NEW YORK: While Freida Pinto doesn’t see herself as a role model, the 30-year-old actress understands there’s a huge responsibility that goes with being in the public eye. That’s why she regards every film role as a potential catalyst for change.

“One of the reasons I do a film like ‘Desert Dancer’ is that I hope it starts a global conversation,” Pinto said. The film is based on Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian, who risked his life by simply forming an underground dance company. He eventually sought political asylum in France.

Pinto finds it hard to believe that people can be punished for making art, but is not entirely surprised by it. “I never thought that six kids that make a music video to Pharrell’s ‘Happy’ could get arrested, either,” Pinto said, referring to an incident that happened last year in Iran.

Pinto talked about her support for the banned documentary “India’s Daughter,” which tells the story of the brutal gang rape of Jyoti Singh

"I think what it did was start the conversation. ... This is no longer just an India problem, this is a global problem, a world phenomenon. ... It’s what we really want to start talking about, and take positive steps to work toward action. So I do really hope that ‘India’s Daughter’ can be that tool where we don’t let Jyoti’s death go by the wayside," she said.

Commenting on an incident last month in which frustrated mobs in North East India broke into a prison and lynched the suspected rapist, Pinto said: "The lynching was, in my opinion, very sad, because that’s not what the film was trying to do. ... There’s so much that needs to be done and there are so many amazing groups and organizations that are coming together to do it.