Dhobi Ghat'' debutant Kriti was unsure of her acting skills

Mumbai, Jan 15 (PTI) Designer-turned-actress KritiMalhotra, who makes her debut opposite Aamir Khan in ''DhobiGhat'', was first reluctant to be part of the Kiran Rao-directed film as she was unsure of her acting skills.

"I have been doing costume designing for films forthree-and-half years. One day I got a call from a friendasking me to come for screen test for Kiran Rao''s film as theywere looking for new faces, basically a non-actor. Icompletely dismissed it as I never thought of acting," shetold PTI.

Besides Aamir, ''Dhobi Ghat'', Kiran''s directorial debutwhich is scheduled for release on January 21, stars PrateikBabbar, Monica Dogra and Kriti in pivotal roles.

"I told my friend since its Kiran''s film they wouldexpect some kind of a skill and so I am not coming. But hekept calling for two days and out of curiosity I went to getthe experience of screen test. But I was sure they won''t takeme anyways," the costume stylist-turned-actress reminisced.

Kriti said Kiran, who first saw her profile onnetworking site Facebook, liked her screen test and found heracting natural.

In the film, Aamir plays the character of a reclusivepainter, Prateik is a washerboy, and Monica and Kriti are twolead heroines. The movie is about these four characters fromdifferent strata of society and how their lives areintertwined.

About Aamir''s presence, the debutant said the film''saudience base will become bigger due to the Bollywood star''sassociation. "Everyone is going to watch it and will know thatI acted in it." .

"Aamir is an amazing actor and does not have any kind of attitude...that ''I am the best actor''," she said, adding,"Aamir was interested to know about our thoughts, opinions,suggestions and inputs. He used to ask what I thought of mycharacter and the film."

Kriti essays the role of Yasmin, a 22-year-old Muslimgirl from Uttar Pradesh, who is a new migrant to Mumbai.

Asked if styling will take a backseat after gettinginto acting, she said, "I guess in terms of future stylingprojects, ''Dhobi Ghat'' will definitely increase my brandvalue. If I get more film offers, styling might take abackseat, but I think it will always be part of my life." PTIKKP RSY