Kya Kool Hai Isha-Khallas girl

Kya Kool Hai Isha

The Khallas girl moves from item numbers to an increased role in Don

Kunal M Shah

Isha Koppikar was on cloud nine after she clinched a role in Farhan Akhtar's Don opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Bbut her joy knew no bounds when she was informed recently that the length of her role had been increased.

"I already had an interesting character with a couple of good songs," she says. "With Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor in the film, there was speculation about my role in it. But things always change with the final draft. I remember I had opted out of a film once when in the final draft, my role had been decreased. However before leaving for the last outdoor in Malaysia, Farhan had informed me that in the final draft things would work out in my favour."

Isha's character, Anita, was not there in the original film. "So there will be no comparisons with the original. Don is a cult film and you can't go wrong with it," says Isha.

What was her reaction when Farhan informed her that her role had been increased? "This is the first time I am working in such a big film and I knew I had to do my best. On the first day on the sets I had a high-voltage scene and I gave it my best. It was then that Farhan came over to me and congratulated me, adding that he was going to increase my character," she says.

It has been a long journey in Bollywood for Isha who came into the industry through item numbers and cameos. "I have no godfather. But since Kya Kool Hai Hum and D, things have changed. Javedsaab and Shabana Azmi called me and praised my performance in these films. Hemaji sent me flowers praising my performance in Kya Kool… What more can I ask for?" she says.