It was fun shooting for Shaitan

Model turned actress Kirti Kulhari's debut was as the girl next door in Khichdi The Movie. Quite different from her next movie, Shaitan, where she has a rather daring kissing scene with female co-star Kalki Koechlin.

Kirti talks to Patcy N about her role in the film and the opposition she initially had to face from her family.

Tell us something about yourself. How did you get into films?

I belong to Pilani in Rajasthan. My dad is in the Indian Navy, a Commander, still serving. I went to school in Kendra Vidyalayas in different places because my dad was posted at different places. I did my BMS from Bhavan's College in Mumbai and a post-graduate diploma in journalism and mass communication.

When I was in college I got a few offers, but I was too young and immature so I thought I would complete my studies and then get into movies as a profession. I finished my studies and four years ago I got into this. I have done around 30 ads like Nivea Visage, Taj Mahal tea with Saif, Vaseline body lotion, Kaya, ICICI, Close-up, Travelguru, Videocon, to name some. Ads were just a way to get into films.

I also did a one-month theatre workshop with the Yatri group. I have acted in three of their plays and spent one year doing theatre. People knew me from my ads and I got a call to audition for Khichdi.

Likewise for Shaitan, Bejoy called me through a friend's reference. I gave two auditions, one was a solo and the other was with Kalki.