'Sex does not mean vulgarity'

Koena Mitra is currently working in Subhash Ghai's Apna Sapna Money Money, being directed by Sangeeth Sivan. Also on the cards is a Bengali film, which will be dubbed in Hindi. But her sultry-siren tag is simply refusing to die down.

No wonder she starts her diatribe against easy labels like 'item girl' or 'item bomb' that commodify women.

Says Mitra, "The media immediately bracketed me as a sex symbol and I want to change that image. I don't mind the sexy image but sex does not mean vulgarity. I have a dignified look and I can carry myself with dignity even in skimpy clothes."

In Apna Sapna Money Money, Koena plays an Anglo-Indian girl, who wants to become a singer. This is the first time that Koena has attempted a comedy role.

Describing her experience wirh new genre she says,"I faced difficulties especially because I was working with top comedy actors like Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav and Jackie Shroff. I had a rollicking time working with them," says Koena.

Though Koena is just four films old, the actress seems to have a lot of confidence in her work.

"I remember my first film Insaan with Ajay Devgan. During the shoot, I would forget my lines and didn't know Hindi very well. The insecurity that I had was showing on my face I am more comfortable with the camera now. I have shed all my inhibitions," she adds.