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This sultry siren likes to reinvent herself. But her preferred genre of roles leaves you confused. “I like doing psycho roles,” says Urmila Matondkar when one asks her about her oeuvre of choice.

Then she smiles and explains, “I’m very choosy. I prefer to do roles that make me feel comfortable. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed doing all sorts of roles, starting from a girl next door to a sexy siren to a psycho.”

Is that why she is all set to essay Simi Garewal’s character in Karz? “Yes, it is different, isn’t it?” she asks.

Back to her sexy image. Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag was a dud at BO and her Mehbooba number also got mixed responses. Was she disappointed? “I really enjoyed dancing to Mehbooba Mehbooba on screen. The song also happens to be one of my favourites. Even if it was a small role for me, I just couldn’t refuse it,” she says.

But between Helen, Mallika and her – which Mehbooba number, according to her, stands out? “Helen ji of course! She will always be the best. Her dancing style in Mehbooba Mehbooba is unsurpassable. Surprisingly, I haven’t met Helenji so far. But one day, I want to meet her and make her watch my song,” laughs Urmila. But her ‘enjoying’ doing a song still doesn’t change the BO status of a movie? “I’m happy with the way I am going right now. I don’t want to make any more mistakes, and even if I do, they should be good mistakes that can be remembered. So I’m not at all in a hurry to sign new movies,” she says.

On the personal front, her Bridget Jones run continues? “I am not getting hitched anytime soon. But yes, one day I would like to settle down and get married. Right now, it is my work that is keeping me occupied,” she says.

Urmila Matondkar’s really ecstatic and her excitement has nothing to do with her bagging yet another film. Rather, the sexy star has just returned from Dubai where she along with Imran Khan managed to raise around Rs 3 crore at a charity event organised by the former Pakistani cricket superstar. Urmila, who’d met Imran at common friend Parmeshwar Godrej’s party, was invited to be a part of the event after Imran learned of her involvement with several charitable causes. Ask Urmila about it and she confirms rather modestly, “When we met, Imran had discussed this hospital and a diagnostic centre that he wishes to start in Karachi. I’ve sort of formed a bond with Pakistan during my previous visits to the country. And when he asked me, I just couldn’t refuse.” The event consisted of an auction followed by a telethon and Urmila kickstarted it with a donation of Rs 1 lakh. But the highlight of the do was Urmila’s impromptu singing. “Since I wasn’t carrying anything much that could be auctioned, I thought of singing a song. It was a last minute idea, but it raised about 25,000 dirhams,” says Urmila, who crooned one of her favourite numbers Kisi Ke Muskurahaton Pe Ho Nisaar… The Mehbooba gal left her fans asking for more and even Imran couldn’t help, but compliment her on her singing prowess. “The response was so fab, I’m now thinking of starting to have my own concerts,” she laughs. But how was it working with Imran? “Oh, we’ve grown up idolising him. He was and is a rockstar. I don’t think there’s any woman who hasn’t had a crush on him at some time,” she says blushing. And is she one of them? “Well, we did form a mutual admiration society,” she laughs, adding, that while Imran praised her nineteen to the dozen, it was amazing to see his killer instinct on field now transform into a passion for charity. On a serious note she adds, “I am very fortunate to be able to contribute something to humanity. And causes like these are not bound by boundaries of religion or countries. That’s the beauty of it all. It’s a different high altogether.”

Incidents on the sets can turn really funny. And the same happened to Urmila Matondkar when she was recently shooting with choreographer Ganesh Hegde. “Ganesh was choreographing the Mehbooba song and right in the middle of it he announced on the mike, ‘Ok, I can see an Urmila Matondkar pout on your face.’ I just turned around and said, ‘But I am Urmila Matondkar. You are supposed to say that to the others.’ And everyone on the sets burst out laughing. It was hilarious.” Looks like nobody can get enough of that famous pout, right Urmila?

She is reluctant to comment on the legal hassles that Ram Gopal Varma ke Aag faced, but one mention of her item number in the film, and Urmila Matondkar gets all excited and talkative. “Mehbooba is a legendary song. But the best part about my song is that it doesn’t bear any resemblance to the original: both the track and the treatment are different. I love the thumping effect of the song. It’s very aggressive and in your face. I’d be glad if Helenji likes it,” says the original oomph girl.

Was she nervous before shooting the song? And, more importantly, how did she deal with the inevitable comparisons with Helen? “There was a bit of nervousness before shooting, but not when I was on the sets. As for comparisons, they’re all mediamanufactured and are uncalled for. If anything, the mehbooba song featuring Mallika Sherawat should be compared to the original, since everything from the hair to the make-up is identical to the main song,” she says. She keeps us guessing about whether Abhishek Bachchan matches steps with her in the song, but gushes about the senior Bachchan’s professionalism. “It’s challenging to be Bachchan’s mehbooba. I’ve known him as a senior actor, but this is the first time I’m working with him. He’s so secure and a fantastic co-star. I’m ecstatic that the song has been well received by people. It matters a lot to me since I’m a people-made star, not media-made,” she says. She also blames the media for putting out stories of her fallout with Ram Gopal Varma. “I’m the most non-controversial star in Indian cinema. I’m bored of reading these stories and find them very juvenile,” she says. While her movie, Speed, awaits release she doesn’t have any firm projects in hand. A dearth of good scripts? “I’ve been choosy about scripts right from the beginning. I’ve managed to do a variety of roles and don’t need to feel insecure. It’s mostly insecurity that rules most decisions that actors make. I’ve reached a stage in my career where I can take up something only if it excites me,” she explains. So was Speed, supposedly a rip-off of a Hollywood film, exciting enough? “It’s a fun flick in which I play a teacher. There are unrealistic twists to the film. But I don’t know if it resembles any Hollywood movie. All I know is that my character in the film is very cool,” she says. Cool she is, and sexy too – with a magazine recently voting her one of the sexiest women around. And Urmila loves every bit of the sexy tag that’s been attached to her for ages now. “Being sexy is about being a woman. But it was never intended. I’ve attempted to maintain a balance between sensuality and dignity,” says Urmila. She’s also made an attempt at singing. So would we see her exercising her vocal chords more often? “I’ve great regard for Ashaji and it was fun singing with her. It was impossible to say no to her. But I don’t plan to take up singing professionally since I’m a bathroom singer,” she laughs. Next, the mehbooba is off to the US, where she’s the Grand Marshall for this year’s Indian parade to mark Independence Day. “Many actors including Mr Bachchan have gone there. It’s endearing to see all the Indians in the US come together for the event. There’s a lot more Indianness in them than there is in Indians here,” she asserts.

Link-ups have always been a part of Urmila Matondkar’s life – when you’re one of the most glamorous actresses around, we guess that’s a part and parcel of your life. Thankfully, Urmila doesn’t disagree. “I am single in the city, and I guess I am having the best time of my life right now,” says the actress. “I have always maintained that relationships are very important to me. I have never been a frivolous person by nature. I have few, but very dear friends. I guess that is the reason people keep linking me up with them, but there is no truth in all this. Because relationships are so important, I can’t step in and out of them just like that. I am a very stable person, both emotionally and mentally. Also, I am financially and socially secure. I don’t see myself being in a relationship for any of these reasons. I think a relationship needs to take your personality and your whole persona to a different level. The man who can do that is the man for me or else I am quite happy being just by myself.”

Was she saying she didn’t need a man in her life at all? “Not at all. In fact, I think it is high time I met my Prince Charming,” laughs Urmila. “What I’m trying to say is that I can’t be in a relationship for the wrong reason. I think it is great and fantastic to be in love. I am a hardcore romantic, and I am always in love – if not with a man than with myself and my work, and with movies in general. I am in the best line of work, what else could I want? I am in dreamland already, so my real life doesn’t need to be dreamy. It needs to be real, to be a kind of reality check. When all those things do happen, then the link-up will finally be true!”

Had she always been an independent person by nature? Didn’t she even have crushes? That would be boring. “I’ve had loads of crushes. Even as I am speaking to you I have crushes,” reveals the actress. “I had my first crush in school. The guy was in the cricket team. I don’t watch cricket anymore. I only watch soccer and tennis. But I was completely into cricket at that time. And my entire gang had a crush on the same guy, so we used to ogle at him together. The crushes have been endless till date.”

What about serious relationships? “I wouldn’t want to talk about it right now and this interview is getting way too serious for me,” she laughs. It is difficult to believe that the sexy lady is single, so we persist. “That’s what I keep telling myself. It’s high time. So I hope all the men of the city read this and wake up. Seriously, I think men need to strike a balance between the reel life Urmila and the real life Urmila. I think there is definitely a large amount of intimidation that happens when I meet people. I don’t know maybe I should start playing dumb. That might work I could just be a bimbette. When I speak to people, suddenly they realise that Urmila is much more than her screen persona, and they can’t handle it. Frankly, I don’t think I make it easy on most people, because I feel that if it is worthwhile it will happen, and if it doesn’t happen, then it was not worthwhile.

“I have liked different people at different times,” confesses the Maharashtrian mulgi. “But you need time for a relationship, it’s not just a cliché, you really do. Relationships are very consuming in general. I am basically not a frivolous kind of person, either when it comes to friendships or relationships. I make friends rarely and with great difficulty, but when I do, it is for good. It is the same with a relationship. When it does happen it will be for good. But that will be with the right person and for the right reason, and for that we’ll just have to wait.”

Urmila Matondkar is quite a foodie, but its Indian food that her taste buds really crave for. So, after the unit of Speed finished their hectic shooting schedule abroad and returned back home to Mumbai and resumed shooting here, Urmila, apparently, ordered dal khichdi on the sets, every single day. With the exotic tastes of the other actresses – some preferring Thai and Italian. It is pleasant to learn about the simplicities of aamchi Maharashtrian mulgi.

If we were to do a poll about our Bollywood brigade’s favourite place in the world (only second to Mumbai), NYC would win hands down. Of course, New York is the only place in the world that’s so far away from home, yet it feels like home. Rangeela babe Urmila Matondkar jumps at the thought of it too. “You’re right, I love the city. I feel more at home, or as much at home in New York, as I do in Mumbai. Recently, I was there for an awards show and, a day after the event, I just took an off. I wanted to do nothing more than walk on the streets there. The organisers insisted on sending some security with me, but I didn’t want to go around with any baggage. I just didn’t care, I wanted to walk around like a free bird, with the wind blowing in my face. I raced in and out of shops, stopping only to grab a bite. And, NYC is so full of Indians that I was spotted right away. By the end of it, there were hordes of desis trailing behind me, but I wasn’t bothered.” Well lady, privacy is one thing you can’t enjoy here. In fact, that’s one thing you can’t get, even if you pay big bucks for it, right?

Nowadays, Urmila Matondkar doesn’t have much time to watch movies, hang out with friends, or party. “Ever since time I started watching the World Cup, I have become completely unsocial. In fact, my friends feel I am dating someone secretly!” she says. “The fact is, I’d like to put up a board outside my room, saying ‘Do not disturb, until the FIFA finals.”

Urmila has also received an ultimatum from her father. He has told her in no uncertain terms that if she doesn’t stop watching football, he will throw her out of the house. “My father doesn’t understand football at all. He is a complete cricket fan. So both of us are always at sixes and sevens nowadays,” says Urmila.

The problem is that Urmila is spending most of her time with her friends nowadays, watching and cheering for the teams playing for the World Cup. “Earlier I too was a complete cricket fan,” says Urmila. “I too didn’t know anything about football a few years ago. I was a complete cricket fan, and thanks to my dad, had no exposure to football. But the year Indian cricket team lost the World Cup to Sri Lanka, I stopped watching cricket. I love sports, so I developed a liking for football and gradually got hooked on to it.”

The last time, Urmila had managed to watch all the matches. “This time it has been hectic. I have been travelling a lot,” she says. “I missed some matches early on, but now I’ve caught up and am not willing to miss a single match.”

Urmila loves the mental and physical focus of the players. “They must be under so much pressure, yet you can see the determination. And, of course, the sheer team spirit in the game are worth writing home about,” says Urmila, who is supporting France and Brazil.

Urmila had a tiff with her father a few days ago while she was watching the match at 12:30 am. “The best matches are at night. So I was watching Spain v/s France, and cheering for France. My father got irritated. I too got angry and said I’d move over to the guest room and watch the match there. At which he immediately left the room,” she recalls with a laugh.

During the semi-finals Urmila initially planned to put up a big screen on the terrace and invite friends home to watch the matches with them. “But I know the rains will spoil my plans. So now I have decided to go and watch the matches wherever the biggest screen is put up,” she says.

So which player does she fancy? “I don’t watch the matches to drool over the players,” she replies indignantly. “I understand the game, so I am too busy watching it to notice the men. I love watching the biggest stars creating football history with their moves. I guess they are the real superman.”

Urmila has an unfulfilled wish. “I would like to watch the football World Cup live,” she says.

Jet lag seems to have been invented for Urmila Matondkar. The actress barely touched Mumbai after performing in an event in Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies, and she is off again to IIFA today. “I’ve to go to Dubai because my friend Manish Malhotra has a fashion show there. But thankfully, I won’t be performing this time. I’m so exhausted,” she says.

Talking about her experience in Trinidad, she says, “I visited the island for the first time. People there don’t speak Hindi but are crazy about Bollywood. My act with Akshay Kumar brought the house down. Akshay is such a livewire on stage. It’s a double pleasure when your partner on stage turns out to be as enthusiastic as him.”

Urmila couldn’t see much of the beautiful island though and says, “We barely got in, rehearsed and went on stage. I wish I could’ve explored the place. I kept hearing these depressing reports about other world concerts from Bollywood. It scared me but fortunately our show was a sell-out.”

Back home, Urmila’s travelling plans seem endless. “Onir, my director of Bas Ek Pal says that I should be given a travelling trophy,” she says, adding, “After I return from Dubai I will be going to Karachi for the premiere of Mughal-e-Azam. I’m really looking forward to that since it’s my all-time favourite film.” This will be Urmila’s second visit to Pakistan. “Last year I had been to Lahore. People said it’s like Delhi, and that’s true. Now I’m going to Karachi, which I’m told is like Mumbai. So, I’m sure I’ll feel at home,” she says.