From ramp to silver screen: Pooja Chopra fulfils a dream

Mumbai: Former Miss India Pooja Chopra, who did guest appearance in filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar`s `Fashion` and `Heroine`, is looking forward to her full- fledged role in `Commando`.

Chopra was crowned Miss India in 2009 and she said that it was her mother`s dream to see her become an actress. "Everything I do in my life is for my mother. My inspiration, motivation and drive, is all her. After Miss India, I wanted to start a cafe or a restaurant for her. She refused and told me `I have not asked you for anything but I want you to become an actress`," Chopra told reporters in an interview. "She wanted me to become an actress. She was like if (beauty queens) Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chorpa can become actress, why not me, that too without any connections. I do it all for her. If she is happy I am happy." For Chopra, it is the happiness of her mother that matters to her the most. "She is quite happy seeing the rushes of `Commando`. She can`t stop talking about it. I want to see her happy, satisfied." Chopra had small roles in `Fashion` and `Heroine`, and now she will be seen in Vipul Shah`s home production `Commando`, her first full-fledged film, directed by debutant, Dilip Ghosh. She is paired opposite Vidyut Jamwal, who was last seen in 2011 action film `Force`. Chopra is all praise for her co-star, also a model- turned actor. "We know each other since our modelling days, though we were not best of friends. He is a very comfortable actor, he is nice and a fun-loving person." Chopra also said that while shooting for `Commando`, she has learnt quite a few things from her producer Vipul Shah. "He (Vipul Shah) comes from theatre background. He is not only a good director, producer but also a great teacher. For me, he is a mentor. It is a huge thing for me to act in a film that he has backed. It is a blessing," she said. "He is very helpful, understanding person. He has encouraged me to give my best. I have followed all the advice that he gave me. I think I am director`s actor," she added. `Commando` is set for release on April 12. PTI