Masumeh's sister Shauna directed Chupke Se. She says the stage experience helped her not be overawed by senior co-artistes like Naseeruddin Shah. "In theatre, you get an instant response from the audience," she says. "If someone makes a face, it's enough to throw you off balance! After living through that, acting in movies is relatively less taxing. I don't get intimidated by people or situations."
So big names don't matter to her? "I concentrate on doing my job well. But I learn by watching them," is her answer.
She says the release of Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav was delayed because the prints were not ready. Also, the makers wanted to avoid clashing with the Diwali releases, Mughal-e-Azam and Veer-Zaara. "I love Madhubala, and Mughal-e-Azam is a movie you can watch as many times as you want!"
Masumeh has her eyes on the world. She has an agent in London, and in February she plans to sign up with another in Los Angeles.
She, however, confesses she does not have any movies on hand. "There are many cards on the table but I haven't picked one, so how can I tell you what I'm going to do?"