Manisha Koirala on a roll - in reel and real life!

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Actress Manisha Koirala has quite a few reasons to be happy. Not only is she doing her first double-role film, she's also got a new man in her life.

The film by Partho Ghosh was shot extensively in Malaysia and has Manisha starring alongside a Pakistani actor and Jackie Shroff.

"It's called 'Ek Second' and is directed by Partho Ghosh, who did one of my most successful filmsm, 'Agnisakshi'. It's about how one moment can change one's entire life. The story of my life," she laughs.

"My co-stars were a talented Pakistani actor Momin Rana ... and Jackie Shroff - good old Jaggu Dada whom I really get along with. A nice mix of the new and the familiar ... Just the way I want in my life at this time."

And Manisha reveals that there is a new man in her life whom she has been seeing for some months now.

"He's an American and a very spiritual person. I've never been happier. Beyond that I don't want to say anything about him until I'm sure about where the relationship is going."

Manisha was in Bangkok for three months as she was looking after her father Prakash Koirala, who was unwell and had to be hospitalised.

"My dad was critically ill. How ill? You can judge from the fact that he was in hospital for two months."

"My mother, my brother Siddharth and his wife Yulie were by his side throughout. I also had no desire to leave his side. Nothing seemed more important than his health. I just wanted him to get well. Now he's on the way to recovery. We've brought him back to Mumbai where his medication will continue.

"We were all together when my father fell ill. I saw how my mother looked after my father. Some day in the near future I hope to be an equally good wife and mother."

Manisha's father, who was a minister during King Gyanendra's rule, had to move out of their home in Nepal due to political unrest.

"Things aren't very smooth-sailing for us Koiralas in Nepal," Manisha said cautiously. "Besides I wanted my father to get the best health care possible. Bangkok seemed the best bet."

In her absence, a rather sweet film "Sirf", where she played a neglected wife to Kay Kay Menon, was released.

"It was a good film. Though an ensemble piece, I liked my role and enjoyed doing it. I was too concerned about my dad to care about my career. I don't know what happened to the film. I dubbed and left for Malaysia to shoot, and then for Bangkok to attend to my dad."

Manisha Koirala Pictures