Chennai, March 23 (IANS): Debutante Wamiqa Gabbi has been chosen as the female lead in Geethanjali Selvaraghavan's Tamil directorial debut "Maalai Nerathu Mayakkam", which is currently on the floors and is nearing completion.

"I'm not allowed to talk much about my role. But I'm playing a character that's unlike the chirpy roles I've essayed in my Punjabi films. I have so much to perform and I couldn't have asked for a better role to launch my career in Tamil," Wamiqa, who has also featured in Hindi film "Sixteen", told IANS.

With nearly 90 percent of the film already shot, Wamiqa feels "she has grown as an actor".

"Maalai Nerathu Mayakkam" was planned and shelved a few years ago by filmmaker Selvaraghavan, but his wife Geethanjali has taken over the reins of the project now.

Wamiqa, quite naturally, had some apprehensions about the industry when she was called for auditions.

"Initially, I was not quite sure about the south filmdom, and I was doubtful too about the project because I didn't know anyone. I anyways auditioned and was subsequently signed for it," she said.

A day after Wamiqa was confirmed, she started shooting for it.

"Everything happened so quickly. I was on the sets, and it was here I learnt about Selva sir's association with the project. I did my research on him and even watched couple of his films. I realized he's a great director and this was his script," she said.

"I felt I'll get to learn from him, and I did quite a bit," she added.

Working with Geethanjali was "great" for Wamiqa.

"She's been really nice and supportive. You can't discuss everything with a male director. Here, I directly go to her and discuss my problems. We didn't bond like actor and director," she said.

Wamiqa has already signed a yet-untitled Telugu film with Sudheer Babu.