Though initially it was being denied, the fact is Antara Mali has turned director with her self-written satire "Mr Ya Miss".

Antara, whose hard work in "Naach" went to waste, is ready to bounce back with what promises to be a rather unique take on the sex change theme. In the film, Aftab Shivdasani plays a Casanova who dies and is reborn as a woman so that he gets a taste of his own medicine.

Interestingly, another underproduction film in Kannada called "Jackpot", about the same situation, is being readied. The two products are in no way connected.

It isn't the theme as much as Antara's professional attitude that is surprising many. Divya Dutta, who plays a socialite in "Mr Ya Miss", is all praise for her.

"I must say she knows her job. She has teamed up with one of Ram Gopal Varma's assistants Sachit to co-direct the film," Divya told IANS.

"And she's so much in control in spite of her dual capacity. I was truly moved by something Antara said to me: 'Divya, films aren't made for you. You are made for the films that you do.' That was so beautiful, and so generous..."

And surprising, one may add. Antara's earlier reputation on the sets has been of a bossy and over-confident busy-bee.

But Divya, who has reportedly had a terrible experience earlier shooting with Dia Mirza for Amol Shetge's "Naam Ghum Jayega", is all praise for Antara: "She's no pushover. And she certainly knows how to do her job. I'm often made to work with incompetent people. And I hate that."

Fortunately, after "Veer-Zaara", Divya is getting offers worth doing, if not dying for.

"I really enjoyed 'Silsiilay' with Khalid Mohamed. In spite of so many women in the film we were absolutely cool as a team.

No ego hassles, no games of one-upmanship, so much so that I was looking forward to doing my new women's comedy 'Hum Hain Na' with Hriday Shetty where I'm supposed to work with Poonam Dhillon.

"I know that would be fun. I hope it happens because we were supposed to fly down to Bangkok last month. For some reason it didn't happen. Damn! Just when I was warming up to the idea of working with women."