She is a stunner all right, but this beauty is a true woman of substance. Lara Dutta shares her dreams, her thoughts about independence and talks about her relationship with Kelly Dorjee.

Being choosy : Yes, I am selective when it comes to accepting a film offer. I want to play new characters everytime.

Flying dreams : I never thought of getting into acting or the glamour world when I was a child. I really wanted to be a pilot and fly around the world.

No world beaters : I think winning international pageants depends a lot on the training but what really matters is the performance on that day. Everyone goes through the same training but some do better than others.

Yeh azaadi jhoothi hai? We haven't done much after independence. Actually, we have not understood the concept of independence. Maybe the next generation will take up the cudgels and make us a truly independent nation...

The rising spirit : We have only ourselves to blame for the floods and global warming. We have damaged our environment by being negligent. However, I really admire the courage and spirit shown by common people in times of crisis, as they come together to help one another.

Love me do : Having been in a relationship with Kelly for many years, makes me feel good. My relationship with him has come a long way. The secret of our success? I guess that we are still together is purely because we are very patient!

Free ticket : When I am free I watch films. Any good film entertains me. My favourite actor is Amitabh Bachchan.

Gujju fan: Ahmedabad has changed. I have been here before so I can say that the city has developed a lot. I love Gujarati food and as my sister is a pilot in Jamnagar, I am always in touch with Gujarat.

- timesofindia.com