Rani is back with a bang

Bollywood actress Rani Mukherji, who plays a sport-loving Sikh character in her upcoming movie Dil Bole Haddipa says she feels challenged when critics write her off.

"I feel challenged when detractors push me to an edge. When critics crush me, I bounce back," said Rani.

The actress was last seen in Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic opposite Saif Ali Khan in 2008, which tanked at the box office.

But the actress insists that Dil Bole Haddipa, which will mark her first release in a year, is not a "make or break" film of her career.

"Success and failure is not in my hands. I just want to enjoy my work as an actor," says Rani who has gone a complete makeover for her role in the movie.

The actress says that since she was playing the role of an athlete, she decided to be fit.

"It was a demanding film because I was playing a boy as well as a cricketer. I underwent six months of training right from learning how to hold a bat. I have given my heart and soul to the film," says Rani, who plays Veera as well as Veer, a Sikh boy in the movie.

"I trained in Yoga, cardio, weight training which helped my skin to glow and my diet included oats, brown rice and jowar roti. I have lost 7 kg and am feeling good and physically fit. Now, I can pull off an action film," she said.

Speaking about the movie, she said, "Its a vibrant and happy film. I have ensured that my Sikh character is not a caricature."

"Veer is an very interesting role and close to my heart," Rani said adding it was a strange moment for her to look at herself as a man.

She said there was no similarity between Veera and Babli from her earlier movieBunty aur Babli except that they both hail from small town.

Expressing anguish at continuous rumours about her marriage and working only for Yash Raj banner, Rani said: "I respect my privacy. This does not mean that my detractors continue to run me down and make me a person which I am not."

She said her family has been her support system. "My neice gives me great positive energy. It's wonderful to see her grow up," she said.

The actress said she wanted to work with filmmakers like Vishal Bharadwaj and other prominent directors.

"I am waiting for good scripts and roles. But, unfortunately the roles which have come to me so far have not excited me enough," she said.

"The films I have rejected may have become superhits, but they would not have helped me as an actor. The filmmakers would have surely benefited by having me," she said.

When asked about she being paired opposite younger hero like Shahid Kapur, Rani said, "He is a very focused actor and I like such artistes.