She has beautiful eyes, an enigmatic smile and a penchant for different accents. Earlier this year, she was the fashion darling at Cannes, where she won The Chopard Trophy for a Breakout Performance in her new film, A Mighty Heart. Archie Panjabi considers herself part Mumbaiite, part British and she isn’t your average actress, often earnestly speaking about the pressures of her job whilst still believing passionately in kismet. In A Mighty Heart, she essays the role of former Wall Street Journal reporter, Asra Q. Nomani. The film is scripted from Mariane Pearl’s book that accounts the terrifying and unforgettable story of her husband, journalist Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping and death in Pakistan, in 2002.

True stories when replicated accurately leave a residue long after the film is over, touching you in more ways than imaginable. A Mighty Heart is cleverly shot, debating dignity and justice in incomprehensible circumstances. It transplants you, amidst the buzz and smell of Karachi along with its intrinsic layers of corruption and religious beliefs, into a compelling plot.

What was the experience like of working in A Mighty Heart? What did you feel about Michael Winterbottom as director, how did the association help you as an actor?
When I first met him, I told him honestly what I thought about the character. I knew I really liked it and wanted to learn more but he reassured me saying, ‘Don’t worry, you will meet the real character and understand her mindset and whilst shooting we will improvise it further’. I was very excited with that, as it’s much more challenging than just getting a script, going on set and learning the lines. He is a brilliant director, very down to earth and has a simple outlook. He is not looking for attenton and is very passionate about the films he makes.

Describe the experience of working with Angelina Jolie...
I was a little nervous to start with but we are both Geminians and just kicked it off from day one and got on really well. She is probably one of the best actresses I have worked with and will ever work with. I found her easy to talk to and humble. We were part of a team and the only two women in the crew. Sometimes that can go the other way, even though people often don’t admit it, there can be tension but she made me feel very comfortable. She is very clever and intelligent and great fun to be with.

And of shooting in India....
I spent a part of my childhood in Mumbai and went to school in Churchgate and Nariman Point and I remember thinking as a child that one day I would come back and work here as an actress. And so for me, when we were shooting in those areas with Angelina, it was like a dream come true. Most of my scenes in the film were shot in a house that we had rented for seven weeks, in a Sindhi colony in Pune and since I am Sindhi, it was nostalgic too. There are a lot of parallels with myself and this film.

From your role in Bend it like Beckham to portraying Asra Nomani, it’s been quite a trajectory. What was it like meeting the real Asra Nomani in person?
I guess I have grown up with my films. In East is East, I was a tomboy teenager; in Yasmin, I was a precocious young woman struggling with acceptance whilst innocently becoming the victim of hate. This is one of my more serious roles and it’s the first time that I have met a character that I have portrayed in a film. I met the real Asra Nomani three months before filming began and afterwards I felt it was a huge responsibility to depict her as she was, during those very difficult circumstances. The striking question was, why would this young Muslim woman give up so much, to try and find this man in Karachi. I wanted to understand that. Her family was ostracised, her boyfriend broke up with her and I needed to know what kept her going through all that she had lost. If it was England it would have been different than in Karachi which is very male dominated. And, after spending one week with her, I realised that she is a truth seeker, very loyal and dedicated as a person. Someone who will do anything to help a friend.
Even though the film is based on Mariane Pearl’s book, all the people living in that house together felt hugely affected by the event. Some of them were a child or a loved one of someone whom they had lost or knew someone who was connected and so we were all eager to get their story across as accurately as possible.
Coincidentally, Asra and I really have a lot of similarities: we both had parents who had immigrated from Mumbai, India. We had to deal with Eastern values and Western appearances and had felt culturally schizophrenic in our childhood. We had managed to be a certain way with our English friends and yet had to cope quietly with a personal side that was dominantly Indian. In those days India was not on the world map as it is today and I am proud of my Indian roots and glad to see India is going from strength to strength.

Which of all your roles stands out and why?
Each role has been special for me at that point of time when I did it. I study my scripts in detail and listen to my gut instinct but sometimes it’s hard to say no. Like for my forthcoming film, Traitor, I was offered a slightly bigger role than the one I am doing but the one I am doing touched me – it made me cry. I prefer to listen to my intuition in moments of judgement and hope I get lucky. Obviously it has become a job and there are financial constraints too, I have to meet my mortgage payments.

How do you balance your career and time together with your husband?
Raj and I have been married for eight years. He is very supportive and has been even during a time when, as an Indian growing up, acting was not considered the best profession to follow. I always knew I wanted to be an actress but used to wonder if I would ever find a man who would accept that about me. I guess I am lucky to have eventually found someone who, in addition to guiding me, reads my scripts and talks to me about it. I treasure his advice. I always feel there’s two of us in this and mentally it keeps me stable.

How do you unwind?
Because this industry is so glamorous and it’s all about jet-setting, wearing expensive dresses and sipping champagne, I try and do as much as possible to lead a normal life. I stay out of Central London and my home is in a quiet area that has a village type feel to it. I go to the pub and take my dog for long walks. I am not a gym fanatic but do go running or jogging when I feel up to it. I enjoy doing things at my own pace.

Would you work in a Bollywood film?
I think it would be really good fun. Bollywood has so far had one kind of genre of films where the actress can sing, dance and emote in fluent Hindi. But that’s changing and this would be a good oppurtunity for me. I don’t believe in closing any doors and prefer to expect the unexpected.

Tell me about your forthcoming film, Traitor.
I was in LA for the the premiere of A Mighty Heart and my agent informed me that I would have to go for casting. Really tired after the late night, I went along and they liked me. I play the girlfriend of Don Cheadle. She is not aware that he might be working undercover for the CIA and may be involved with a suicide bomb and he can’t reveal the truth to her. It’s a touching role and quite emotional.

What was it like being at the Cannes Film Festival?
It was my first time there and very exciting. I felt like a child going to Disney World. I didn’t know what to expect and it was fantastic but I guess as adults we know that the bubble will burst. Raj and I both were very pleasantly surprised to find that I had won an award. The Chopard party was incredible. Jude Law presented me with the award and Harvey Winstein came up to me and complimented me. That was a huge stepping stone for me, as prior to that, I had only heard and read about these people and never met them.