Ek Chhotisi film row to ek badasa stage role

But didn’t Choksi swear off roles involving sexual overtones after the body double controversy? She hasn’t changed her stand, she insists, but there’s Ek Chhotisi subtlety she wants to emphasise.

‘‘My objection is to scenes like the one which I did in Ek Chhotisi…. Though I did those purely for monetary benefit, I still maintain that I did not do anything wrong. This play does not involve doing such scenes and as far as dialogue is concerned, that is okay. I have a very exciting role, the lead. It’s an opportunity for me to show my talent unlike in films, where I have to mug up hundreds of lines. All this publicity has done me good as I have received interesting offers,’’ she says.

Naturally, it’s also what the play’s producers, Players Group, are banking on for a full house. According to executive producer Rajesh Thakkar, ‘‘There is mutual benefit. While Jessica gets to act for the first time in a lead role, we get a lot of publicity. This is a play which we have revived by staging it on Dussehra.’’

Echoing Thakkar’s view, Patel says Jaldi Karo… was a hit when it was staged five years ago. ‘‘It was not as if Jessica was selected because of the controversy she generated. Though she had a good face we did not know whether she would be comfortable acting on stage unlike films where you have lot of retakes. It was only after we took her screen test that we decided to take her,’’ said Patel.