Lisa Haydon is back on the silver screen after a two-year break. In the comedy Santa Banta Pvt Ltd, currently playing in cinemas, the model-actress stars alongside funnymen Boman Irani and Vir Das. The 29-year-old has a busy year ahead with Housefull 3 releasing later this summer and a cameo in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

What got you interested in Santa Banta Pvt Ltd?

(Sighs) To be honest with you, I signed this film so long ago that I don’t really remember! I think I thought it would be fun to play an FBI Agent. Boman and Vir play Santa and Banta and it seemed like something fun to do at that time. They were shooting in Fiji so it made sense to do it at that time.

We read something about your character being Lara Croft-esque. Did you have fun doing all the stunts?

To be honest, I don’t have those many stunts. I have read these stories as well and I would like to correct whoever said that. This is Santa Banta and not Tomb Raider! I do have one little stunt in the beginning of the film. My character is introduced during a chase sequence and for me that was the most fun part of shooting this film. I don’t think the sequence required any preparation. It was done pretty much on the go. I guess I am generally fit enough to do a sequence like that.

It’s been more than two years since Queen and your memorable Vijaylakshmi. How much did it impact your career?

I don’t think about it anymore. What I loved about Queen was how much the audience understood Rani (played by Kangana Ranaut) and Vijaylakshmi and related to them. Even now, many people who don’t know my name call me Vijay-lakshmi. That’s the sweet part. I have had girls write to me and say ‘I am like Vijaylakshmi and I didn’t think it was okay to be me, but now I know better’. This is what I treasure more than the impact the film has had on my career.

You had told t2 earlier that Queen made you reconsider acting as a career choice...

Oh absolutely! It opened up avenues in the industry more than anything else. The industry has a certain perception about models. We are supposed to be very glamorous and intimidating, and acting is about playing characters. It’s thought that we can’t shed our skin to take on someone else. After Queen, I think people realised that I am not perfect or glamorous all the time. I can perform. Now people don’t just consider me for good-looking roles. I always knew that I would be in the entertainment business, but now being taken seriously as an actor is an option that’s opened up. People expect you to bring more than just your looks to the table; it’s always a good thing.

Housefull 3 is around the corner. Was it fun to shoot with Akshay Kumar again?

It was! I had fun working with the girls (Jacqueline Fernandez and Nargis Fakhri) and Riteish (Deshmukh), Abhishek (Bachchan) and Akshay. This was the second time I have worked with Akshay (after The Shaukeens, 2014). He is such a comedy powerhouse! He is the funniest person I have ever met. There is so much to learn from him.