With her fair skin, brown eyes and jet-black hair, 25-year-old model-actor Kristina Akheeva could easily pass off as a Punjabi or a Rajasthani gal. This Australian girl, who has bagged a role in the sequel of Yamla Pagla Deewana, talks about Bollywood, family and dancing.

Ques: This is your first Bollywood film. Are you excited or nervous? Kristina: I am heading to the UK in the second week of September. I went to a film and television school in Australia, so I have some basic training in acting. But that was way back in 2006. I hope that my spontaneity works some magic on the sets (giggles).

Ques: How is your initial experience with the Deols? Kristina: Fantastic! They treat you like a family member and make you feel relaxed and nice. I am paired opposite Sunny Deol in the film. Though people feel that there's a considerable age difference between us (Sunny is 55), I am not bothered about it. I feel that I can learn a lot from him since he's such a veteran and powerful performer.

Ques: Have you been sharpening your skills in Hindi? Kristina: I spent a year in India in 2010 modelling. I know enough Hindi to get by in day-to-day life. However, I am working hard at my conversational Hindi.

Ques: Describe your first tryst with India and Bollywood? Kristina: In 2007, I went backpacking across Asian countries. I visited the Far East, India and Nepal. One of the things on my travel list was watching a Bollywood film. So, I watched a Hindi film Om Shanti Om. I was bowled over by the colour, dance and music in the film. And SRK... he was simply fab!

Ques: How has your family reacted to your foray in Bollywood? Kristina: They are very excited. I spent two months with my parents in Australia and showed them a few Bollywood films. When they saw the heroines dancing they said, "Kristina, you could easily do that!" I am a trained salsa and ballroom dancer. My mom had also seen Bollywood films in Russia.