DNA
 
Mumbai, May 15: If you’ve been wondering where had Lara Dutta disappeared after ‘Bhaagam Bhaag’, here’s a little surprise. Apart from touring for her social obligations, the actor has taken on a completely new avatar. “I’m scripting my first-ever film as a scriptwriter!” exults Lara, whose romantic-comedy caper is now ready to be snapped up.

“I love comedy! Though most people find it difficult to believe that I have a great comic streak, fact is, I do! And that explains my presence in films like ‘No Entry’, ‘Bhaagam Bhaag’ and now David Dhawan’s ‘Partner’ — which is a complete laugh-riot. But I wanted to show off my comic sense, so I thought why not combine it with my passion for writing and come up with a script?” she says.

Lara is also eagerly awaiting Yashraj’s ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ in which she is playing a Pakistani-French girl and is paired with buddy Abhishek Bachchan for the first time after ‘Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost’. “Though I can’t speak much about my role since we have been instructed not to, it has been fun experimenting with a French accent in this film. I guess I’m becoming very lingo-savvy after ‘Zinda’!” she laughs, adding that it was a treat to work with AB’s baby again.

“He has improved in leaps and bounds after ‘Mumbai Se…’ but at heart he still remains the Mr Pouty with a heart of gold; he’s a great buddy!” she says. Talking about ‘Jhoom Barabar...’, one can’t help asking about the controversy she was embroiled in while shooting in London.

“Well, I did not get embroiled in that controversy. The Indians locals had a problem with the foreign crew who were smoking in the parking lot of a Gurudwara, but the issue got solved just as quickly. As for me and Abhishek, the crowds went crazy over us! In fact, that has been one of the toughest shooting experiences for me. We were mobbed like crazy but it was also overwhelming to see their reaction to us,” say Lara.

The former beauty queen talks equally passionately about her involvement with the fight against female infanticide and HIV. “If I can influence at least some people to think about these issues, I’d take all the more pride in being an actor,” says Lara who is actively involved in UNFPA, the Sri Sri Ravishankar Foundation and is now looking at taking up the cause of global warming.