Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS): Sayani Gupta's "infectious smile" left a lasting impression on "Baar Baar Dekho" (BBD) director Nitya Mehra, who was also impressed with the actress' performance in "Margarita, with a Straw".

"I had watched the trailer of 'Magarita, with a Straw' and was instantly hooked. Sayani has an infectious smile and an attractiveness that's very unique. When she came in for BBD, she nailed her audition and on first glance I knew she's my Chitra. I absolutely loved having her on BBD with us," Mehra said in a statement.

BBD stars Katrina Kaif and Sidharth Malhotra in the lead roles, but Sayani's role is the key to the plot as well. 

Talking more about her experience of working with Sayani and her abilities as a performer, Mehra said: "I think she's very instinctive and digs deep to get to the root of the character. That's a dream for any director. I think she's able to bring nuances to the scene that may not be rehearsed and with that the scene always gets lifted."

Mehra, who is making her directorial debut with the project, would like to see Sayani showcase her "untapped range" in Bollywood.