Celina Jaitely – Beyond the bikini

“I’ve played many non-glamorous roles—a simple South Indian girl in Golmaal Returns and a housewife in No Entry. Both films were hits and people appreciated my work,” says the actress. She also says she has five rom-coms up for release this year— Subhash Ghai’s Paying Guest,Neeraj Vora’s Run Bhola Run,Aditya Datt’s Chai Garam and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Showman,and an international venture Love Has No Language. “I have a penchant for comedy. But all my roles are varied and they are not just about looking good. From a ‘Sandra from Bandra’ to an ‘Action Girl’,I will be trying my hand with different things.”

A bee-stung pout,hazel eyes,peachy skin and hips you could spread a buffet on,the model-turned-actor has believed in flaunting her oomph,both on screen and off it. Jaitley’s ensembles have been stirring in most films,but skin show doesn’t miff viewers as much these days. “The industry has evolved over the years and the audience has become more understanding. People know that a particular outfit is worn because the script demands it and not because we like to flaunt our body,” she laughs.

While we’re still trying to figure out if the bikini scene in her debut was integral to the script,Jaitley is content with her image. “I’m not complaining. I believe that the body is the temple of the soul. From being a Miss Universe runner-up to a PETA activist and an actress,I would attribute every achievement to my glamour quotient. No regrets there,” she insists,even as she sports a beautiful black mini at the launch of her website mycelinajaitley.com which she says is an “attempt at bringing the real Celina to the fore”.

Her sex appeal may have kept her in the reckoning,but it is her flair for languages that helped her bag international and vernacular film projects,says the light-eyed beauty. “After Janasheen released,I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue with acting or go back to modelling,or defense services. It was my love for learning new languages that made me take up assignment down South,” she says. And no sooner than she thought she was doing an English film opposite Australian star Ben Mitchell. “Now,I am eagerly waiting March 6 when my film Love Has No Language will be released around the globe,” she smiles.