She has the prettiest pout in the industry. Her face can launch thousand dreams. And as an actress, she is as good as any.

But some ill-timed career moves and some avoidable off-screen controversies ensured that Manisha Koirala never reached the heights that she should have logically reached.

The actress has now got the much-needed break in Kamal Haasan's Mumbai Express.

Whether her role is big or small, Manisha will at least be assured of plenty of publicity. And that is what she needs the most as her career as hit the confused crossroads now.

Though a talented actress, Manisha was left without any meaningful offers after the unseemly controversy over Ek Choti Si Love Story.

Her bulging girth and the arrival of pencil-thin bimbettes also meant that Manisha was left looking desperate for offers.

So naturally she jumped into Mumbai Express when Kamal approached her. Though the film came to her by default (Tabu, Kajol, Bipasha, among others, had rejected the role), Manisha is happy to do the role.

Her record in Tamil is patchy. She has hit films like Indian, Mudalvan, Bombay to her credit. But her last one Baba with Rajni was a major disaster.

Manisha, however, feels Mumbai Express will take her to the right place.

Hope chugs.