Amrita on damage control spree

Bollywood actress Amrita Arora , who went scandalously and fashionably grey-to-black in Vikram Bhatt's "Red", is candid enough to admit her career isn't going the way she would've liked to.

"I guess I made a few mistakes. That was bound to be when you're young and reckless. Now I'm learning to curb my impulses, to look at my career more maturely. With 'Red', I've made a fresh start," she told IANS.

Amrita loves to be in Bollywood. "I love the buzz and the bustle. I love putting on make-up every morning. I've never encountered sleaziness. Of course, it exists in every field. It depends entirely on how an individual projects himself or herself."

And with the Khans hovering protectively around her who would dare to mess around with Amrita? She laughs.

"In fact, I've done a film with my sister's brother-in-law Sohail. It's Hansal Mehta's intense 'Raakh'. It's an underworld flick. Only my character survives till the end to tell the tale. Mehta has shot it beautifully. Sohail and I are like buddies, very comfortable together," she said.

"But the big news is that I've signed with BMG-Crescendo for a movie called 'Deewana' opposite R. Madhavan. It's a murder mystery as well as a love story done in a very different way. We're going to start this film as soon as Madhavan finishes his current schedule of a film with Mani Ratnam.

"We'll shoot in Scotland and London for 40 days and finish this film. I'm looking forward to it. Maddy (Madhavan) is really sweet. Then there's Mahesh Manjrekar's 'Deha' where Dino (Morea) and Jaya Prada are unconventionally paired. I'm in the conventional romantic lead with Dino."

Amrita has her fingers crossed.

"I've a full plate. I've to do a lot of damage control. I'm looking for that one elusive hit. I'm taking baby steps in the right direction."

After hours?

"I spend all my free time with my beautiful little nephew Arhaan. He's the cutest guy in the world."

Unlike Amrita, sister Malaika never took a career in films seriously.

"She never wanted a serious career in films. Her priority is marriage, husband and baby. She couldn't give those extended schedules that are required in movies. Doing a song in two days and returning home was more her scene.

"On the other hand, I have always been very career-oriented. My role models were Sridevi and Madhuri. Malaika was always into the beau monde... very 'propah' and chic. I'd read Filmfare, she read Vogue. Yup, we had chosen our paths from the start."