Very few people seem to recognise the fact that I am still a newcomer to the film industry. The media has slammed me for the failure of my films and accused me of having manipulated my career to be able to work with the right people. At the same time, when I turned down Indra Kumar's Mann, Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Saath-Saath Hain, Sunny Deol' s London and Priyadarshan's film, people said I was crazy. I am not guilty of any manipulation.

I knew that I couldn't do justice to many films at the same time, though they could have done wonders for my career. Some actresses do 10-12 films a year, but I stick to four. I want to complete my pending projects before I take on new ones. I know that here, people want to be secure for the next five years. So they take on everything they are offered. I'm not insecure. I know the films I have on hand are enough, they'll get made. After that, I will sign new films. I'd love to work with a lot of directors. But at the moment, the table's well laid. I don't need to pile my plate. The assurance that there are more items on the menu is good enough.

I love films. I love being here. There are no regrets, no complaints. Once in a while, I let my hair down. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't feel the need for time out. When I feel the need for a break, it shows. People give it to me before I can ask. The pace has been frenetic these last five years, but this roller-coaster ride has been a conscious choice. I've had a taste of everything… college life, campus rounds, the catwalk, the Miss World blitz, and now films. It's been perfect.

"B(e) positive is not just a blood group"

I'm still in touch with my friends and family. I make time for them. Time has become even more precious, but I use it well. How can I not keep in touch with friends? They're the ones who constantly remind me that I'm me. Aishwarya.

I always say, "B(e) positive is not just a blood group." Cinema is not just make-believe, it is a real world too. If your attitude is right, it does not matter who you are -- the director, producer, the main lead or the set in-charge. Everyone speaks the same language. Bambaiyya. It is a wonderful world and the emphasis is on wonder. You get to live so many characters. All the people you may never meet in real life, you meet in your films.

Once, while shooting abroad, we were dancing in the middle of the street. My co-star was feeling ridiculous. "Why are we doing this?" he cribbed constantly. I told him, "Look at it this way. You can use this as an excuse to do anything really stupid and get away with it. All that you can't do in real life, you can express through films. Here you can fool around and enjoy it."

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