In her short career, Amrita Rao has already scored two hits: Ishq Vishk and Masti. She will be seen next in Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na.

Amrita will also star in Milan Luthria's Deewar with Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna.

The actress relives her Main Hoon Na experience.

Nowadays I do not really have to audition for my films, after Ishq Vishk's success. I did not have to audition for Masti. Induji [Indra Kumar] saw Ishq Vishk and was really convinced about me. For the first time, I was signed within 10 minutes of meeting him. I was hustled into a room, given a narration, and the next thing I knew, I was getting my cheque!

But I auditioned for Main Hoon Na because I was still shooting for Ishq Vishk. Main Hoon Na started in December 2002.

Gauri Khan [Shah Rukh Khan's wife] saw me in the Bru [an instant coffee brand] ad and told Farah to audition 'the Bru girl'. I had to give my pictures to Farah, just like a newcomer. Then I had a meeting with Shah Rukh because he was the producer and Farah wanted him to have a say in the selection.

My audition was done in two parts. The first day I had to dance to Chali jaisi hawayein, which is the most difficult song in the film. The next day I had to act out three scenes. The first was a hard-core emotional scene I had to do with Shah Rukh. Of course, one of his assistants stood in for him then. Farah was so happy with it that that I wasn't required to act the other two scenes.

Text: Ronjita Kulkarni
Design: Uday Kuckian

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