By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

Another Bhatt protégée Kangana Ranaut is desperate to make her mark outside the banner that launched her.

Having started off on a spectacular note with Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt's "Gangster - A Love Story" and having just completed her second film "Woh Lamhe" for the banner, Kangana now wants to move ahead.

"It's not as if I'm being ungrateful to the banner that brought me so much fame. I'll remain forever grateful to Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt saab for giving me a break like 'Gangster'. Newcomers dream of such a launch and I actually got it. But now I need to move on," Kangana told IANS.

Kangana is disturbed by a rumour that she's under a contract with Vishesh Films.

"I'm under no contract with anyone. I don't know who's creating the impression that I am under a contract with the Bhatts. I was never under any contract.

"Unfortunately, many filmmakers seem to think so. They say 'Kangana can't work for anyone outside Bhatts' banner'. But the truth is I've almost completed a film for Suneel Darshan-ji and I've just signed a three-movie deal with UTV.

"I don't know who is spreading the story. But the contract thing doesn't exist in Bollywood any more," she said.