Manisha Koirala: Controversy's child, not really!

Sporting a rudraksha mala gifted by her mom on her return from Kailash Parbat, actor Manisha Koirala seems to have made peace with her failed marriage and is all set to recapture her lost glory in Bollywood. Rather than simper her way into the audience’s heart, she’ll be seen making an eerie impact in Ram Gopal Verma’s sequel Bhoot Returns.

The actor, known for plain-speak in her heyday, does not shy away from questions about controversies dogging her in the past. “Since childhood I was a bit of a radical as I’ve grown up in a liberal household. I have never grown up with the dos and don’ts that society is known to impose,” Manisha grins, adding, “So when I entered Bollywood, there was no sign of coyness around me. I was open about my relationships. Today, everybody is open about it,  but at the time then, relationships were best hidden. I didn’t (hide), and got called wild and bold.”

On her recent failed marriage, she says, “It never affected my professional life. I would disconnect and switch-off as soon as I reached the sets. I’d have gone bonkers if I did not maintain that balance emotionally.” The actor adds that work exhausted her to the point where  she had no time to regret her past. Manisha, however, admits to have made some wrong career moves. “I chose some bad films and did not use my discretion. But I believe that everybody has to make their own share of mistakes to learn and mature as an actor.”

Once renowned for her beauty and histrionics, who does she think can fill her shoes from the current crop of actors? “Everybody brings in something different in their acting; certain elements that people can connect to. I love Vidya Balan as I feel that she is a natural performer. Parineeti Chopra, too, has got the spark and confidence that’s appealing.”

Not ready to repeat her past mistakes, Manisha wants to be choosy with her roles. “Anything that takes me beyond my comfort zone is a role that I am game for,” she says.