Claudia Ciesla to hone Hindi skills

 "There is a recession in Hollywood right now and making a film there is really becoming an expensive affair...quality films are being made in India at a lower cost," says this 'good friend' of Salman Khan.

"I have a stack of Hindi film DVDs and I keep watching them. 'Black', 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Jodhaa Akbar' are some of the films I have already seen," says the model who came to India for the first time in January 2008 to shoot for the Hollywood movie "Karma, Crime, Passion and Reincarnation".

The film, released here last month, was also screened at Cannes.

The blond actress, who was here to launch a department of Lovely Professional University, says she is currently reading a few regional film scripts, but did not divulge details.

"The whole world is talking about India and Bollywood after the success of 'Slumdog Millionaire', she says, adding "I am satisfied with the pay and the working conditions here. What appeals to me on the sets of a film here is the motivation and teamwork among the cast, crew and director. Everybody gives their best and its like one big family."

She will start her Hindi classes in Ludhiana from September. Claudia says she loves tandoori aloo paranthas, bhelpuri and rasgullas and enjoys vegetarian food when she is in India.
"I love Bengali sweets, but I must be careful not too eat too many.

"It is a great feeling to be here and I feel like being part of one big, lovely family. People are very warm and welcoming and they help each other a lot."

Keen to walk the ramp for the fashion week in India or feature in an advertisement, Claudia has played the role of a German journalist in a Bengali comedy "10:10", also starring Soumitra Chatterji.

But for her, just an item number in a film is a strict no-no. "I won't do an item number unless there is more (a bigger role) for me in the film," she says.