Gauahar Khan is set for not one, but two film releases this year, where she plays the lead —Punjabi film (Oh Yaara Ainvayi Ainvayi Lut Gaya) and Bollywood movie Fever). “They will release around the same time, which is in a couple of months and the best part is that my look is diametrically opposite in both,” she says.

Her Punjabi film is a love story and a full-on commercial entertainer. So, how did the film come about? “I was getting a lot of offers from regional cinema. As an actor, I have never restricted myself from doing things other than Bollywood. I have done Zangoora for two-and-a-half years. It’s a live stage show and the world’s biggest musical. I did Bigg Boss. The fact that I got such a fabulous script where I’m paired opposite Jassi Gill, a superstar in Punjabi cinema, made me take it up. I obviously couldn’t take this route in Bollywood because this industry tests you a lot! I had to prove my mettle as an actor and that’s why I’ve done more character-centric roles, be it Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, Ishaqzaade and Game, two of which were critically acclaimed.”

Learning Punjabi wasn’t a problem for her. She says, “Jassi Gill really helped me with that. Everyone on set says I am the expat that never was an expat. I am a hardcore Punjaban!” Her look in Oh Yaara…, is Indian, very different from what people associate her with. “People have not seen me like this… a girl with her dupatta flying, kheton mein bhaag rahi hai. I should be getting a lot more roles after this. I’m looking forward to that. I want to run around trees!”