Actor Genelia Deshmukh was clear from the beginning that she would take some time off from work to concentrate on her family and spend time with husband, actor Riteish Deshmukh, and their children, Riaan (5) and Rahyl (4). Now, ready for a comeback, Deshmukh says in her “heart of hearts” the actor in her has been dying to explore new characters.

“I think now my kids are somewhat settled in their space. So I’m looking at restarting. There are so many opportunities at the moment. I’m excited to see the kind of content we’re making,” says the actor.

Her last releases were in 2012, Hindi film, Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya and Telugu venture, Naa Ishtam. In these eight-year-long hiatus, Deshmukh did a “few cameo appearances for friends”. “I missed working but I knew I didn’t want to be stressed and go to the sets thinking ‘oh my kids are at home, are they alright…’ I wanted to give my undivided attention to my craft because I love being an actor,” she says.

While Deshmukh, 33, is ready for both films and web, she won’t settle for anything mediocre. “When I watched Delhi Crime and Aarya, I was like wow female protagonists are portraying such strong and amazing roles. And these are the kind of characters I connect with. If I’m coming on screen after long it should be worth, it should be something that I’ll enjoy with all my heart. I don’t have a perception that I won’t play a mother or of not playing my age on screen,” she adds.

On possibility of working with hubby Riteish, she says, “I’d love to work with him but it’s not like a condition. But, if we work together, it must be something that’s meant for us.”