MUMBAI: Madhur Bhandarkar’s Traffic Signal is trying innovative marketing strategies.

The movie’s protagonist Neetu Chandra cleaned cars at the Bandra Linking Road signal this week, and offered caps and T-shirts to unsuspecting car owners who paid her for her efforts.

“I visited the signals at Linking road without my makeup and in simple clothes to promote the film. I cleaned a few cars and one lady gave me ten rupees, mistaking me as a beggar. I took it and gave her a cap and T-shirt, which had the Traffic Signal logo. She advised me to have adequate security cover before venturing out for such publicity!” laughs Chandra.

Kunal Khemu, the film’s male protagonist undertook a similar exercise elswhere in Mumbai, informs Chandra. Traffic Signal, produced by Percept Picture Company, featuring Konkona Sen Sharma, Ranvir Shorey, Neetu Chandra and Kunal Khemu, releases tomorrow (2 February 2007).