the feedback?

Yes! I am really, really excited (laughs). I am getting messages from Bombay, Bangalore, Chennai... all across. People are writing “Paoli abar fatabe” on Facebook. It’s a great feeling. Hate Story is very important for me. It’s my first Bollywood film, my first baby step out of the regional industry and it’s going to release nationally and internationally. People are liking my look in the promos. Hope they make it a hit!

There are several erotic scenes involving you in the minute-long promo...

It’s an erotic thriller and I was told about it when they narrated the script. Do I have to go on repeating that I am an inhibition-free actress?! I am a performer and I am very comfortable with my body. Vivek (Agnihotri, director) wanted the bold scenes to be something that the audience have not seen before. The scenes have a sensuality but were very stylistically shot. People will watch them with wide-eyed wonder! I’m sure the audience haven’t seen such sensuality on screen in a long time. It’s aesthetic, stylised, racy... it’s total entertainment. The bed scenes will not look forced. There’s a story to support why my character Kavya becomes what she is. It’s not just about body, body, body! Frankly, it’s very easy to say I am bold. It’s that much more difficult to act bold on screen. Cinema is all about performance.

You’ve gone topless in certain scenes...

Yes, there are a few bare-back shots [Paoli is shown unhooking her bra and flashing her panties] that have been done to death in Hindi films. Nothing new. But the way it is shot is new. Kareena Kapoor was shown wearing her bra in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Were you comfortable mouthing those cuss words?

Yes, as a performer I don’t have any problem. Anything that justifies the character I portray is okay with me. I am not a bold person in my personal life. Paoli is very different from the characters she plays on screen. Before I started shooting, Vivek had a different notion about me. He thought I was this dainty, girlie sort. But once the camera rolled, something happened. Kavya overshadowed Paoli. Kavya possessed me! I lived her life, literally! I never got this kind of a film here (Tollywood). That’s why it’s a big opportunity for me. Also because Hate Story revolves around me. I am the heroine and the villain of the film.Vivek wanted me to give a solid performance.

How did you become so comfortable with a totally new team away from your comfort zone?

I am very comfortable with my body. And I was comfortable with my co-actors, the script, with my director, my producer Vikram (Bhatt), the entire unit. We were very sure of what we were doing. At the end of the day, I was very comfortable with Kavya.

Tell us about your character...

Well, Kavya is a simple, bubbly, sweet young girl. She’s a journalist. And she falls in love with a rich guy (Gulshan Devaiah). But she is ditched and then she seeks revenge. See, a lot of people are ditched in love, but the way Kavya is ditched is shocking and so everything about her changes. Nikhil Dwivedi plays Kavya’s friend. Joy Sengupta and Mohan Kapur are the other important characters. It’s a very dynamic role, there’s a lot of variety. I became Kavya for those three months (of the shoot). I wasn’t Paoli then.

What was Vivek Agnihotri’s brief for you for the bold scenes?

He wanted it to be very stylised and different. Otherwise there are a lot of erotic thrillers from this banner (Vishesh Films) already. Films like Murder, Murder 2, Raaz, Jism, Jannat. Hate Story is different from all of them. Besides, in Bollywood nobody has any inhibitions about their body. Kareena Kapoor has sported a bikini, Bipasha Basu has done it too... so what’s the big deal? If you can put in a good performance with sensuality, then that’s a good package. That’s what he wanted. It’s not about just skin show. Before every erotic scene, we would sit and discuss but sometimes I did things on spot, instinctively... like my bold scenes with Mohan Kapur. Oh my god, he is such a sweet person. He didn’t know what to do and I guided him all the way! He didn’t do anything, shob aami korechhi! Believe me (laughs), he just followed me.

There’s a sequence with Joy Sengupta that seems to raise the Bolly bar for boldness...

Well, I found it nice, aesthetically shot. Each bold scene is different from the other. But all of them are justified. Why Kavya turns mean and violent is something you will get to know when you see the film. Besides, I had done Kagojer Bou (directed by Bappaditya Bandopadhyay) with Joy before and I was comfortable with him.

Does it bother you that people will watch the film for its erotic nature?

I will be happy if they do. Arrey my film will work then, nah (laughs)! How can you say that after The Dirty Picture? I am sure people will relate to Hate Story.

Do you fear getting typecast as a bold heroine?

No. Right after Hate Story, Elar Char Adhyay (directed by Bappaditya Bandopadhyay) will release. So there’s no question of getting typecast. In fact, my next film with Vikram (Bhatt) has a completely different subject. Besides, whenever I am offered a role, I get into the very soul of it and try to bring out its uniqueness, so there’s no question of repetition.

Vivek recently told t2 that you are the next best actress after Rekha...

Oh, thanks to him! He is so sweet! I couldn’t have taken Kavya to the level that I have without his support. It’s a very difficult role.