I never left this industry: Ameesha Patel

Comebacks are for those who get married and have kids, says actress Ameesha Patel, insisting that she had never left the industry and "Race 2" does not signal a return.

"Comebacks are for the actresses who get married and have kids and then plan to come back. I never left this industry. I have always been here. My last film was 'Chatur Singh 2 Stars' (2011). The film didn't do well; so maybe people didn't know about it," Ameesha told IANS.

An "outsider" for Bollywood, Ameesha says politics is a part of the Hindi film industry. She had a dream debut in 2000 with "Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai" but Hrithik Roshan, son of filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, stole the limelight. That didn't deter Ameesha.

"Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai" was a blockbuster and Ameesha also went on to win critical praise for her performance in "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha". The successes since have been few for the actress who has also been a part of films like "Humraaz", "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd", "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic" and most recently "Race 2" of course.

"I have always been a very positive person. My honesty and my positivity make me different from others. I don't come from a film background and it is altogether a new world for an outsider," the 37-year-old said.

"Unlike other stars, I am not a part of dirty games or politics. I have always been out of politics. I don't date the heroes to get films. I have survived so far on my own. Politics is everywhere - whether it is films, ad agency, families or anything else. But I have chosen to keep myself away from all these things," added the graduate in economics from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.

"I have never snatched any film from any actress. It is the film that has snatched me for a role. Each day when I look in the mirror I am happy that I see a clean and honest girl," she added.

She said she had been busy with "Race 2", which she refuses to call her comeback film, as well as in making her presence in tinsel town as a producer.

It's not easy, she said. Her banner Ameesha Patel Productions will be delivering two films, one to be directed by David Dhawan and the other by Priyadarshan.

"It is a very daunting task to be a producer. As an actor you tend to take your money and walk out, but as a producer you will have to bear the loss of the film as well. A huge amount of money is being invested in your name; and trust me, it is a tougher job to be a producer," she said.

She said she has no regrets.

"My mistakes are my mistakes and my flops are my flops. I am happy with whatever I have done in my life," added the actress, who also experienced a phase of unsuccessful films like "Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage", "Mere Jeevan Saathi (2006)" and "Aapki Khatir".