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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.