What's more, the Bengali actress has won India's premier cinematic honour for her portrayal of a Tamil housewife in an English film. But there are more personal reasons why Konkona will forever cherish her first (hopefully there are more to follow) National Award.

"I won the award for a film directed by my mother (Aparna Sen, who incidentally walked away with the trophy for best director for the same film)," she says proudly.

Of course, the obvious outcome of the exposure that Mr And Mrs Iyer (and the award) has given her is national recognition. Konkona is now being wooed by Bollywood too. For a start, she's already working with Ajay Devgan and Saif Ali Khan in Aparna Sen's offbeat trek into the realm of Hindi cinema, Gulel.

"I never plan my career," replies Konkona. "I just let things to happen to me. I don't know if hardcore Bollywood interests me. It's not my kind of cinema. Of course if something good comes up, I will be game to work in Hindi films."

That she is excited about Gulel is evident. "It's a small role, but a significant one," she says of her character in the film. "I play Ajay Devgan's wife, the reason why he does what he does in the film."

And if you though that the Tamil accent came out all perfect in Mr And Mrs Iyer, Konkona has more in store. "In Gulel, I'll be mouthing Hindi dialogues with a Bihari accent and in my next film, Amu, I play an NRI girl, so you'll hear me speak with a twang," she laughs. "It's fun to get into the skin of various characters, but honestly I'm now dying for a role that allows me to speak Hindi in the normal way!" she grins.

But then, twang or no twang, you can always expect Konkona to spring a surprise. Among the younger actresses today, she has, after all, carved her niche in being -- use the cliché -- different.

Hindustantimes.com