Gutfully yours...

In a world ruled by masks, she revels in unmasking herself, emerging free.

Comfortable with her skin, herself and her character, she uncurls herself to be born again before the camera, time and again.

rediff.com's Nidhi Taparia meets Sonali Kulkarni, who now finds herself poised on the threshold of commercial cinema:

ON the one hand, Sonali Kulkarni plays Hrithik Roshan's mother and Sanjay Dutt's wife in Mission Kashmir.

On the other hand, she is Fardeen Khan's girlfriend in Ramgopal Varma's next venture, and stars along with Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta in Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai.

On yet another, she is acting in the Telugu and English bilingual version of Macbeth.

Sonali has well and truly begun a balancing act. Flipping through different mediums and its exhaustive demands with ease!

"I am a gut person. I choose role on instinct or the people I work with," reveals Sonali.

It shows. In her debut Cheluvi, directed by Girish Karnad, or her intense portrayals in Mukta, Doghi, Vrindavan Film Studio, Dayraa, or packed theatre shows with Satyadev Dubey and Makarand Deshpande, or even ad libbing on the idiot box!

SHE has been often compared with Smita Patil after her performances and a series of awards. And is supremely at ease with commercial cinema. "The lines have blurred between parallel cinema and commercial films.

"Besides, there are many good movies with fleshed-out roles hitting the screen now. What with Raveena, Tabu and Karisma alternating between both, I see no reason to do the same," explains the actress.

"I must confess my audience till now had been fragmented. Now I am ready to have people all over the country watch my work, than just be restricted to masses of a particular language!"

IT might be an unconventional relaunch for this national award-winner, with a failed Jahan Tum Le Chalo in her bag, but Sonali is not worried.

"I have a meaty role in Mission Kashmir. The fact that it is a Vidhu Vinod Chopra movie based on the trials and tribulations of war means there is a lot of scope for all of us to act. And I am very comfortable in the skin of my character."

That she is playing Hrithik's mother in the movie obviously doesn't faze her, neither does the fact that she has been called to put her talent to test despite having won many an award for acting. She reveals, "Vidhu Vinod Chopra met me after going through a lineup of actresses, had a photoshoot and even asked me to screen test for the role. I did. And he was very pleased with the results."

"As for Ramgopal Varma, he took one look at my photographs and decided to sign me up. In fact, we have already started shooting for the film. It will be out by summer next year."

YES, Sonali is enjoying playing glamour doll: "I have been receiving a lot of compliments about the way I look now. I think it adds a certain grace to the character that I am playing."

For her part, she is comfortable with in the new ambit. "Whether it is Vidhu Vinod Chopra giving you a lot of freedom to enact your scene, or coactors -- Urmila, Preity, Fardeen or Hrithik -- who have helped out, despite busy schedules, it has been an interesting ride.

"Actually, I have to tell you this. When Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai was released, we were shooting in Kashmir and we cheered Hrithik as his promos went up on air. It felt good to have a comfortable equation... that positive vibe will show on screen!"

WHAT makes her tick. "Spontaneity," she quips, adding, "that is what marks my trip before the camera. I like to live myself through my character and infuse it with life. There are also times when I have been startled by the flashes of emotional bonding with the character I play.

"I'm only glad my roles continue to give me that opportunity to find different aspects of my personality!"

Like it happened in Cheluvi, she recalls, "I play a girl who blossoms into a tree. So, there I was on the sets, wrapped in velcro with my legs and hands tied. Moved like a prop because of the costume, fed by others, I would even forget myself.

"And suddenly, it dawned on me that there are times you feel so helpless that you forget the strength that is within you..."

Probably that is what makes her a selfish actress, she confesses: "I like to be prepared, even if it means rehearsing... In fact Sanjay (Dutt) and I rehearsed a lot in Mission Kashmir, as the film had many intense scenes.

"And I'm the sort who is quiet between shots. That way, I can let the mood of the character sink in."

HER quietness on the sets is a distinct disconnect from Sonali off the sets. That personality is, she decribes: "Friendly. Sincere. Hardworking.

"But I am like the two sides of a coin. Sensible yet impulsive. And my spirited side is always clamouring to emerge. I take a lot of risks. Experiment with a variety of roles."

And you can't help but think that her spiritedness stems from her quiet strength that has stood in good stead though her personal strife. Of watching a marriage break. And picking up the pieces.

And surviving. Well.