Bhubaneswar, Sept.2: If you remember actress Aarminta more than two decades after she stole the hearts of Odia movie audience playing the traditional bahu in superhit film Pardesi Chadhei, or German damsel Sabrina from the not-so-popular 2008 Siddhant starrer Mukhya Mantri, get ready to be bowled over by yet another foreign actress.

This time it’s the sultry and vivacious Moscow beauty Katrine Kovi who is set to cast her spell as the female lead in the upcoming Odia film, My Love Story.

A model in Mumbai who has to her credit an advertisement with Shah Rukh Khan, Katrine, a good friend of the debutant director as well as the male lead of the Odia film Deepak Panda, is nervous and excited at the same time.

The Russian may not be fluent in English and may have hardly learnt any Odia words but Deepak is there to help her as a translator.

“Katrine is thrilled to be playing the female lead in an Indian film. Though she is a little anxious since she is playing an Odia girl and not a foreigner, her dedication towards acting shows she will be loved by the audience here,” says Deepak.

The actress will be seen playing a college girl in the youth-based love story. The shooting will begin in mid-September in Bhubaneswar.

“Katrine is good at her craft and is not just an audience puller. She has been looking forward to explore our 75-year-old industry,” said Deepak, also the writer and co-producer of the film.

Deepak, who hails from Berhampur and has assisted the legendary Dev Anand at Navketan Films, is looking forward to the shooting of the film in his home state.

“My Love Story is my dream project and since I started my career as a creative writer, I can assure the audience that the script is fresh and original. I hope when we shoot in Bhubaneswar this month, our crew, especially Katrine who will be an international guest to our state, will receive a warm welcome,” he says.

Deepak has also roped in Katrine for his next project, a Hindi film where he plans to direct the Moscow beauty opposite Aditya Narain.