And she’s determined to stick to her policy of choosing her roles. On her upcoming Straight with Vinay Pathak, Gul says, “It’s a romantic comedy and completely original,” she asserts. Gul plays a caricature artist in the movie and, “the character is quite offbeat-looking,” assures Gul, who’s made a conscious effort to stay away from being typecast. Does her role in Straight have a comic streak to it? “You can’t say that of anyone’s role in the film. We just deliver our lines straight. I’m not a comic like Johnny Lever. Actors do their job and it’s the character and situation that make people laugh,” she explains.

Gul and Vinay share a liplock in the movie and it’s certainly going to be one of the film’s talking points. Moreover, this is their second film together. Are Vinay and Gul the new filmi jodi? “In my last movie, Manorama Six Feet Under, I played Vinay’s sister. It’s a film and we are just playing our roles; it’s nothing to do with physical romance,” she maintains.

Straight is being touted as an adult comedy. Is it for the multiplexes or the masses? “One should never underestimate the Indian audience. People are becoming more cinematically aware. While they enjoy Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, they will enjoy a film like Straight as much. Then there’s the overseas Indian audience; the yardstick is different. A good film should appeal to everyone,” she says.
Despite the various terms used to describe the movie — adult, comedy, different — it’s ultimately about the search for love. “Pinu Patel (played by Vinay) is a single NRI. It’s all about how he finds his life partner,” she says. So, what’s Gul’s formula to find true love in real life? “I don’t know. I just live practically. I’m realistic about life and believe everything is about gut instinct,” she says.
This model-turned-actress is also excited about Ram Gopal Varma’s much talked about Rann, which is rumoured to be based on the recent Mumbai attacks. “It has Riteish Deshmukh, Amitabh Bachchan and Paresh Rawal. It’s not about the Mumbai blasts, but electronic media,” she clarifies.

Audiences adored Gul in Dhoop, Dor, Manorama… and now, Straight. “I’ve always ensured that I choose different kinds of roles. That’s what people like about me,” she says.