She has been quite open about her relationships in the past, but Sushmita Sen is, for the first time, tight-lipped about her latest boyfriend Manav.

"As you mature with time, you realise relationships aren't just about one person. The privacy of the other party in a relationship does matter. I may not be secretive about the relationship. The other person is. That's it.

"As long as I can answer without compromising the other person, I do it. I can't let other people suffer for the choices I make in life. People are most welcome to be inquisitive about my life. I do enjoy sharing it," Sushmita told IANS in an interview.

Career wise 2006 wasn't too encouraging for the actress. She had two releases, "Chingaari" and "Zindaggi Rocks" - both bombed at the box office but she is unfazed!

"By god's grace, every time a film of mine bombs, which is rather regularly, I've kept growing and diversifying into different areas of the entertainment business," she said.

She confesses that now she has actually started enjoying acting.

"Cinema allows me to exhale. It's no longer about impressing other people but expressing myself. That's what makes me feel so liberated."

Excerpts:

Q: How has life been treating you?

A: Fabulously! I'm 31 and rocking. And, though I do at times explore the possibility of other options, I wouldn't have my life any other way. 2006 has been personally tough. But I'm an eternal optimist. I say, 'All right god, you've chosen me for this tough test. But please don't make it into a habit.' I'm His favourite child. I wish the same for everyone.

Q: There's an insatiable appetite to know more about your current man Manav. Why are you, for once, so secretive about your relationship?

A: As you get acclimatised to the media, you adopt a less bindaas approach to the limelight. Right now I feel this is my life and I don't need to justify myself. As you mature with time, you realise relationships aren't just about one person. The privacy of the other party in a relationship does matter. I may not be secretive about the relationship. The other person is. That's it.

It isn't easy, specially, when pushed to a corner about being answerable about my relationship. As long as I can answer without compromising the other person, I do it. I can't let other people suffer for the choices I make in life. People are most welcome to be inquisitive about my life. I do enjoy sharing it.

Q: So, is this relationship more serious, therefore more private?

A: No the secrecy, as you call it, is purely because the person has asked me not to talk about it. I'd rather choose what my heart tells me to. I've a tremendously strong conscience. I'd never do something that makes me uncomfortable.

Q: Do you feel the need to find a man who loves you for what you are rather than for being 'The Sushmita Sen'?

A: God! You always did come up with wonderful questions. God knows the image is of no importance to me. And you can't go on looking for love. It would hardly depend on who I am. It'd greatly depend on who he is. I believe all these relationships that you go through in life are actually a part of that cosmic design where love and marriage finally finds you. I believe that will happen to me also.

Q: Madhuri Dixit finally settled down with a US-based doctor, who didn't watch her films.

A: That's tough to believe. But I'll take your word for it. God bless Madhuri's equation with her husband. I saw a picture of her and husband with their two sons. And my heart melted. Blissful relationships are still possible in today's world. As for me, I'd rather have a man see any and every thing I've ever done, and then be able to connect on a one-to-one level.

Q: Does your heart crave for marriage now?

A: It craved for marriage forever. I've always been a home-lover, in spite of living a very public life, which I enjoy in my own way. I'm a hundred-percent all there person. When I'm at a public event, I wouldn't want to be at home and vice versa.

Q: Your two bravura performances in 2006 in "Chingaari" and "Zindaggi Rocks" went unappreciated...

A: Sometimes I feel why do I put so much love, effort and passion in all my roles? Over the years I came in with no expectations from myself. It was more like... okay someone was offering me a chance to be in the movies with good money, so why not? I don't have that feeling of initial excitement any more.

Now, I've actually started enjoying acting. Cinema allows me to exhale. It's no longer about impressing other people but expressing myself. That's what makes me feel so liberated. That's why when I'm accused of living in an ivory tell, I've to say that whether it's life or cinema, one can't function in isolation. Having said that, I must say I love ivory (laughs).

Q: I feel Bollywood still has a problem finding the right place for you.

A: I've never looked at this from their perspective. Speaking from my own perspective, I do understand my audience. I know a "Main Hoon Na" thrills them. But they've to allow me to do the stuff I enjoy doing. Otherwise, I'll stagnate. By the way I love doing David Dhawan's films. And we'll be working together again.

Q: You can run around trees. But you've a problem running around the heroes, don't you?

A: Yeah, that's always been a problem. I'm accused of remaining in my shell. Salman Khan has always been a friend. But many other actors are disappointed because I don't socialise with them after-hours. I remember during "Main Hoon Na", I went around all over the place trying to help Shah Rukh Khan with his bad back. But when it came to chilling around with Farah Khan and company, I wasn't around.

Q: But you're yet to find a favourite hero to pair with.

A: What are you talking about? I've paired up with the greatest hero of them all... god!

Q: The image of the strong woman haunts you. Is it a curse?

A: Well, from the history of the heroine in Hindi films, I feel I've been a big sore-thumb. Having said that, I must tell you, I came here to make a place for myself, which no one else has. And that wasn't about a Friday-to-Friday equation.

By god's grace, every time a film of mine bombs, which is rather regularly, I've kept growing and diversifying into different areas of the entertainment business.

My last film has never determined my fate in the public eye. I got a "Main Hoon Na" after a line of duds. It's not as if I don't want my Fridays and big banners. It's just that a lot of people in the industry have very fixed ideas about how a working woman needs to conduct herself vis-à-vis the men. I can't stoop to that level to get work. I don't want to.