Role model

At 25,Dutta is content with life in general. She is arguably the highest paid runway walker in India and her sultry looks have made her popular around the world.

The film,naturally,has her nerves on edge. “Movie offers started pouring in almost three years ago. But I was very skeptical if I would be able to do it. According to me,you either have it in you or you don’t. When Sanjay asked me,I could not refuse the offer,” she says of the acclaimed and lyrical filmmaker.

The movies have been quite an experience for her already. “On day one of shoot,everyone thought I would be confident because I had faced the camera before. But I was nervous. I kept running away from Hrithik for two days,” she laughs,telling us how different a runway show is from a movie set.

There has also been news of Dutta adopting the name Monalisa as per her mentor’s suggestion. “You have to ask him about that; as of now,I am Monikangana. I can’t change my name without my parents’ consent. I am flattered to know that Sanjay thinks I look like the Monalisa,” she smiles.

Dutta is no longer the skinny girl she used to be when she entered the fashion industry. “I had to put on some weight for my role,” she says,“I also have a dance number in the movie,for which I learnt some moves. Whenever I watched actors on the sets practicing dance steps,I found it totally weird. I couldn’t believe I was doing the same,” she smiles,as she tells us of the ramifications of being an actor. “When you are doing a film,the character stays with you till you are done shooting. These days,I spend a lot of time grooming myself.”

For someone who was brought up in Assam,she has had a rather different upbringing. “Most people in my town went for conventional careers,I was always exposed to the creative field since childhood,” says Dutta for whom modelling happened at 18. She then came to Mumbai in 2005. “I was fortunate to get offers when I came to Mumbai and consequently she bagged the IMG World contract as well.”

Dutta says she wants to go slow for now. “Most people have told me that it is difficult to juggle professions. But I have always been multitasking.”