People don't recognise me now: Bhumi Pednekar

Says Bhumi Pednekar who took home the Filmfare Best Debutante Award and now stares at the Black Lady all day.

Bhumi Pednekar is loving the spotlight on her at award events just as much as she's enjoying the compliments she has been receiving for her recent flab to fab transformation.

The 26-year-old actress is not embarrassed to say that she has been completely vain about fashion since she was a little girl. "I love to play dress up and enjoy having a fabulous stylist around me. It's so me," she exults.

She admits that half-a-dozen trophies are on the shelf of her room, now. The latest addition being the coveted Black Lady which she brought home after beating Harshaali Malhotra, Bajrangi Bhaijaan's adorable Munni and Hero Suraj Pancholi's heroine, Athiya Shetty, to the Best Debut (Female) Award. "My mother cleared out an entire shelf in my room so I could proudly flaunt my awards," she says. "I always dreamt of being an actress, now I'm living the dream."

Today, Bhumi looks nothing like the XXXL girl from Haridwar, Sandhya Verma, who she played in her debut film. "People don't recognise me now," says the actress, who has lost over 20 kilos in the last six months. "I had gained weight for my character and now I'm back to being Bhumi. This newest award has motivated me to work harder and be better than my first film," she says, adding that her mother and sisters keep her grounded.

Bhumi describes herself as an open canvas. "I love experimenting with roles and pushing the envelope on screen. But I'm not calculative or insecure. I have no filter, I go with my instincts," she asserts. Bhumi, who debuted opposite Ayushmann Khurrana, is teaming up with him again in Sameer Sharma's Manmarziyaan, which rolls in Punjab next month. She credits the actor for her recent wins. "It was a blessing having him as my co-star, so I'm doing another film with him. It proves that the chemistry is still sizzling."