'Models can't act' is a cliche: Diana Penty

Model-turned-actress Diana Penty, who is playing a strong character in the upcoming film Lucknow Central, says when it comes to choosing a film, she is least bothered about the screen time or the length of the character, but only the impact it has. "For instance, in Lucknow Central, I am playing a strong headed woman in a man's world," she adds.

Diana, who started her career with a multi-starrer Cocktail where she shared screen space with Deepak Padukone and Saif Ali Khan, also holds that the belief that 'models can't be a good actresses' is a cliche.

Giving little more insight into her character in Lucknow Central, she says, "My character Gayetri Kashyp works for an NGO that helps prisoners to reintegrate into society once they come out of jail. The character is interesting because she is the woman working inside the prison; which is a male dominated work space. She is confident, strong headed and stubborn at times."

After having a successful modelling career and debuting in Bollywood in 2012, the actress only appeared in her second film after four years in 2016. What made her so secure that she would live on in public memory and not fear losing visibility? "Whether a Cocktail, Happy Bhaag Jayegi, Lucknow Central or Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran, these are the stories come once in a lifetime. Why should I miss out on them? I can wait because I believe in quality work," she says.

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Diana was a "shy child" and though she had no plan to become an actress, she is quite enjoying the world of cinema and the perks that come with it.

But, does she constantly struggle with getting validation as an actress, being a model? "I think this thought that models can't act is such a cliche! Many of our top heroines like Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma were models before entering Bollywood. And they are wonderful actresses. I really fail to understand why people have this misconception," Diana retorts.

Directed by Ranjit Tiwari, Lucknow Central also features Farhan Akhtar, Gippy Grewal, Rajesh Sharma, Inaamulhaq, Ravi Kissen, and Deepak Dobriyal. The film releases on September 15