Golfer's daughter steps into films with 'Mastram'

Tara Alisha Berry, who lost her golfer-father Gautam Berry just two months ago, is stepping into Hindi films with a very unusual debut vehicle - a movie focusing on the country's well-known porn writer Mastram.

Tara, who was lately in the news for an unsavoury property dispute with her stepbrother Sikandar (Gautam Berry's son from his first wife Kirron Kher), will be seen as Hindi pornographic literature's resident-guru Mastram's wife in Akhilesh Jaiswal's film.

Titled "Mastram", the fictional biography is directorial debut of Jaiswal, co-writer of "Gangs of Wasseypur".

Asked about her unusual choice for a debut, Tara said: "It was the script that clinched the deal for me. I had no clue who Mastram was. But I simply fell in love with the script. The director Akhilesh Jaiswal and I connected instantly."

Tara was not put off by the porn theme.

"The film is about a porn writer, but there is nothing lurid or sleazy about the content. I found that to be deliciously ironical. It's a film about India's most well-known porn writer. But it's porn-free."

The debutant says the experience has made her confident about the film industry.

"It was a very fulfilling experience," she said.

Being from a celebrity family, Tara doesn't mind struggling her way into stardom.

"I think my journey so far has been similar to anyone who joins the entertainment business. I think it's equally hard work for film kids and for those who come from outside the film industry," she said.

Alisha hasn't sought anyone help in establishing a foothold in the industry. "Help, no. But I got guidance from people like Sameer Sharma (the director of 'Luv Shuv Te Chicken Khurana'), Anurag Kashyap and Shanoo Sharma."

Tara recalls many golfing moments as a child with her dad.

"I remember I spent a lot of time as a kid at the US Club putting while dad played. But I never thought of golf as a profession."