You took part in a national-level beauty pageant and set the grapevine abuzz about your interest in Bollywood. How has the pageant experience helped you? Have you received any offers from B-town?

Bollywood is the ultimate destination for every actress. But at the moment, I would not like to talk about offers in hand. I will not jump at everything that comes my way. It doesn’t matter if I do just a couple of Hindi films in my entire career, but those two should make the audience sit up and take notice. Before the pageant, I did an important role in Tutu Sinha’s bilingual film based on Swami Vivekananda and have been getting good offers from the south off and on.

Would you consider kissing on screen or baring your body?

I will never kiss on screen or go bare. Even in the pageant, I felt awkward in a bikini.

Are you losing interest in Odia films? Most films here are remakes of Hindi or regional movies.

It is sad because we have great filmmakers and scriptwriters here. But if you see from the business angle, remakes are a safe bet and ensure high returns. I have worked in a lot of films that were remakes and I know nobody wants to take risks by being original. However, quite a few Odia films have recently released, which were based on fresh ideas.

Organisers allege that you are acting pricey after appearing in the beauty pageant. So, they are approaching lesser-known actresses for launches. Are you quoting astronomical fees?

I have increased my remuneration for films and endorsements. So, some people are unable to afford me.

But I am lucky that there are filmmakers here who understand my worth and offer me what I deserve.

You have been romantically linked to some of you co-stars. Have you ever dated any of them?

It is what the media makes it out to be. I am sick of such rumours but I know I have to endure these things as part of this profession. I have no friends in this industry. I don’t even share my phone number with anyone. And for the record, I am single.

Which actor are you most comfortable working with?

Sabyasachi and Anubhav. There are some actors who don’t respect women. But after seven years in this industry, I have learnt to tackle them.

Does casting couch exist in the Odia film industry?

I have heard so, but have never faced such a situation. So, if I say it exists, I might be wrong and if I say it doesn’t exist, even then I might be wrong.

You were the brand ambassador for Deccan Chargers (now Sunrisers Hyderabad) in the last IPL. What is your reaction to the spot fixing issue?

It is shocking. I hear they have suspended after-match parties, cheer leaders and the use of mobile phones by players. It is good in a way. My association with IPL was fun as long as it lasted.