'My character is based on Barkha Dutt'

MUMBAI: First Preity Zinta's character in 'Lakshya' was modelled on well known journalist Barkha Dutt and now Shriya Saran portrays her in 'Mission Istanbul' that is releasing on Friday.

Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film is based on international terrorism and features Shriya as a TV reporter.

"I play a TV journalist in the film who reports on terrorism," said Shriya who claimed fame for teaming up with Rajinikant in the Tamil hit movie 'Sivaji - The Boss'.

"My character has a hazy impression of Barkha Dutt in it. Though I have not met her in person, I have seen a lot of her TV shows to get into the character," added the 26-year-old, who forayed in Bollywood with Mohit Suri's 'Aawarapan'.

In the film, Shriya plays the disappointed wife Anjali of an ambitious journalist Vikas Sagar, played by Zayed Khan.

Shriya does not like to be tagged as a southern actress and said: "An actress is an actress whether she does films in any language. You can't say one as regional actress and other a Hindi film actress."

As far as difference of Bollywood with the south's film industry is concerned, Shriya said she does not find any difference between the two and enjoys working in both the industries.