'I don't need to revive my career'

She started her film career at the young age of 16. Ten years later, Aarti Chhabria has worked in almost 20 films, including Lajja, Awaara Pagal Deewana and Shootout At Lokhandwala.

This Friday, Aarti will have two releases -- Daddy Cool and Toss.

The actress talks to Patcy N about the way her career has progressed, and why her career isn't rocking yet.

You started your career with big films like Lajja and Awaara Pagal Deewana. But now, you are doing smaller films like Toss and Daddy Cool. What do you think went wrong with your career?

It is a must for an actor to do different kinds of films. See the kind of films that have released in the last few years -- A Wednesday, 13 B, Dev D, Life... In A Metro and Jab We Met have been small budget films and have worked at the box office. Big films like Kambakkth Ishq and Tashan have fallen flat on their noses. The amount spent on making these films will make the producers weep like a baby! So it does not matter how big or small a film is. The script matters. Casting big stars alone cannot make a film a hit.

Are the films that you're doing currently the kind of movies you wanted to do when you started out as an actress?

No, I wanted to do the films that Madhuri Dixit did like Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Dil, Tezaab, films that Juhi Chawla did like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak or films that Sridevi did like Chaalbaaz and Sadma.

I wanted to do films that were performance-oriented, heroine-oriented. But the roles that I got are very different. I don't feel bad because I have not come from a filmi background and I do not have any linkups in the industry -- no boyfriend has been pushing me. I do not have a single controversy. My reputation has been very clean. And I'm proud of that.

Whatever little I have done has been on my own terms and merit. I am happy with what I have done. I want to do more, of course, but desires never end. Even if I get to do a film like Rani Mukerji's Black, I would like to do it. It does not mean you have been unsuccessful. It just means you got to keep trying harder.