If she's been missing from the line of hyper-action it's because during the past year, Lara Dutta has been  looking after her ailing parents. “They were both in hospital. So, I  was either with  them, or shooting in Dubai   and London. My first priority was my parents. And I had no time or appetite for networking and socialising.”
 Apart from other problems at home her cell number has been quite an irritant. “They gave me a new number that apparently belonged to Mahesh Manjrekar. I kept getting calls from him.”
The cell faux pas came to such a head that Lara would first clarify that it was Mr Manjrekar's number before proceeding with conversations. She laughs heartily at  the Priyadarshan-like confusion. Laughter comes easily to her after the success of No Entry and Bhagam Bhag.
"No  film in recent  times did more for me than No Entry. I wanted to do lighter films. And No Entry gave me  that leeway. I did Bhagam Bhag because I wanted to work with Priyan. Secondly, after Andaz it was my first lead with Akshay. At the end of the day, it was a massive learning experience with Paresh, Govinda and   Akshay. But yes, I wish  my character was utilised better. But I guess in an ensemble  cast I got a fair share of  space."
 Remind her of her brief walk-on appearance in Kunal Kohli's Fanaa and she defends herself. "I had earlier said no to Kunal to a part in Hum Tum. I couldn't do that again without sounding arrogant. And let's face it, it  was a kind of initiation  for me into the country's biggest banner Yashraj. It also gave me chance to share screen -space with two of  my most favourite actors Aamir and Kajol. So why not?”
 “Also,” she clears  her throat. “I've the clearly disadvantageous reputation of  being an intelligent  actress.    That I couldn't fit into the airheaded parts was a bit of a hurdle. Also, I come from the glamourous industry (modelling). For some strange reason, a part of the film industry feels you can't do the girl-next door or take-home-to-mama roles if you're glamourous. That way, I do feel limited. I'm constantly offered glamourous prop-like    roles. But that's changing. In my forthcoming film Partner, I'm opposite Salman and I don't have the glamourous  role.”
Lara definitely sees the glamour thing as an impediment. “But  I'm ready to wait for the bright and right parts. I didn't come into the industry to be a  Number 1, 2, 3. All it takes is hard work and I'm at it. I don't  want to take the short cut of coat-tailing some big heroes to success.  When I walk out of the industry I want to be remembered as a good actress like Nutan and Smita Patil, not someone who was good at networking.  If I  said no to a role it went to Bipasha. If  she said no it  came to me. I don't want to do the interchangeable glam roles. I've made a conscious decision to stay away  from  them.”
Then she gets briefly wistful. “I wish good-looking actresses had better-fleshed roles to perform and those   did not  just go to the Plain Janes.”