<span class=normal>Dainty, dreamy, elfin… all these adjectives once described Dia Mirza. The operative word here being once. <br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>But today, theres a new Ms. Mirza in the house who audaciously demands nothing less than sexy, sultry and a host of other femme fatal-esque synonyms to be bestowed on her. This sudden volte-face from sweet to sexy is all thanks to her upcoming Sanjay Gupta film Acid Factory, which has the actor playing the anti-heroine, Max - a cold, manipulative character that Dia admits is the darkest side of me. Even her Facebook message board mirrors her state of mind, I am working harder than ever because Max is the most challenging character to play. But a challenge is something the 26-year-old claims to like and even crave at times. As an actor, I feel its important to be able to essay different roles. Each one of us has so many layers, so many facets to our personality, she purrs languidly as she takes a break from painting her lips a saucy scarlet. It is unfortunate that most characters in Indian cinema are one-dimensional. Max is not just dark. Shes fun, charming, arrogant, proud, indifferent and confident. Most of which we all are or can be… or perhaps would like to be. <BR><BR><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>Photographs by Harsh Man Rai / MW </span><br><p class=clear>&nbsp;</p>