Gudang Starlounge

Overnight success: Freida Pinto

One minute I was a 24-year-old model and travel show presenter in India, the next I was asked to audition for a lead role in a Danny Boyle film.

I had no idea Slumdog Millionaire would become such a huge success. In fact, when we were filming, none of us expected it, so the feeling of surprise and shock is still with me.

The film won eight Oscars and I was nominated for Best Supporting actress at the Baftas, and now, when I look back at photographs in magazines of me at the film awards I can still hardly believe it's me. It's like, 'Was I really at the Baftas and the Oscars?' It's surreal.

I found it all a bit overwhelming at first, but now I'm determined to make the most of it. I don't want to look back in ten years and think that I missed out.

Over the last 12 months I've met a lot of famous people. Meeting Sharon Stone at the Baftas probably stands out more than anything else because she was so enthusiastic about being introduced to the cast, and she told us how much she was rooting for us.

And meeting Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the Oscars - I mean, come on, they're pretty much the most famous couple in the world. I was a bit shell-shocked by Angelina. She told me to enjoy the moment and make the most of it all, as you never know when it might happen again.

It is all a bit nuts. I don't even have a fixed address as I'm making movies all over the world.

I'm filming in Israel at the moment and who knows after that, so I'm not making plans to buy my own place yet.

Ultimately, Mumbai will always be home. That's where my family is. There's a saying, 'you can feel like a king in your own country', and I definitely feel like that.

One thing I have found difficult is the lack of privacy. I'm constantly asked if Dev [Patel, her 18-year-old Slumdog co-star] and I are in a relationship, and I don't know what to say.