By getting the industry bigwigs to sit up and take notice of her when she has just two films, Anurag Basu's Gangster and Mohit Suri's Woh Lamhe, to her name, Kangana Ranaut has achieved the impossible.

Given that she bagged the Star Screen Award for most promising female newcomer for her portrayal of Simran in Gangster and the best debut actress award at the Global Indian Film Awards for the same film last year, one can understand where the growing interest stems from.

Interestingly enough, Ranaut's performance is raw talent, driven by sheer passion. She was studying science and engineering in Shimla when the pull towards acting proved too strong and she made her way to New Delhi, where she performed in several theatre productions.

She then decided to try and break into the Bollywood film industry and headed for Mumbai.

After an unsuccessful spell, she bagged the lead role in Gangster opposite Emraan Hashmi.

In Suneel Darshan's musical, Shakalaka Boom Boom, the gorgeous actress shares most of her scenes with Bobby Deol and newcomer model-turned-actor Upen Patel, who made his debut in 36 China Town.

The cast, Deol, Patel, Ranaut and Celina Jaitely and crew arrived in Joburg last year to shoot at Emperors Palace. Ranaut and Patel were the only ones who returned this month to shoot the final scenes at East Rand Mall.

"I play an aspiring singer in the musical and Bobby and Upen are in love with me. Celina and I don't have too many scenes together, but it was a pleasure working with her in the ones we had. She is a really sweet person," says Ranaut.

She adds: "Bobby has so many years in the industry and I got to learn so many things from him . Upen is a newcomer like myself. He is very adorable and inspiring."

Arguably, her most remarkable performance has been in Woh Lamhe, which is a compelling romantic drama apparently inspired by the turbulent relationship Mahesh Bhatt had with the late actress, Parveen Bedi.

"I was approached to do Woh Lamhe while I was shooting for Gangster," Ranaut explains.

"I was very happy about the role and accepted it. I played a schizophrenic.

"The film looks at the actress' fights with her lover and her relationship with a new director (played by Shiney Ahuja) and the helpless situation they find themselves in. It was a great role for a newcomer like me, because I got the chance to expose my creativity."

Of her role as the famous actress Suna Azim, Ranaut explains she was given the freedom to interpret the character the way she wanted to.

"The producer, Mahesh Bhatt, and director, Mohit , worked on the storyline for a year before the film got off the ground. They did a lot of research and I did not have any confusion about the role and what they wanted from me."

Ranaut says she found her co-star Ahuja to be a very dedicated actor with a great sense of humour and she enjoyed working with him.

Aside from her upcoming film Metro, a romance by the director who gave her her big break, Ranaut says she has two more films in the kitty for UTV.

"Filming begins in April, but I can't say too much about the roles. However, I have great hopes for Metro, which is set in a metropolitan city, and will be releasing soon."

source:tonight