Chennai, Feb 17 (IANS): Known mostly for her bubbly and glamorous avatars on television, actress Anasuya Bharadwaj hopes to impress audiences in the contrasting role of a gun-toting police officer in upcoming Telugu thriller "Kshanam".

"My role in 'Kshanam' is so different from how I've been accepted on television all these years. Audiences who have gotten used to seeing me on television are definitely in for a surprise and I hope they like my new avatar," Anasuya told IANS.

It was the film's lead actor Adivi Sesh, who approached her with the role.

"About a year and a half ago, Sesh came to me with the role. I wasn't keen back then as I was busy hosting Devi Sri Prasad's concert in the US. Sesh met me again after I returned to India and this time made me read the script. I really liked my character," she said.

"Kshanam", directed by debutant Ravikanth Perepu and produced by PVP Cinema, also stars Adah Sharma, Vennela Kishore and Satyam Rajesh in important roles.

Transforming into the police officer had its share of challenges, admits Anasuya, popular for hosting "Jabardasth".

"Right from my body language to the way I speak, hold a gun or stare and even the minutest of the expression had to be changed. This is a character with very minimal make-up and I've never faced a camera without make-up, yet I had to do it for the sake of the character," she said, and added that she's happy with the way her character has turned out.

How did she prepare for her role?

"Although I watched a few cop films, it was only to feel the intensity of the character. I avoided watching many films because I'm good at imitating and I didn't want to merely ape someone else on screen. I wanted to be me when I was playing the character," she said.

Unlike "Mardaani" and "Jai Gangaajal", she plays a police officer who has the elegance of a woman but at the same time is authoritative. She also doesn't don khaki in the entire film.

Ever since the first look of her character was released, she's been getting plenty of offers to play a police officer.

"Out of the offers I've got so far, I'm considering one project. It's too early to comment but the story will revolve around me and the film will be produced a popular production house. Apart from that, I may also do a comedy-thriller," she said.