You can't ever accuse Manisha Koirala of being a wilting lily. She is one of the few actresses in the Hindi film industry who has never hesitated from speaking her mind.

That bluntness has landed her into trouble more times than she would care to count. And, as Manisha rues, her fair share of detractors. Blunt comes with a sharp price, or so it seems.

But far be it from Manisha to change into someone she is not.

The actress is on a new mission these days. To work in women-oriented films. Escape From Taliban, based on Sushmita Bandopadhyay's novel of the same name, is a step in that direction. Directed by Ujjal Chattopadyay, the film is Sushmita's story.

Bandopadhyay married an Afghan national and, on going to his town in Sarana, off Kabul, was greeted with hatred and regressive orthodoxy of her husband's family. She finally flees the country.

Preparing for her role took a while, as she tells Bharati Dubey. Excerpts from an interview with her:

What made you take up this role?

I was approached last year for the film --- much before it became a big thing in the media. I read the screenplay and met the writer Sushmita Bandopadhyay. It really saddened me. I thought it was the story of a woman the world needed to know about. It is an incredible story.

How did you prepare yourself for the role?

I worked on her looks and her mannerisms. I had about two to three meetings with Sushmita during which I asked her a lot of questions. For example, clothes. Sushmita told me that she wore salwar kameezes that she stitched herself.

I also asked her how she felt when she was tortured in Afghanistan. I am trying my best to portray her correctly in the film. This is a woman who has been though the worst of situations and come out winning.

Also, portraying a woman who fights for her rights and does things her way is so attractive. I am tired of these bechari [helpless] women roles. I have been offered so many roles. They don't inspire me. Maybe it is because I have always been a fighter. So I find myself turning down scripts in which the woman is a loser.

Why can't we give hope, instead? There are so many good stories of women's bravery like Jhansi Ki Rani. Why can't we highlight women who have emerged winners instead of losers?

That's why I signed this film. Because Sushmita emerged a winner.

So you prefer woman-oriented films now?

Yes. I was offered these kind of roles earlier. But I hesitated because I thought people would think I have shifted to parallel cinema and woman-oriented films. I didn't want that --- I did not want to stagnate by doing similar roles.

Later, I realised there was more scope for me to perform in these kind of films. I was silly to have ignored them earlier. Now, I encourage writers and directors to approach me with roles where I can play different kinds of characters.

I have accepted about four or five films which give me scope to perform.

Are you doing Dr Jagmohan Mundra's film?

No. Too much of it is being written about in the media. Nothing has been finalised. Jag and I have been wanting to work together but nothing has materialised. As far as his film is concerned, I do not know anything about it.

Tell us about your future projects.

I do not want to discuss them. I prefer to talk about my films only after they are almost complete. [Escape From Taliban is 80 per cent complete]. Besides, I don't believe in hyping my films.

Do you believe in big banners?

My career began with a lot of big banners, but I don't think they matter. It helps initially for hype and publicity. But if there is no content, there is no point being attached to a big banner.

There are so many people without a big banner. Like Bollywood Calling. I simply adored that film. Perizad [the female lead] did a fabulous job. I would prefer doing a film like that --- not hyped but which the audience appreciates.

Why did you do Abhay, since you had such a small role?

I did it for Kamalji [Kamal Haasan]. I have done special appearances for altoo-faltoos [inconsequential people], why not for Kamalji?

Besides, it was an interesting role. I wasn't playing a normal actress. My character was a complete wacko. I got the chance to play a mad actress, something I have never done before.

According to rumours, you had exposed for the film, but later the scenes were edited...

Kuch kaata-waata nahin [Nothing was cut]. It [exposing] wasn't there at all.

Then why didn't you speak up?

No one would have believed me. I don't believe in lobbying. I am simply trying to do a good job. Controversies dog me because I am a very blunt person.

So you are unpredictable?

I am unpredictably predictable! I am human, I have my share of mood swings. Moreover I am an artiste.

Eccentric?

I may be eccentric or slightly crazy but I am not harmful. I am not vicious. I don't talk ill of other people. I am not a politically correct person, which seems to jar with today's scenario. Say the right thing to the right people. It is too calculative. I would rather be what I am.

But people love taking potshots at you...

Let them. It does not affect me. But when it does start affecting my work and my peace of mind, I fight back.

What went wrong with Lajja?

I don't know. But I am proud of that film. It clearly stated the problems women face in our society. I hoped it would do well.

On the other hand, if roles don't challenge me, I end up doing mediocre work.

Are you turning producer?

Yes. But I don't want to talk about it now. I have many enemies who will start spreading rumours about me. I don't want my production to get a bad name.

Are you scared of them?

No. Just taking precautions. I know how their minds function. My work is not ready --- that is why I don't want to discuss it.

Why do you make enemies?

I don't. They just feel threatened by me. Maybe because I don't have hits yet I bag plum roles. So they start backbiting.

Do you think they still consider you an outsider?

Maybe. I don't come from a filmi background, yet I am still here and doing a good job.