NEWS: Playing Bijlee was mentally draining: Anushka Sharma

For Anushka Sharma, playing the role of Bijlee in "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" was far too complex than the roles she has done till now, and even left her mentally drained.

"So far the characters which I have played have been very strong girls so I cannot play them in a relaxed way. I played them the way they were written. Bijlee is one of the most complex characters I had to play," Anushka told IANS.

"My character is saying something and means something else, you have to read between the lines. It is a complete dichotomy. For me, the way she (Bijlee) was, was not something which I could relate to naturally. I just could not relate to her. She is very vague and vain," she added.

Written and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, "Matru Ki Bijlee..." also features Imran Khan and veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor. It is due to hit screens Jan 11.

But being a Vishal Bhardwaj film, Anushka says she was prepared for the unexpected.

"Vishal Bhardwaj's films are not obvious. That is what I had to learn. Human beings are flawed and he works in this grey area. When a film is not very verbose, it is the in-between spaces you have to fill, which becomes difficult," said the 24-year-old.

"Mentally it was draining. After a few days, I sent a message saying I don't think I can do this. Everything which I have done has been simple till now. Here there are too many layers. I would have spoilt it if I had played it linear," she added.

However, the actress agrees she has learnt a lot during the course of the film.

"When I started shooting this film, I saw the world in either black or white. After doing this film, somewhere I started accepting things more, and became less judgmental. I started to sympathise with people. Everyone has made mistakes in life and acceptance of that was what I learnt in the film," said Anushka, who made her Bollywood debut with 2008 film "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi".

"Vishal Bhardwaj has seen a certain kind of life. He has seen so much which you and I won't even think is true, because we have lived in big cities. He has learnt a lot from life and that's what you see in his films," she added.

NEWS: Imran follows the footsteps of uncle Aamir

Actor Imran Khan is following in the footsteps of his uncle Aamir Khan and pasting posters of his new film "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" on taxis.

Imran recounts the similarity between his way and what Aamir once did.

"Twenty four years ago Aamir uncle pasted the posters of his film 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'. I remember him telling the story that he and my mother were roaming around the by-lanes of Bandra and seeking the permission of rickshaw drivers to paste the posters of his film and telling them that he is the hero of the film," the 29-year-old said here Monday while promoting the film.

"Flash forward 24 years and I find myself doing the same thing. Actually in our city public transport is the most important thing whether it is rickshaw, taxis or buses, it has always been the lifeline of the city. I think it is the easiest way to communicate and reach out to the people," he added.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" also features Anushka Sharma, Pankaj Kapur and Shabana Azmi. It hits theatres Jan 11.

NEWS: Imran wary of controversy before 'Matru Ki...' release

Actor Imran Khan believes his forthcoming film "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" deals with a somewhat taboo subject and this may give rise to some controversy before its release.

"It's a very taboo subject. Not controversial but people can find a way to make it controversial," the 29-year-old said here Tuesday at a radio station.

"I'll tell you what will happen, one week before the release someone will find a way to make it controversial, someone or the other will get offended, just see," he added.

His co-star Anushka Sharma chipped in, "It is what it is."

The film is set in a village where Anushka plays Pankaj Kapoor's daughter, while Imran works with Pankaj. However, problems arise when Anushka gets involved with another man, Arya Babbar, a powerful politician Shabana Azmi's son.

Anushka, who plays Bijlee, said the role was quite tough for her.

"For me the role was difficult to play because of the way I am, I say whatever I think. But Bijlee is somebody who holds her emotions and her thoughts to herself," the 24-year-old said here.

"She portrays an image that is not maybe who she is. So I think that was a little difficult," she added.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film releases Jan 11.