I'm a gypsy and a global citizen. I don't need to belong to any one place. Or any one film industry. Particularly one that doesn't throw up challenging roles for women. Having said this, I believe Hindi cinema is changing and if something challenging came my way, I wouldn't hesitate to consider it.

What are your plans for the future?

I never plan. Also, I don't like cataloguing projects like a shopping list. Especially when we're talking about a project that is as precious to me as "Water". So in the immediate future, I've been tied up with a lot of promotions for "Water". It was an honour to open the Toronto International Film Festival. It was the first time a non-English or French language film has been given this honour.

"Water" was also invited to open many other festivals across Canada and I love gauging the audience reaction to this film, which is so far from most people's personal experience and yet has the power to strike a universal emotional chord in everyone who has seen it.

Where do you hope to go with "Water"?

"Water" releases in Canada early November. Then we have our big American release by Fox Searchlight - again the first time they have picked up a Canadian or non-English language film - in the early part of 2006. The response to the film has been overwhelming. Individuals I greatly admire from Atom Egoyan to Roger Ebert have come up to me to congratulate me on the film and my performance.

I'm so happy for Deepa and the triumphant end to her journey. This is a strange business and you can never predict what happens, but I'm so gratified to have been a part of something that was made with integrity, passion and love - a lot of love.