LLANELLI'S Lisa Lazarus is making her big Bollywood debut with the release of epic Indian movie Veer.

The title of the film means hero and the 22-year-old local girl plays the part of an English princess in the period drama.

She got the part after being crowned Miss Universe in 2008.

"Bollywood is huge in the UK and it was such a challenge to go there and do this," said Lisa.

"I thought if I can conquer this then I can conquer anything."

The actress, who is Cross Hands psychic Diane Lazarus's daughter, had to learn to sing and dance for the role.

And her acting skills helped her get the part. "The filmmakers were looking for a British girl so they tracked me down and lucky for them I could act, so I got the part," she said. "The lingo wasn't too bad as I had a really good tutor who sat down with me and went through everything.

"Having to learn a new language was fun.

"The dance routine was okay as well as it was mainly ballroom dancing, but my dress weighed 15 kilos and dancing in that in the 45 degree heat of the desert wasn't much fun."

In the film, she plays opposite Salman Khan, who has been hailed as Bollywood's Brad Pitt.

Watch the trailer for Veer

Lisa, who was tipped for stardom after winning Miss Llanelli in 2004, said Salman took her "under his wing and taught me everything."

The historic Indian drama, set in 1875 when the British ruled the country, was written by Salman.

He plays a soldier fighting for independence in colonial times.

Lisa, who has already shot her second Bollywood film called Madras, is now hoping her career will progress even further.

"I'm trying to conquer the United States now," she said.

"I've just returned from Los Angeles where I met some agents and it's really positive."

But before jetting off to the States in the summer she still has to sit her university exams in radiography.

Lisa said: "The course has already taken me four years instead of three to do.

shaun.greaney@swwmedia.co.uk