She started her career by modelling for popular brands like Amul, Nirma, and Nescafe. She gained attention after appearing in a television ad for Cadbury’s Temptations Chocholates. Around this time she also appeared in music videos by rock band Silk Route and Indipop artist Kay Kay.
After her career in Bollywood took off, Payal has cut back on the number of products she endorses. However, she has agreed to appear along with cricketer Virender Sehwag in an ad film for Dabur’s Lal Dantmanjan. The film will be directed by Pradeep Sarkar
Bollywood career
Payal’s Bollywood debut was in Harry Baweja’s Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai, a Hindi remake of the Hollywood teen flick American Pie. However, she went unnoticed in the multi-starrer. She shot into the limelight with Tauba Tauba, a titillating movie where she played the object of a teenaged boy’s lust.
She followed this up with a string of movies with sexual themes such as Fun, a movie about wife-swapping; and Mr. 100%, where the central character was a gigolo. Payal stated that she consciously chose movies that would get her noticed. However, she seemed to have a change of heart and dissociated herself from the movie Mazaa Mazaa, which she said was too vulgar.
In 2006, she appeared in the critically acclaimed Corporate where, ironically, she played the part of an item girl named Payal who sleeps her way to success.
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