Getting Serious

Hitherto associated with femme fatale roles,Bipasha Basu for the first time gets under the skin of a weak and vulnerable character in Aakrosh.

Hitherto associated with femme fatale roles,Bipasha Basu for the first time gets under the skin of a weak and vulnerable character in Aakrosh.

Bipasha Basu does not deny that acting in Aakrosh has left her a tad disturbed. The film,which focusses on honour killings in Bihar,has Basu playing Geeta,a fragile,vulnerable and an extremely scared woman who is always in the shadow of her brutal husband portrayed by Paresh Rawal. Generally I am known to play powerful roles as that is an important part of my personality. But this was a counter-casting by Priyan-sir director Priyadarshan. Though he gave me a chance to play a character that is a complete contrast to what I am in real life,it left a scar on my psyche, says the actress,who was last seen as the feisty Kashmiri rebel Aziza in Lamhaa.

While shooting for the film,Bipasha realised how awful it was to be in a situation where a woman is physically abused and not allowed to voice an opinion. Its so scary that people can murder their near and dear ones for so-called honour. I could not imagine myself being in Geeta8217;s shoes and would often thank God that things were so different in real life with my partner and the wonderful support I have from my parents, says the actress. She is very keen that the government should figure out a way to tackle this social evil and deal with the khap panchayats that support honour killings.

However, she is quick to add that though the film is socially-relevant,it is not dry or preachy. Priyadarshans ode to the subject is presented in a thriller format focussing on three missing boys and two Central Bureau of Investigation officers Ajay Devgn and Akshaye Khanna frantic hunt for them. It was the first time that I was working with Priyan-sir and I realised that his talent is not just in writing and giving shape to all the characters in a film. His trademark,when making serious cinema,is creating haunting drama,and he does that ably in Aakrosh.

What Bipasha found remarkable was the lightning speed with which the director works,without wasting time and hardly any retakes. Every shot would get over so fast that at times I would wonder if its all okay. But I guess that is because hes very clear in his mind about what he wants, she smiles.

As for Ajay,she says that he is a close friend and she has had a great working association with him. Its a hard-hitting film and people know that Ajay excels at this kind of cinema. He has his fan-following who like to see him in these kinds of different and interesting films. His presence in the movie has taken it to another level, says the actress.

Disappointed that her last film,Lamhaa,which focussed on the Kashmir problem,did not do well at the box-office,Bipasha hopes that at least Aakrosh will stay with the audience long after the lights are out in the theatre.

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As she awaits its release,Bipasha is busy taking lessons in deep-sea diving for her next film,Rohan Sippys Dum Maro Dum, that is in its last leg of completion. She is also very involved in developing her second DVD,BB Love Yourself,which will be launched in October. The response to the first DVD,which was a 60-day routine,especially for women was fantastic. The second DVD is completely different from the first,and its routine can be followed by both men and women, says the actress with a smile.