Going bolder by the film seems to be the new mantra for actress Divya Dutta.

After essaying a foul-mouthed ragpicker in Delhi 6 and being in the news for her long lovemaking scene with Irrfan Khan in Hisss, Dutta goes a step further and performs a lesbian act in her next film, Monica.

Says Dutta, "The film traces the journey of an opportunistic woman who feels that being a lesbian is just a stepping stone to success."

Typically, she claims the bold scene is "not vulgar" and has been shot "aesthetically".

The actress with whom Dutta gets all hot and dirty is the beautiful veteran Kaushalya 'Kitu' Gidwani.

Dutta says both were initially a "little awkward" to get into the act. "I had never met Kitu earlier," she says. "We both were a bit awkward, but things became fine as we both trusted our director. We are both serious actors and every role we take up, we look to do it responsibly."

Dutta believes cinema has "matured" now and "so have audiences". "People want to see real things," she says. Not that she and Gidwani went at it really!

But why is Dutta, who has often been described as a talented actress, suddenly trying to go bold? "I think it has happened gradually," she says. "I did not try anything. When I started my career, people said I was the girl-next-door with an innocent face. But I have got the best reviews for my role in Delhi 6. This is rewarding as an actor as it shows that I'm on the right track."

Now to wait and watch whether the "right track" takes her into the naked zone.