At the Dubai International Film Festival, she was repeatedly mistaken for a Mexican-American because of her hair and looks. And the 20-year-old Kangana Ranaut's night was made when she walked the red carpet at the Dubai International Film Festival with Hollywood's 'names', particularly with teen icon, Jesse Metcalfe!

The former engineering student in Manali lost interest in her subject and gravitated towards first, Delhi and then several stage shows later, moved to Mumbai. Having just won the Best Female Debut Award at the Global Indian Film Awards, the new starlet on the Hindi film firmament, Kangana, first tasted success with the much-talked about Mahesh Bhatt-directed film, Woh Lamhe, after making a commendable debut in the action flick, Gangster. Kangana gutsily assayed the screen role based on yesteryear actress, Parveen Babi's life. She is now busy with Suneel Darshan's Shakalaka Boom Boom and Anurag Basu's Metro, due to release some time this year.

She knows that she 'has to work hard' for her success as she still 'has a long way to go' and would prefer to do some quality work, 'giving my fullest to whatever I am doing'. The actress loves doing different stuff and has enjoyed the naach gaana in Shakalaka Boom Boom, something she missed out in her earlier releases.

Her unconventional looks set her apart from the normal picture-pretty Hindi film heroines, giving her a certain individual character that she can surely exploit to her advantage. Kangana is playing up her strengths and is determined to maintain her uniqueness - her unorthodox beginning in Bollywood has shown that this is one actress who dares to be different!