Bipasha Basu : Bollywood Star (India)

Bipasha Basu: Introduction

Name: Bipasha Basu

Nick Names: Bonny, Bips, Goddess of the Ramp

Bipasha means: Deep Dark desire

Date of Birth May 5, 1979

Birth Place Delhi

Mother Tongue Bengali

Height 5' 8"

Eye colour Dark Brown

Education Commerce graduate

Came into limelight: After winning 'Famous Ford Supermodels Contest' at the age of 17

Spotted by: world famous photographer, Steven Mizhel,

First appearance: In the famous video ‘Tu’ for Sonu Nigam’s album “Kismat”.

Debut in Films Hindi: Ajnabee with Akshay Kumar
Tamil: Sachin with Vijay

Wanted to be a: Doctor

Modelled for: Close-up, Pantene, Benzer, Lakme

Has also been featured in: Vogue Magazine

Turning point: Mehr Jessia suggested her to take
part in the Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest which
she won later.

Hobbies: Dancing, reading and helping her mother
with interior designing

Regrets: Doing the controversial Calida commercial

Likes: To try out all kind of roles

Favourite movie English: Godfather Hindi: Masoom

Favourite film stars: Bollywood: Amitabh Bachan,
Aamir Khan, Kajol, Manisha Koirala and Tabu
Hollywood: Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer and Julia Roberts.

Feels: Her eyes are her strong feature

Believes: Mehr Jesia is her godmother

Love to do: A film like My Best Friend's Wedding

About Aishwarya Rai: Is a complete actress just like old-time Actresses

Boyfriend: ex: Dino Moreo current: John Abraham

Awards: Winner of coveted Super Model Contest and
also won the Tulips Miss Super Vivacious in the same contest. Received the filmfare's best newcomer award for the film 'Ajnabee'

Was one of the Judges: 2004 'Femina Miss India' pageant.

Acted in a Pakistani film: 'Khulay Aasman Kay
Neeche' directed by Javed Sheikh

Facts: She is the second daughter in the family.
Till the age of 14 she was considered to be a very
ugly child and after that she blossomed into a true beauty.

Does not know: Driving

Frustrated: To wait on the sets with make-up on

Address: 105/B, Ashiyana Estate, John Bapist Road,Bandra (W), Mumbai -50.

Dream and Ambition: I want to study the process of
film making and want to make a movie some time in future – a movie that will be purely my expression
of cinema

Quotes:

“Once you enter films, your private life becomes a joke”

“These days, it's shocking to see the level of desperation among girls to enter the film industry.”

“I always find myself looking ugly on screen: Bipasha Basu.”

"Kareena might be a star daughter but I am confident.I'll be noticed for who I am. Insecurity
is a word that doesn't exist in my head.”

“No matter how heroine-oriented my roles are, everyone just sees the glamour. After all that
effort, all people see is that I look hot and sexy.”

"The industry is a very insecure place, but I am least bothered."

Interview:

Tell me where are you from? And what does your name mean?

Well, I was born in Delhi and grew up in Calcutta. And
now my base is Bombay. So you see, I have lived in three metros.
Bipasha means deep dark desire (with a naughty grin).

Did you always want to be a model?

Never! I actually wanted to be a doctor. But doing all those horrid
rat dissections made me faint (laughs). I studied science till the
12th standard and later took up commerce. I was planning to do
chartered accountancy, but fate had something else in store for me.
I met Mehr Jessia in a hotel in Calcutta and she suggested that I
take part in the Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest. I did, I won
and the rest is history.

What were your experiences during this contest?

You know winning this contest was like getting an
all-paid one-month holiday for me. For the first time,
I was away from my parents. So, there was a sense of
independence. When I won the contest -- which I had not
in my wildest dreams had imagined would happen -- I was
just 17. I had an international contest to attend in
Florida, and everything seemed to be going wrong. I lost
my suitcase, so I was left with no clothes, no shoes.
But the organisation which held the contest was really
kind and helpful. They provided me with clothes and
accessories. And I managed to come third in the contest.

How did you begin modelling?

Well, I went to this modelling agency called Ford in New
York where I had a great time. I kept telling mom I was
coming home. Finally, I started feeling homesick and came
back. I did some work in Bombay, then went to Paris, was
there for a month and then came back again.

Do you regret doing the controversial Calida commercial?
Or were you aware of what you were getting into?

I regret doing that advertisement. The truth is I am not
very comfortable with my body. I was roped into doing it
because my boyfriend Dino Morea and the ad-photographer,
Prabhudda Dasgupta, who is a friend, were a part of the
campaign. Now, I had worn a proper t-shirt and underwear,
but while taking the photographs, there were some
personal snaps taken as well, which were not meant to be
used. The agency released one such photograph. I distinctly
remember being shocked when I read in Dubai that I was in
jail for doing that ad! Back home, representatives from
some women's organisations did come outside my house, but things
cooled off pretty soon. I must add that my neighbours
were very supportive at my hour of need.

You had categorically stated that you were not keen on movies.
So, what made you change your mind?

Vinod Khanna, who was one of the judges at the contest in India,
asked me if I were interested in movies. He was planning to
launch Akshaye Khanna with Himalayaputra at that time. I wasn't
interested as I was too young to handle the pressure. For one year,
I stuck to my resolve. Then I came back from my stint in Paris.
I thought it was better to have fame and money in India rather than
just earn money abroad. At that time Jaya Bachchan (who was
also a judge at the contest) told me that Abhishek's
launch was to happen with Aakhri Mughal. J P Dutta was on
the lookout for a dusky girl to play the part of a village belle.
Jayaji convinced me that I was appropriate for the role.
But then they had second thoughts about the film. They
felt Aakhri Mughal being a period drama may not work as
a launching pad (for Abhishek). So later the script
changed, the characters changed -- and the film became Refugee.
For this film, they needed a girl who is young, vulnerable. Now,
I don't look as if I need any protection (laughs). So I refused
the part which later went to Kareena Kapoor. I was offered a role
opposite Sunil Shetty or Jackie Shroff, but I wasn't keen.

Is that when you accepted a role in Vijay Galani's
venture, tentatively titled Talaash?

Yeah, I have realised it's very difficult to work without
a manager. A lot of politics and underhand dealings keep
going on here. Well, to get back to the point, after
Aakhri Mughal I got many offers, but none of them really
interesting. Galani's offer was different. I feel Abbas-Mustan
are good directors -- what else can a newcomer ask for? It's
a great suspense thriller and has a really unique story. It
will shock people and definitely be talked about. I feel it's
a good launch for me, though ideally anyone would want to star
in a solo heroine project. In fact, after Aakhri Mughal got
shelved, J P Dutta was to do a second film with me. But
continuous delays were getting to me, so I picked the best of
what I was getting.

Aren't you apprehensive avout the fact that Abbas-Mustan's
last film, Baadshah, bombed at the box-office?

I think you have got your facts wrong. Baadshah is a hit,
it has done well in the cities. Abbas and Mustan bhai are
very talented, no matter what the outcome of the film at
the box-office is. My film will do better, at least I hope
it does.

How are your co-stars?

Fabulous! They are fun and they make me very comfortable.
Kareena (Kapoor) is a very nice person. Bobby (Deol) and
Akshay (Kumar) are more like buddies. Tanya (Deol) was
really helpful and made things easy for me. I could not
have asked for a better setup. What other films are you
doing apart from this one? Well, talks are on with other
filmmakers too, but I really wouldn't like to divulge it
because the industry is a very strange place. One moment
you are doing a project, the next, you are not.

Do you believe in the cliche that models can't act?

Models are themselves responsible for creating this
cliche. For most of them, looking good is very important.
Acting is secondary to most. There are so many human
expressions and emotions for which you have to contort
your face. For instance, when you're crying, you cannot
be bothered about the amount of pancake on your face. As
for myself, I know I have done well in my first film and
intend to do better.

What kind of image do you want for yourself? Is there any
dream role in your mind?

I think my first film will create an image, which I will
immediately try to break away from later. I have a sexy,
glamour doll image which I want to get out of. But if
nothing else is works out, I shall cash in on it (laughs).
I don't have any dream role in mind, I want to try out everything.

Don't you feel your height comes in your way as far as
pairing with shorter heroes is concerned?

There are taller girls in the industry -- like Shilpa
Shetty, Sushmita Sen and Pooja Batra. I am only 5ft 8.
In fact, I am getting used to the idea of wearing
chappals to work.

What kind of movies have had an impact on you?

Godfather is an all-time favourite. If I were a man, I'd
love to have played the godfather. I've seen the movie
so many times. Another favourite is Masoom. I love movies
that deal with human emotions, movies with which you can identify.

Who are the actors and actresses you admire?

Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford. Even at this age, they
are so sexy, smart and so good. I like Amitabh Bachchan
and Aamir Khan too.Among actresses, I adore Michelle
Pfeiffer and Julia Roberts. I would love to act in a
film like My Best Friend's Wedding. In Bollywood, I
like Kajol, Manisha Koirala and Tabu. Also Aishwarya
Rai, who I feel, is a complete actress, just like
old-time actresses.

Which director are you looking forward to work with?

There's no specific person, I'm open to the idea of
working with all.

As hot as it gets! In conversation with Bipasha Basu

Her name in Bengali spells deep, dark desires. Not only
is this Bong beauty desirable and has the male adrenaline
pumping for more, she is sultry, hot and a trendsetter...
she is Bipasha Basu.Bipasha's nature is what sets her
apart from the other glam brigade. She is headstrong and
sure about her decisions whether they are about her
principles or her relationships. Whether it is her close
friendship with ex-flame Dino Morea or her current
relationship with the hunky John Abraham, Bipasha has
been clear about her priorities and hasn't shied away
from speaking her mind.

Personal life is 'private':

However, Bipasha prefers to be tight-lipped about her
personal life while speaking to us. She says, "I have
learnt to keep a lid on my personal life." And how much
does it bother her when rumours about her personal life
keep persisting? She's emphatic, "I can't stop anyone's
pen from writing... it has ceased to matter to me what
the media says about me. I know what I am and what I do,
so the media can write whatever it wants. My fans are
concerned about my work and not my personal life."

A winning attitude:

Her attitude is responsible for taking her places.
Currently the dusky beauty is the talk of the town for
more than one reason. Firstly, because of her appearance
in an international music video, Jay Sean's 'Stolen'.
The track is already a hit and Bipasha adds fire to the
video. Secondly, and more significantly because she is now a part
of 'Phir Hera Pheri', the sequel to the laugh riot 'Hera Pheri'.

Versatility is the name of the game:

She's the babe who usually sizzles on screen, so how
comfortable is Bipasha with comedy? Says the lady without
hesitation, "I am absolutely comfortable with it. And it
is not the first time that I am doing a comedy,'' she says
referring to her role in Phir Hera Pheri. "I have done
Boney Kapoor's 'No Entry' (yet to be released), which is
also a comedy. I am an actress first and foremost and I
am comfortable with all roles, be it sensual or comic."She
dismisses the notion of the 'image' that the media has
built around her. Adds Bipasha, "I do different roles in
all my films. If the media wants to ask me the same
questions over and over, then that 'image' will stay
forever. But that doesn't affect me because I am doing
what I want to. I am happy as an actress... ultimately,
it is the story that wins the heart of the audience.
"Will she do another Jism? Says Bipasha, "I have moved on.
I am doing a comedy now. When I did Jism, it was something
new and now it will become a repetition. The definition of
the word 'bold' differs from the way the media uses it. I
have always been an open person. My personality is bold. I
am not bold because I did a Jism."But how does she feel to
be the inspiration of so many other actresses? "No, I ask
them to not be inspired by me please... because I don't
take inspiration from anyone."

Rational, not money-minded:

When asked about the 'money-minded' tag that she's earned
by refusing a film with acknowledged director Buddhadeb
Das Gupta, she lets her guard down and divulges, "Why do
you work? So that at the end of the day you get satisfied
and also get paid for your work, right? I am an
independent girl who has made my name by working hard in
Mumbai alone. I do not have a Godfather and I do not bend.
I believe in what I believe in. I didn't even hear the
narration of the film and the media assumed that I am
doing the film. They started clicking my pictures with
Buddhadeb Das Gupta. It's not my fault; the film is
based on a father-son story. The girl is not the main
protagonist of the film -- she is a supporting character.
Firstly, I did not have the dates. Secondly, the
remuneration offered to me was very small for this role
and I didn't have the dates to compensate for that.
I am a sensible and rational person -- if it were to
be my film, I would do it free of cost for Buddhadeb
Das Gupta. Money is not everything for me. I feel bad
that such a big issue has been made out of it and has
given me a lot of negative publicity. I am also a human
being and I have the right to say a 'yes' or a 'no' to
any film and no one can rule my life."

Red hot Bips:

On a lighter note, her red- streaked hair is quite an
attraction. When told that it looks great on her, she
bursts into peals of laughter, "I got it done for my
film Barsaat. But since I am doing five films at a time you
will see an all-red Bipasha for sometime now!"That's the
red hot Bipasha Basu! Don't say we didn't warn you!

Bipasha's Reel Names:

Madhoshi---Anu
Rudraksh---Dr. Gayatri
Rakht---Drishti
Aetbaar---Ria
Ishq Hai Tumse---Khushboo
Footpath---Sanjana
Jism---Sonia Khanna
Chor Machaye Shor---Inspector Ranjita
Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai---Ria
Gunnah---Prabha
Raaz---Sanjana
Ajnabee---Sonia

Bipasha Basu Filmography:

Year Movie

2004 Madhoshi
2004 Rudraksh
2004 Rakht
2004 Aetbaar
2004 Ishq Hai Tumse
2003 Footpath
2003 Jism
2002 Chor Machaye Shor
2002 Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai
2002 Gunaah
2002 Raaz
2002 Ajnabee

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