I wasn't away from spotlight says Race 2 actor Ameesha Patel

Actress Ameesha Patel, who took a sabbatical from mainstream acting to set up her production house, says that she was never away from the spotlight. "I was busy with film projects and setting up my production house. Now I have a range of films lined up for release. Just because I was shooting for films and busy with my home production company doesn't mean I was away from the spotlight," Ameesha told PTI.

"I had to take a break to set up my production company. Managing a production house is a different ballgame... its not easy." In 2011, Ameesha launched her production company - Ameesha Patel Productions with her friend and business partner Kuunal Goomer. She is set to produce three films. The 37-year-old has signed David Dhawan and Priyadarshan to direct films for her. The actress had worked with David earlier in Yeh Hai Jalwa and with Priyadarshan in Bhool Bhulaiya. And then there is a film titled Desi Magic which will mark ad-maker Mehul Atha's debut as a director.

"We have a wonderful film lined up early next year called Desi Magic. It showcases me in a double role for the first time. It is the most challenging role of my career till now. In the David Dhawan film, I play a prostitute. I am really looking forward for all the three films," she said. Apart from her production house, she would be seen in Bhaiyyaji Superhit where she will be teaming up with Sunny Deol after a long time. Sunny and Ameesha were part of the superhit film Gadar. And then she will star in Shortcut Romeo a romantic thriller film where she will be seen opposite Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Ameesha is now seen playing the character of Anil Kapoor's ditsy assistant who asks interesting questions but at the wrong time, in Abbas-Mustan's action thriller Race 2. "My role seems of a dumb person but it was challenging to play it. It is really difficult to play dumb. It might be a smaller role as compared to others but I am sure people will remember me after watching the film," she said. "I had seen Race and I loved it. Every character was etched out in a stylish way. So when Abbas-Mustan offered me this role I was more than happy to do it," she said. Race 2 is a sequel to the 2008 hit film Race. The film has an ensemble star cast with Anil Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan reprising their roles and Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez and Ameesha as the new additions.

"The film is very true to Abbas Mustan's style of filmmaking - an action thriller with lots of twists and turns right till the end you don't know what to expect. Everyone has an agenda or wants to take advantage of the other and till the end you don't know what's the agenda," she said. Ameesha had teamed up with director duo Abbas-Mustan in 2002 for Humraaz which did well at the Box Office and also earned her a Filmfare nomination in the Best Actress category. "This genre of action thriller is their forte. For me, those two people are one... they complete each other. They have been together always and have not left each other's side ever. They agree and disagree on same thing," Ameesha said.

PTI