She?s Antara to folks at home in Calcutta, but Mumbai knows her as Monalisa. Since the name change ? thanks to astrology, she says ? her fortunes have turned and the Bengali babe has made it big in Bollywood?s B-grade movies.

Case in point is Bobby, that had a recent one-week run at Purna cinema in Bhowanipore. After some item numbers and bit roles in a string of Hindi projects ? Ab Bas, Tauba Tauba, Jalwa and the Ajay Devgan-starrer Blackmail ? Monalisa has finally bagged the ?title role? in this sleaze film.

And there?s more on her platter ? Love Guru, B. Subhash?s Divine Love and Meri Life Mein Uski Wife by Partho Ghosh, who had directed Agnisakshi.

?I am not targeting these films but this is what I am being offered. It?s not easy to get big banners. The money I am getting is good and I have established myself in the past one year,? says Monalisa, who refers to the sleaze flicks as ?low-budget films?.

So what?s the story of Bobby? ?I play a girl who loves a man who is actually a pimp. The guy falls for her too and they run away and get married. But people in the flesh-trade racket hunt them down. They kill the guy and force the girl into prostitution. Then she runs into another man who finally saves her? But there isn?t much exposure in these films. The posters are made more raunchy to attract attention,? stresses Monalisa, comfortable with the kind of skin show she is being asked to do.

The girl from Gariahat studied in Julien Day School and did her BA from Ashutosh College before starting out a few years ago as a small-time TV actress and model. ?I did video albums in Oriya which got me some films there. I have also done Kannada films. And in the only Bengali film I did, Adhikar, my role was very small,? she tells Metro from the sets of a film in Orissa.

Though her list of TV serials was quite impressive ? it included Kabe Je Kothay and Ei To Jiban ? Monalisa decided to try her luck by the Arabian Sea.

But wouldn?t Bengali TV serials have earned her considerable name and fame to lead a cushioned life? Monalisa does not think so. ?I couldn?t be happy here moneywise. I am satisfied with the way my career has shaped up in Mumbai and my family is very supportive. I now have a flat and two cars,? she says.

But will she be interested in doing good roles with a pay cut in Bengal? ?Oh yes, why not? After all, acting is the main thing.?

Oh, really?