Getting into action

Shes down with an throat infection,but Bipasha Basu is not the kind of person to get bogged down by something as minor as a bad throat. Looking striking,as she invariably does,in black leggings and a top,the smouldering actress who has besotted the talented director duo Abbas-Mustan ever since they launched her in Ajnabee a decade ago,is raring to be part of the promotions of Players,the directors8217; latest offering. She cannot stop raving about the film,and is most kicked by the stunts she has done in the multi-starrer.

I always knew that my bikini would be the highlight of the film,and my image would be played again and again I guess once you wear a bikini its a discussion forever

Players is a typical Abbas-Mustan film,with a lot of action and daring stunts and several twists and turns. It also has me doing some stunning hand-to-hand combat where I beat up several men Laughs. Like the original The Italian Job,the film is about a heist,and how we players,Abhishek Bachchan,Bobby Deol,Sikandar,Omi Vaidya,Sonam Kapoor and me,each skilled at his or her craft,work together. There is hardly any romance in the film, though I have men eating out of my hands! In fact,that8217;s my main job in the film to seduce men, she dimples,adding that wearing a bikini, which made front page news,was in sync with her character and the plot.

If we go all oohh and aahh about bikini-clad women in a James Bond film, why cant we do it here? When I agreed to don it,I always knew that my bikini would be the highlight of the film,and my image would be played again and again,but on the sets I made sure no one took my pictures. And I didnt think it would come on the front page of a daily! I guess once you wear a bikini its a discussion forever, says the tall,dusky heroine. The audience in turn is waiting in anticipation,confident that she will bring in the right mix of vulnerability and sensuousness.

The most challenging part of working in the film,according to Bipasha,was dealing with Abhishek,Bobby,Omi,Sikandar,or the rogue boys as she calls them. They really behaved like rogues. With strange people stalking me whenever we went they became overly protective of me,which was fine,till they started taking it very seriously. They started telling people that I was their girlfriend or sister and at times wanting to lock me in the hotel room to keep me away from trouble! They even started advising me who I should date,and with who I should cut off ties! Otherwise,it was the most non-competitive environment I have worked in,with everyone wanting to do great work. Sonam was so sweet and cute and we got along really well.

She is also effusive in her admiration for her directors. Abbas-Mustan were my first directors,so there8217;s a deep understanding between us and we trust each other explicitly. When I told them to get one stylist to style all the characters in Race 2,they promptly agreed and I got Anaida Shroff on board. I know that if I tell them something,they will always hear me out, she says in an emotional tone.

It wouldn8217;t be wrong to state that Bipasha can be credited with redefining the image of the Hindi film heroine,with her willingness to do roles ranging from the ultra-sexy in Jism to a completely deglamorised in Aakrosh. And it8217;s not only Abbas-Mustan who want to continue casting her. Vikram Bhatt marked her as a memorable performer in Raaz and has now cast her in Raaz 3D,Vishal Bhardwaj was bowled over by her item nember Beedi jalaile song in Omkara,and now she has caught the attention of veteran director Shyam Benegal,who wants to cast her in his forthcoming film.

It8217;s true that I am enjoying every bit of my work. Today the audience wants a mixed platter and that8217;s what I have in my upcoming films. I got so excited after I heard the script of Raaz 3D and told Vikram Vikram Bhatt that it was a fantastic story and the characters so dynamic. It8217;s not a typical horror film,but there8217;s a strong emotional content that people will identify with,like they did in the first Raaz. In Singularity,I play a strong 18th century Maratha warrior. She will be shown fighting with 50 men and there8217;s a lot of blood and gore. Wow! I felt so good and powerful killing men because it8217;s in contrast to a woman8217;s nature and not something that we are supposed to be doing. Otherwise it8217;s a beautiful romantic,and has me falling in love with the wrong person. On the other hand Jodi Breakers is a fun film,a real comedy. Madhavan and I are like two sides of a coin,perfect in every way together. I am very happy with the film, she says,adding that she was also offered a film by Shyam Benegal,which she loved,but doesn8217;t know what is happening to it.

Quiz the 30-plus actress who recently did a Bengali film Shobh Charitra Kalponik, if she would only do another regional movie,she frowns and says,For me it8217;s very important that I know the language when I do a regional film. I will work in Bengali movies because I understand the language. I did Takkari Bonga,a Telugu film almost a decade ago and I felt so lost on the sets. That8217;s the time I decided that if I do another regional film,I should know the language.

And does she plan to roll out more fitness videos in the future?

My fitness DVD,Bipasha Basu Love Yourself Fit and Fabulous was very well- received,and has inspired me to work towards my next DVD. But I am caught up with my acting assignments. Hopefully sometime next year,I would like to come out with my next video which will be beneficial to both women and men,unlike this one which was woman-centric.

Ask Bipasha,who after her break-up with beau John Abraham,has been seen in the company of Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett and now Rana Daggubati,if she is single or dating someone,and she replies in her husky voice,Nothing bogs me for long. My policy is to have fun with friends and enjoy life,and for the record I am single till I get married!

geety.sahgalexpressindia.com