Vidya Balan gets makeover for 'Ishqiya'

Vidya Balan, who shot to fame as the reticent beauty Lolita in the 2005 hit Parineeta will be seen in a deglamourised avatar in Ishqiya which is being produced by Vishal Bhardwaj.

The actress, who experimented with a western look in films like Heyy Baby and Kismat Connection has turned to a complete Indian look for her character of a rural woman in the film.

"There is a shift from a western look to a simpler, more Indian look as I play a woman in a remote village of India," Balan, who was in the capital to attend a conference said.

The 31-year-old actress who will be sharing screen space with Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi in the upcoming film said that the film reminded her of Parineeta days.

"I have worked really hard for the film, from taking classes in the dialect to gruelling shooting sessions. But this is also a film that I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of."

"I think after Parineeta, it is one film that I enjoyed working on the most. It was a wonderful experience, a lot like my first film," said Balan.

The actress who has refused to preen herself for the 'sexy' tag said that she does not want to conform to the image desired by the industry.

"According to me, being sexy is about having a certain attitude, not just about skimpy clothes. The yesteryear actresses were all sexy without revealing skin. As far as I am concerned, I prefer sensuous to sexy," said Balan.

Vidya who recently walked the ramp for fashion designer Ritu Beri, said that she was hesitant to step up to the task as it was really out of character for her.

"I did the show because Ritu and I really hit it off, when we met for a magazine photo shoot, though I did have second thoughts about it. I had to manage a lot of fabric and plenty of make up but it came out well, and it was an enjoyable experience," said Balan.

The actress entered the world of acting through modelling, having been the face of numerous advertisements and she has not given up on them, though she has moved on from being just a model to a brand ambassador now.

"The response to my advertisements has been amazing. It's interesting how a 30 second appearance can get you so much attention and appreciation."

"I am in talks with some brands now, nothing has been finalised yet but hopefully you will get to see me on some billboards this year," said Balan.