By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

Kangana Ranaut's "Woh Lamhe", the quasi-autobiographical take on the stormy relationship between Mahesh Bhatt and the late Parveen Babi, is complete. Now she is excited about her next film with Suneel Darshan.

Kangana plays Babi in the film and Shiney Ahuja will be seen playing Bhatt in it.

"It was an exhausting but satisfying experience," confesses the confident girl. "The film is almost ready. We're looking at a September release. But now I've no time to catch my breath because I have to join Suneel-ji's unit in Johannesburg," Kangana told IANS.

Isn't there any awkwardness, considering she is stepping into a role that the daughter of her adopted family the Pancholis was earlier doing?

"There would have been," Kangana sighed. "In fact, when I heard about it I felt very bad for Sanaa. She's like my sister. It broke my heart when I heard Suneel-ji had called up Sanaa's mother (Zarina Wahab) and told her Sanaa can't handle the role. I was very distressed, and confused when I was asked to step into the same role."

In fact, what Kangana leaves unsaid is that she was Darshan's first choice for the role. But at that point of time she was not sure she wanted to step in.

It was the Pancholis who helped Sanaa make up her mind.

"They had absolutely no problem with me doing the role. In fact, Sanaa sat me down and rationalised the whole situation. 'Better that you do it rather than a third girl. I'd feel really bad then'. I feel Sanaa was just being generous. But she made the decision easier for me."

Kangana's turmoil is evident.

"The Pancholis are like my family away from home. I can't dream of hurting them. But I've to be professional. Suneel-ji has offered me a good role opposite Bobby Deol. He has also offered me a good price. I've to be professional.

"Over here you can't afford to get sentimental about work. As long as the people who matter to you understand your point of view, all you need to do is to just focus on doing your job."

The pragmatic newcomer has signed three films with UTV.

"One is Anurag Basu's 'Metro' where I've a fabulous role. The two other projects will be finalised once I return from Johannesburg. Hopefully, the Suneel-ji film would be a memorable experience, just like the two films I've done so far."