London, Apr 22: Born in Britain, speaks Hindi with an accent—Katrina Kaif is no close to the typical Bollywood actress but still she has made a mark in Indians’ hearts.

The former model from Finchley, north London, Katrina arrived in Mumbai in 2003 and has played the lead in 10 films till date.

After a disastrous start with ‘Boom’, she went on to give a string of hit films and has created her own niche in Bollywood.

Earlier, she could not dance or sing and did not speak Hindi, but she reinvented herself to play girlfriends in commercial films.

"I''m the girl in the tank top and the short skirt who you could take home to meet your mother," The Telegraph quoted Katrina as saying.

She added: "Becoming a film star in India has been a dream come true but you do always have to put on a performance, so sometimes it is good to get away. That''s when I head back to London. I can walk down Finchley High Street and no one recognises me. I certainly can''t do that in Mumbai or Delhi."

But, after seven years of hard work she has no plans to leave it all behind to come back to Finchley.

However, she has said she would consider the right British or American project, if offered.

Recently, Katrina has been chosen as the face of India''s first Barbie doll, which goes into production in September.

She said that she felt "honoured" to be chosen as the face of the doll, which marks Mattel Toys'' 50th anniversary. (ANI)