Priyamani's negative part in Ravana

When you ask an actor or an actress what kind of roles they would love to play, the top two answers are: a negative role or that of a menatlly-challenged person. Both these roles entail a lot of research and a great deal of effort. But if you've done your homework and given it your 100%, critical acclaim is almost guaranteed. So it's no wonder these roles are much sought-after. And for�ladies whose roles today are reduced to providing the glam-relief, to land roles with so much scope to act is a dream come true.

For Priyamani, the chance to do so came on golden platter�offered by�Mani Ratnam,�accompanied with precious gems Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Vikram! So if she's simply dancing around in ecstacy, she must most certainly be excused! She has landed a pivotal part in Mani Ratnam's Ravana, her part being one with many dark shades, and she just cannot stop smiling about it! "I met Mani sir on my way to Goa for the International film festival two years ago. He had congratulated me for my performance in Paruthiveeran at that point. Then one fine day, when I was working in Bengaluru, I got a call from Madras Talkies informing me that Mani sir wanted to meet me. I rushed to meet him and on hearing the script of Ravana, I said yes," she says, her smile broadening!

On acting with Abi Bachchan,�one of the most�popular Bollywood stars, she says, "Abhishek brings the sets to life with his pranks. He is great fun and a powerhouse of energy. But the moment he is summoned for his shot, he transforms into a no-nonsense professional; working with him has been a great learning experience."

And what exactly is her part in the movie? "I am not allowed to talk about it now. It is a performance-oriented role and a pivotal character. The entire story takes place because of this one character. I like to play negative roles, and I had blast," is all she let slip!