India, May 14 -- In the heart of New York's fashion scene, Diana Penty was already making waves as successful model. Little did she know, a singular phone call would propel her into a life-changing trajectory. "I was contacted by Dinesh Vijan and Homi Adajania, who were casting for a new role. I flew to Mumbai thinking it would be a brief, casual meeting," recalls Diana. "But to my surprise, they immediately saw me as the perfect fit for the immediately saw me role of Meera in Cocktail (2012), particularly because my natural shyness and uncertainty aligned with the character they envisioned."

What followed was a serendipitous series of events. Diana was asked to audition on the spot, and then a second audition followed soon after. "When ...