I`m happy with my bold choices, says Neha Dhupia

New Delhi: Actress Neha Dhupia, who has made more news for her onscreen attire than for her forgettable roles, says she isn`t too perturbed when people call her bold but considers it a compliment."There have been a number of occasions when people found my onscreen presence really bold. I don`t know what they mean when they say that. To me being bold is all about stepping into any role and being able to mould into the character," said the actress, who came into limelight with `Julie`.

"I experiment a lot with my roles. How many times have audiences seen me repeating my roles?" asked the 30-year-old. "I can wear a two-piece swim suit and at the same time play a dacoit queen which I am doing in one of my upcoming projects. If that`s what people mean by saying that I am bold then, yes, I am bold," Dhupia told reporters. The former Miss India feels that the Indian film industry has finally "come of age" and gone are the days when what the heroine wears or doesn`t wear gains precedence over her skills as an actress. "Most actresses these days, even the top ones, have a bikini scene or two in their movies and they carry it off well. It doesn`t look vulgar. Despite the entire hullabaloo about skin show and stuff my acting skills haven`t gone unnoticed and I`m happy about that." Talking about her first international project, where Dhupia will feature alongside Hollywood actor Chris Kattan in a US television show titled `Bollywood Hero,` Dhupia said she played the role of Lalima, the industry`s reigning queen who is known more for courting controversies than her acting skills. Does this have a slight semblance to her life off-screen? "Not at all, I got a call from Tabrez Noorani who is the executive producer of the series. I took up the challenge immediately," gushed Dhupia. `Bollywood Hero,` a romantic comedy is about an unsuccessful Hollywood actor who tries his luck in the Indian film industry and traces his journey in showbiz. Dhupia plays the protagonist`s love interest. "Acting in a television series was no less challenging than acting in a movie. The only differences are a lot more discipline is involved while acting for a series. It was shot in just 45 days!," said Dhupia, adding that in one of the episodes she had to play a 75-year-old which was Herculean. "Trust me, looking old and gnarled is a lot more difficult than looking pretty," laughed the actress. The show, which was premiered in US on August 6, will be aired on HBO on November 7. Dhupia, meanwhile, is also awaiting the release of her upcoming movies `Action Replay` and `Phas Gaye Re Obama.` "Vipul Shah`s `Action Replay,` where I star opposite Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai, will release on November 5. Another movie directed by Subhash Kapoor, where I play a dacoit queen is slated for release on December 3. My fingers are crossed," said Dhupia. PTI