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Priyanka Kothari returns to the marquee this Friday after a long spell. Her last release was the dismal Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, way back in 2007, where she tried to pull off Hema Malini's Basanti. In case you don't recognise her name, it's because she was credited as Nisha in her previous films like James, The Killer and Aag.
The actress, who has gone back to her real name, is looking forward to her new release, Agyaat, also directed by Ram Gopal Varma.
Life has not been easy for this Delhi girl ever since she broke into film circuit by becoming Ram Gopal Varma's new protege after Antara Mali opted out of RGV's camp.
Priyanka broke into the scene with James in 2005. Several films and a name change later, success still eludes the petite actress. She hopes that Agyaat will turn the tide in her favour.
So what is Agyaat about? "It is a horror film, which will scare you to death," she says.
Priyanka claims to be 'determined in her work' and a 'dedicated actress.'
That's why mosquitoes could not keep her away from Mumbai's green suburban Lokhandwala area, where she decided to promote her film, which is set in a jungle.
Dressed in a sleeveless outfit, Priyanka braved mosquitoes to answer questions about the film. "Do you see this?" she asked, pointing to her arms, "They have turned red, thanks to these mosquitoes."
So how was the experience of shooting the film in a jungle? "It was worse than this experience!" Priyanka exclaims. "There were not only mosquitoes but all kinds of animals too. The worse was the hotel room in which we were staying. There were huge lizards! I wanted to shift to another room but couldn't because that was the best room in the hotel. If this was the best room, who knows what kind of rooms the others were staying in."
To add to her woes, there was 'no gymnasium or treadmill.'
"We all fought for that," she grins.
Since RGV's earlier horror movies like Bhoot and Phoonk have been a hit at the box office, does Priyanka feel Agyaat would be a hit as well?
"Whatever he makes, he makes sure they're the best," she replies. "He presents a film in a very different way. I can't say what will happen to Agyaat."
The film's promos show the actors being chased by something. When we asked Priyanka what it is that scares them so much, she said that the movie is an experimental one, exploring the unknown. "It's something that you will have to watch to get the answer. We are in the dark just as the audience are," she added.
And finally, does she believe in ghosts? "I believe in them because if God exists, then even ghosts do."