Sheetal Sheth was first seen in the extremely award winning film ABCD - which also aided the Indian-American genre of films. After gaining immense popularity with the film, she went on to become a part of a handful of critically acclaimed movies which the depicted the lives of Indians abroad. More recently she has went out on a real limb and teamed up with Lisa Ray in the lesbian romantic film, I Can't Think Straight directed by writer turned director Shamim Sarif. After creating mass frenzy amongst the gay and lesbian community all over the world, the film is finally coming to India. However, the team of the film was met by a rigid Indian Censor Board who claimed too many scenes in the film were unacceptable only to cut some of the love scenes between the women. BollySpice talks to the actress about her journey through I Can't Think Straight and The World Unseen, yet another lesbian romantic film by the same team and her take on the Indian Censor Board.

You've gone from the confused Desi girl in ABCD to a lesbian lover in both I Can't Think Straight and then The World Unseen and a whole variety of films in between. How has the transformation and journey been?

(Laughs) Well, it's funny when you put it like that. I don't think of it like a "confused Desi" or a "lesbian lover," I don't think of any of those things when I think of ABCD, The World Unseen or I Can't Think Straight. I think The World Unseen and I Can't Think Straight are completely different movies and roles. But I can tell you that when I choose to do a movie, it's because I love the script or I love the character or I want to work with people. And so when I read I Can't Think Straight, I was moved by the love story and I thought it was a beautiful love story. It had nothing to with being a lesbian. To be honest, it didn't even occur to me which I know may sound naïve but it really didn't! I read it and thought what a beautiful love story. Love is love, and oh yeah! It happens to be a woman. And I wanted to do it!

What drew you to the characters of I Can't Think Straight and The World Unseen?

In ICTS, Leyla, I thought she had this quiet spirit that was lovely and strong. She was really trying to find her voice and be confident enough to life she wanted to. I thought she went through a real journey which I loved. And Amina in The World Unseen I just loved her fire, her tenacity, her confidence. I thought that she was fun and charming. I admired the way she lived her life and didn't care. For her, what was missing in her life was finding love; and she found it in Miriam. I also loved the time of apartheid in South Africa. And so I loved being able to tell a story with that back drop. I thought it was important to get that story out there.

Both the characters were complete opposites. Was it hard going from the shy and quiet Leyla to the fiery strong Amina?

No. For me, for each movie, when you start one fresh. And you just have to figure out the best approach to being able to create the character. And they are going to be different depending on the role that you work on. Eventually, having worked with Shamim, Hanan and Lisa before, makes it easier actually, because you have a shorthand, it makes it easier and I really felt, especially for The World Unseen, because it was our second movie together, relationship-wise, the chemistry between Lisa and I was right. We knew each other and Amina and Miriam, when you see them, it almost feels they've known each other forever even though they were just meeting. And I felt it was interesting the way it played out that we did that movie second, because it really helped and worked.

How much research on your part goes into playing a part like Leyla in I Can't Think Straight and Amina in The World Unseen?

It just depends. For Leyla, I really just wanted to get a sense for who she was because it's slightly autobiographical. I was able to talk to the person that it was based on and that was very helpful. And I read a lot of the writing of the writer; I read and read and read. It was really getting into that world of London as well, because I wanted to get the accent right. There is a different style of people in different cities, and you want to get that vibe down. And for Amina, it was very much about me researching a lot about that period and also Amina is someone that hates apartheid to the bone! And I had done a lot of research and when I got there, it all kind of clicked because it makes me sick to my stomach. The more I read and the more I talked to people who lived there, cause once you're there and you listen to everybody, it breaks your heart and sickens you to your core. And that's what I needed really. It wasn't easy to relate to hating something like that.

How was it working with Shamim second time around? How much convincing did you need from her to be a part of both films?

None whatsoever. The World Unseen, I had read the book before we started filming I Can't Think Straight. And I couldn't put it down. I borrowed it from her because I wanted to get more of a sense of her work and I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down; I loved it so much. I went to work the next day exhausted and she asked me why I was so tired. And I said I was reading your book! So when they said they were making it into a movie and they wanted me to be a part of it, I was so excited because I love that book. So there was definitely no convincing needed.

How comfortable are you doing intimate scenes with Lisa Ray? And how is she as a co-star?

The intimacy was fine! You know it's so funny people ask me that but honestly anyone that I do love scenes with, whether it's been the number of men that I've done love scenes with in my career to women, they're all the same. Equally awkward; I don't know them (laughs). So it's like you go on the set, say hello, how are you? Okay, we're going to do this today. It's never easy in that sense--its awkward. But the cool thing is, if you get good people, which Lisa is, you just laugh about it, jump in, be professional and figure out what you're going to do and start from there. And then whatever happens happens. So it wasn't any different in terms of me kissing a stranger who is a man.

Both films take place over different time periods: I Can't Think Straight is a more urban take while The World Unseen is more of a period film. How close to real life would you say the character and the situations are in both films?

Oh absolutely! I think the nice thing about both those movies is that they have something that anyone can take from it. There is such a diverse array of characters, journeys and feelings that everyone goes through. And so us trying to find our own voice, our place in our own lives, in the world, the confidence, the courage, the fire--my goodness! You certainly don't have to be the same as any of these people to understand that kind of struggle.

Both films went on to gain immense recognition and awards at various film festivals. Did you anticipate such accolades?

You never know! I loved the script and I thought the stories were very moving so you hope that other people feel the same way but you never know. It's really gratifying! Everyone has really welcomed the movie, the performances and I think the fan base is so amazing. It just tells you that there is such a hunger for stories to be told that are interesting, strong, deep and filled with issues. It's really nice that people have been embracing it the way they have. It means more people will see it.

I Can't Think Straight is finally releasing in India to an Adult certificate. Do you feel that the censors are being too harsh?

Yes but I'm not surprised (laughs). You know actually I am kind of surprised to be honest. I'm a little surprised in that I thought we had come much further than I would have imagined so I was a little surprised. I don't know why they cut anything! There is nothing that I have seen on television that is playing in India right now. So part of is like I'm not surprised and part of me is like I am surprised. C'mon people it's so absurd! I sadly think that it has to do with the fact that it's two women. That makes me sad. I think that of all the movies that are released there, especially the American movies that come out there and they don't get these ratings. And there is certainly a lot more in those movies. So I hate to say it, but I have a feeling that it has something to do with it and that makes me sad and I am deeply disappointed. We're better than that.

How would you rate Shamim as a writer and as a director second time round?

I think with everything you do, the more you do it, the more confident you get, the more knowledge you have, the better you get. I certainly hope that every movie I do, I'm better in. And she was great. We had all worked together so it makes a real difference in terms of just knowing each other or knowing each other's personalities when we work. She is so patient with us and by the time we did The World Unseen, it was like we were family. We had known each other for a long time, we had worked together for a while and it was us coming together to make another story that we all believed in. It was great.

What is coming up for you next?

Well I just finished a movie called Three Veils. It's about these three Persian women that are coming of age and trying to live their lives. Very dramatic (laughs). But I loved it, the script and the people that I worked with are fantastic. We have a great ensemble group of characters and actors. And that will hopefully come our way soon!