Frustrating to be passed on because of ethnicity: Nagra

London: ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ launched the Hollywood career of Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Meyers but film`s lead Parminder Nagra says it is ‘frustrating’ at times to be passed on because of her Indian background.

The actress played a die-hard Beckham fan, who goes against her strict Sikh upbringing to play football for Britain. The film, directed by Gurinder Chaddha`, has achieved a cult status. Nagra, who worked on popular medical drama `ER` for six-years, is now returning to the big screen as a school teacher in `Horrid Henry`, the Daily Mail reported. "I sometimes feel I won`t get considered for a lead role because I`m Indian, but I also had a great role on ER," Nagra said. The actress, who is married to a photographer and has a son, however, feels that the perception is changing. "I`m sure there are times I`ve been in a casting room when they must have thought, `How can we sell this? Will this appeal to everyone?` and I can`t say it`s not frustrating at times. But then you see ‘Slumdog Millionaire`s’ Freida Pinto doing so well? So it is happening," said Nagra. PTI