I was consciously shielded from cinema: Soha Ali Khan

Actress Soha Ali Khan, whose performance in "Rang De Basanti" won her critical acclaim, says she was shielded from cinema as her parents did not want her to become a Bollywood star.

"I was consciously shielded from cinema. I did not even see many Indian movies," Soha said while attending the 9th Osian's-Cinefan film festival being held here. "My parents did not see me as an actor and I knew if I joined Bollywood, I would make them unhappy.

"I studied in London and moved to Mumbai where I started working in a bank but I had the desire to act and I got seduced by Bollywood," she said.

Soha, daughter of the charismatic duo Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, has acted in around 10 films and is currently working on Sudhir Mishra's "Khoya Khoya Chand" where she plays the role of an actress of the 1950s.

The svelte heroine, who loves theatre, says her mother gives her tips on acting. "She does give me some tips occasionally but she has hardly praised me for my acting."