Mumbai, Jun 12 (IANS): Actor Purab Kohli who will feature in a sub-plot of Nandita Das's ambitious directorial project "Manto", says he was always keen to work under her direction.

"Manto" is a project on the life of celebrated Urdu author Saadat Hassan Manto. It features Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title role, and Rasika Dugal essays his wife.

Parts of the movie will reportedly recreate some of the writer's most controversial stories, and Purab will be seen in one of these.

Talking about getting to work with Nandita again, Purab said in a statement: "The first two films in my career had me acting with Nandita. 'Bas Yun Hi' then 'Supari'. After that, we also acted together for Onir's 'I Am'.

"She and Farhan Akhtar are the only two actors I've worked with in three different films. And incidentally, they both are directors I would love to work with.

"When Nandita called for me to play a small role in one of the short stories woven into the main narrative, I couldn't say no. One, for the want to work with her and then also to be a part of a prestigious project such as a film being made on Saadat Hassan Manto."

Purab will be seen playing one of the three men who set out to hire a prostitute and only realise when she shows up that she's a child. What transpires is an uncomfortable yet innocent outing written by Manto, in his short story "Dus Rupaya".

There's also a buzz that actors Divya Dutta and Ranvir Shorey have been roped in to bring alive in the movie, Manto's "Thanda Gosht" which is set in 1947.