Apart from reading a lot of material on the subject, and Mariane Pearl's book, which is the basis for the film, I also met with Asra Nomani. I play her character in the film. She gave me a lot of insight. She told me about the inner turmoil she underwent while she was with Mariane, comforting her one moment, and the next dealing with the Pakistani officials who were looking for the kidnappers.

When did you think you wanted to be an artist?

I guess when I was very young. I have been a performer right from my childhood.

I have read that you have a great ear for accents and many of your roles have been in accents other than your own. I also believe that many people in the movie industry have no clue where you are from.

(Chuckles) I have enjoyed doing accents since my childhood. Not just accents, I used to imitate people's mannerisms. I would watch my mother's friends, and how they moved their heads, heads, their necks... I would imitate them but never in a bad sense. My mother would scold me and say, 'You cannot do it. Especially, you cannot do it in front of others.'

And how did all that help you become an actress?

Imitating people and doing accents became my secret. I got the confidence that I could take any role and make it my own. I used those skills when I played Russell Crowe's secretary in A Good Year. It was a small part, and though the film was not a hit, people noticed my work. And then I enjoyed bossing over Russell Crowe (laughs).

The film was also important to me for another reason. I was working with director Ridley Scott who has made many big Hollywood films (Gladiator). I hope I can act in a Hollywood project by him soon.

Photograph: Archie Panjabi with from left, director Michael Winterbottom, Irrfan Khan, Angelina Jolie and Dan Futterman at the Cannes festival in May, where A Mighty Heart was premiered. Photograph: Getty Images

Also Read: Who wanted Amjad Farooqi dead?

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