"Ranbir and I are similar minded" - Bipasha Basu

While most Bollywood stars do everything they can to appear cool, professional and squeaky-clean, diligently concealing all their nasty little secrets, Bipasha Basu appears wholly unconcerned by controversy. Ever keen to talk about her breakdowns, her highs and lows, her fantasies and her boyfriend John Abraham, many would say she's built a career on titillating public confession. But she's also an increasingly fine and award-winning performer. It's another story that she hasn't won many awards but she definitely has won rewards even for her special appearances for lighting a 'beedi' or being a part of 'phoonk de'. It all goes to show that when Bips is on screen, she is on fire. No wonder she's hot! Bollywood Hungama's Devansh Patel gets ready for some fiery Q & A with Bipasha Basu.

Statutory Warning: The contents are too hot to handle.

Hi Bipasha, long time no see. Where are you now a days?
Yeah that's what! I go in hibernation when I am filming and when my film is about to release I pop out of my igloo.

You are no more an Ajnabee in Bollywood...
I better not be Devansh (ha ha ha)

...and you've made a mark for yourself which your filmography proves. But is it time to tell all the leading ladies, Bachna Ae Haseeno?
(Laughs) No yaar. I am too lost in my own space to say that. My survival technique is that the audience loves me and I have a direct interaction with them. I guess, I'm liked and that's why I'm here.

And the other interesting aspect of Bachna Ae Haseeno is also the fact that you are the senior most and highly experienced from the lot. As a teacher, what did you learn from the new bunch of students?
They are hardly students. You know what happens. When I started off acting I had come with no experience in the films, but all these new comers are actually not new comers because they come with so much of preparation for being in films that they end up knowing more than what I've learnt in the last seven years. So they are as experienced as me and a person like Ranbir, he knows way too much for sure.

Your last film with Yash Raj productions was two years ago, Dhoom 2. So how did two years after Yash Raj manage to rope you in for this particular role? Why not any other new comer?
Well, I guess the right casting is very important in any film and when I heard the narration of this film, I just knew that Radhika is the part that I want to do and that is what they called me for. So it was like bang on! I couldn't argue much over it because I fitted the casting and at the same time it was a challenge to play the role. When you see the film, you'll come to know that there is something endearing about Radhika. I've loved my character.

I have to say this. But it's quite unlucky for John that he is not the lucky boy in this film, it's Ranbir Kapoor. Did it make the 25-year-old Ranbir uncomfortable while filming romantic and intimate scenes with a 29-year-old Bipasha in the film?
No, not really because we are similar minded people and at the end of the day you're an actor. You've come to do your job and you do it. It really helps on the contrary because when you have some kind of an equation with your co-star and you're on great talking terms and a friend, then the chemistry is better as it shows on screen, rather than working with a person you don't get along with. Age has nothing to do with it.

You've already won the hearts of thousands by winning the Race in the U.K. Will Bachna Ae Haseeno win the race in similar fashion too?
I do wish that Bachna Ae Haseeno is widely watched because it is actually a very nice and an easy film to watch. It's a kind of film where we talk about and celebrate love, which is an emotion that everyone can easily identify with, and especially today's youth will be easily able to identify with because it could be their story too. There are other USP's to the film too. The music is great; there are good looking people, great styling, excellent locations, and above all a fantastic story, which I think is a winner at the end of the day. It's a story that you follow.

You've been a part of films which can't be tagged as commercial such as Corporate. Any plans of switching to your corporate days.
I have Pankh coming up which is considered to be a little off the commercial track and I have another Bengali film that I've done which is definitely considered to be parallel cinema. So I have a mixed bag. I keep on doing things that I like and it doesn't specifically have to be in one direction. I like to keep a balance between commercial and realistic films and that's the way I like it. I don't want to be a crusader of realistic films neither do I want to be this doll in commercial films. I'd like a mix of both.

After Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal and No Smoking in which you did a special appearance, any plans of working with John Abraham again.
We will see if something interests us. We working together is never a plan you know. We really don't plan it. Our way of thinking is very different and our choice of cinema is different. So if we really agree on one thing we will do it but I think the best thing to do is to work less together (laughs). I believe in that.

I don't know whether you know this or not but August 2 will now be officially celebrated as a Bollywood Day in the U.S. after the mega success of the Unforgettable Tour. Are you shocked?
For a change, I am. But I don't know. It's quite a strange thing. I don't even understand friendship day, mothers day, fathers day, etc. For me, friends and parents are forever. You cannot deny a relationship and definitely when you talk of Bollywood, it is my ambition, my work and my work place. I cannot deny it on every other day, so I don't know what to do on one particular day like a Bollywood Day. If there is a festival organized around Bollywood worldwide, it's an interesting concept.

Are you particular as far as screen space is concerned when you are a part of a big film like Dhoom 2 with big actors and a film like Bachna Ae Haseeno where the only big actor is 'you'?
No. Sometimes people do crap when you are three hours in the film and some person comes in for twenty minutes and steals the thunder. So screen space has definitely never been my outlook. If you see my work profile, when you do multistarrer, the fun is that they are such a number of good exciting talents all put together in one film. It's just that how you leave your mark behind which matters. There is no competition. It's what you do is important even for a few minutes. Length is not an issue.

Who is Radhika?
Radhika is a girl who is a dancer by profession. She is a dancer in Shiamak Davar's troupe. She aspires to be an actress. So she is today's modern and an independent girl, has a clean heart and believes in romance and being in love. She falls in love with Raj. The film is actually a journey of all these four characters how they grow to be what because of love.

Any other song, which you have on your caller tune besides 'Lucky Boy'?
(Laughs) Right now 'Lucky Boy' is the favourite song of lot of boys. I like the title track of 'Bachna Ae Haseeno'. I do like 'Ahista Ahista' a lot because it's got a new flavor of romance. 'Khuda Jaane' is a typical romantic ballet. I like all the songs. Even 'Small Town Girl' is different as it has bhangra beats and a situational song and Jogi Mahi, which is very traditional. So it's a mix bag. Look, I covered the entire album!

We are nearing our Independence Day in ten days. Any message for all the Indians across the globe?
Independence Day is highly significant for all Indians, whether they are in India or living abroad because it is for this day that our country was free and we could take up what we wanted to. Today, we are who we are because of August 15. I just fell that we should be patriotic towards our country and contribute in the progress of our country in which ever possible way. This year I am going to spread a little bit of happiness by releasing our film Bachna Ae Haseeno on the Independence Day.

Why should one go and watch Bachna Ae Haseeno on August 15?
I think Bachna Ae Haseeno should be seen by any person who celebrates love, who thinks that love is important, who wants to fall in love and who is in love.

Being a non smoker, you've somehow got attracted to beedi's and cigarettes. When are we going to see you next jalaile a beedi or phoonk de?
(laughs) Nicely worded. As far as the song is concerned, I am right now pretty happy with my 'Lucky Boy' yaar. I'm done with the smoke for the time being.