'I don't need to revive my career'

She started her film career at the young age of 16. Ten years later, Aarti Chhabria has worked in almost 20 films, including Lajja, Awaara Pagal Deewana and Shootout At Lokhandwala.

This Friday, Aarti will have two releases -- Daddy Cool and Toss.

The actress talks to Patcy N about the way her career has progressed, and why her career isn't rocking yet.

You started your career with big films like Lajja and Awaara Pagal Deewana. But now, you are doing smaller films like Toss and Daddy Cool. What do you think went wrong with your career?

It is a must for an actor to do different kinds of films. See the kind of films that have released in the last few years -- A Wednesday, 13 B, Dev D, Life... In A Metro and Jab We Met have been small budget films and have worked at the box office. Big films like Kambakkth Ishq and Tashan have fallen flat on their noses. The amount spent on making these films will make the producers weep like a baby! So it does not matter how big or small a film is. The script matters. Casting big stars alone cannot make a film a hit.

Are the films that you're doing currently the kind of movies you wanted to do when you started out as an actress?

No, I wanted to do the films that Madhuri Dixit did like Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Dil, Tezaab, films that Juhi Chawla did like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak or films that Sridevi did like Chaalbaaz and Sadma.

I wanted to do films that were performance-oriented, heroine-oriented. But the roles that I got are very different. I don't feel bad because I have not come from a filmi background and I do not have any linkups in the industry -- no boyfriend has been pushing me. I do not have a single controversy. My reputation has been very clean. And I'm proud of that.

Whatever little I have done has been on my own terms and merit. I am happy with what I have done. I want to do more, of course, but desires never end. Even if I get to do a film like Rani Mukerji's Black, I would like to do it. It does not mean you have been unsuccessful. It just means you got to keep trying harder.

You have not had a good hit in a long time. Do you think these Friday releases will revive your career?

You revive your career when you are down in the dumps. I don't need to revive my career. Shootout at Lokhandwala released a year ago and was a big hit. I played Taranumm, the bar dancer.

But that was a small role.

No, it was not. It was a fantastic role and got a great response. Which other girl do you remember from the film, who had a bigger role than mine?

Dia Mirza.

She had a bigger role than mine? I had two songs in the film and a role opposite Tusshar Kapoor. I was his love angle. I'm thankful for that role. No other actress had songs in that film.

You still need that one big hit.

Yes, but that does not mean I will point a finger at what I have done in the past. I have done films like Raja Bhaiya with Govinda. So it's not like I haven't done solo heroine movies. I am also doing Kananda and Telugu movies. I was nominated as the best actress for my last Kannada film Santha.

I have been very busy; I've had no time to sleep.

What is Toss about?

Toss is about the greed for money and the greed to succeed. It is a fast paced thriller based on six friends --  how their relationship and perception of life changes after an incident.

On their way back from a picnic, they stumble upon two steel cases full of money. This changes their lives.

I play a Christian girl called Sasha, who sings in weddings and parties. She is a volcanic mix of sensuality and intelligence. She is the kind of girl you would either love or hate. She does not think before doing anything. She is very ambitious.

What made you take up this film?

My character was a big challenge, as Sasha is very different from Aarti Chhabria. It was not easy for me to do this role. When I heard the script, I wanted to be a part of what I thought would be challenging.

It was a challenge to work with Rameshji [Khatkar, director]. He is a task master. The script was amazing too. After working with nice, known and experienced actors like Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Fardeen, Tusshar and Vivek Oberoi, I am doing a film with newcomers. It was a different kind of experience.

Weren't you apprehensive working with newcomers? Even the director is a newcomer.

I have never done a film because the hero is a big name. I have done films because of the roles, or because I believe in the director and because I believe that I will be presented well.

How was it working with director Ramesh Khatkar?

He has assisted Ram Gopal Varma earlier. He is passionate about filmmaking and knows what he wants.

He is very strict. He does takes after takes until he gets things right. While dubbing, I was almost in tears once. He wouldn't let me go without giving the right take though I felt I had done my best.

What is the USP of Toss?

The film's plot. This is the kind of film that will do well through word of mouth because we don't have big stars in it. We can't expect a huge opening. That's why it'll do well over the days, as the script is amazing.

Any anecdotes you can share with us?

We were shooting for a rain sequence but the water tanker had run out of water. So they put the water pump in a stream, which had tiny insects. I got really wild with them because I was afraid of getting a rash. But they lied to me and told me the water was coming from the tanker itself.

So we went ahead with the shoot. Nothing happened to my skin but later, I got an eye infection. I was shooting for Dhoom Dhadaka at that time so I had to shoot with sunglasses for the next 20 days. That taught me a lesson -- if we actors have a problem, we must put our foot down no matter what. At the end of the day, it is our health that we are risking.

What are your plans for the future?

To keep working and doing better films. I want to work with directors like Anurag Basu, Anurag Kashyap, Vikram K Kumar (who directed 13 B) and Imtiaz Ali.