Amrita did her homework well before taking on the project. She says, “First and foremost I wanted to understand Shyam Benegal’s style. I got the DVDs of all his films, and watched them in a row. Once I found myself ready, I started shooting.” She says she gave it her best shot, because this is the film that puts her in the same bracket as actresses like Shabana Azmi, the late Smita Patil and Rekha.

The actress adds, “He [Benegal] is a very quick person. He doesn’t waste his own time, nor that of his cast. He knows what he wants out of his actors, and he also knows how to extract it.” Apart from Welcome... Amrita will next be seen in Shortcut, playing an ultra-glamorous girl. “It would be completely different from whatever I have left behind in the past,” she says thoughtfully.

She attributes her success to the choices she made while selecting her films and also her love for her work. “When it comes to viewer’s choice, each film counts. Moreover, it’s important to enjoy the work that I do. Thus, it is important that I am excited about the films I sign,” Amrita says.

With the perfect girl-next-door look, Amrita Rao has proved that she is much more than that. The actress who was first noticed in Ishq Vishq , is now all set to work with Shyam Benegal!

So, how did it feel working with the maestro? “I’ve grown up watching his films and Zubeidaa is my favourite film. I feel fortunate to work not only with him, but an actor like Shreyas Talpade too, who is also a part of the project. It was a mélange of brilliant people who know what they are doing. When I saw Iqbal, I had tears in my eyes. It was just a perfect blend,” says the pretty actress.