Bipasha basu jadoo

This Calcutta based commerce graduate model came into limelight when she won Ford Supermodels Contest. At 17, Bipasha Basu won the famous Ford Supermodel Contest and was flown to New York by the Ford people. Life was exciting! She gushes, “I was spotted by the world famous photographer, Steven Mizhel, and featured in Vogue magazine. I was thrilled and soon had plenty of projects coming my way.” Bipasha could have had the world at her feet and easily gained acclaim as an international model, but she gave it all up for India... to come down and be with the people she loves. “Yeah, I did a lot of ads, but my heart was not in it. I started missing my family because it was the first time I was away from them. So I happily gave it all up and came down to India”, she reminisces.

white swan walking

Hardly had Bipasha landed here, and she was inundated with offers from all over. Ads, she accepted, but films were the last thing she planned to venture into. She had no plans of joining the film industry but one day, film-maker J. P. Dutta telephoned her with an offer. It was for a ‘perfect’ role in Aakhri Mughal. Bipasha took it up without a murmur.

Later, when it was shelved, and Refugee was launched, she refused the role. “Not because it was opposite Sunil Shetty, as rumours go,” informs Bipasha, “but because I didn’t identify with the character. I don’t think I would have looked convincing as a 13 year old”! This Bengali bombshell is bold enough to accept an unusual role in her debut film, Abbas-Mustan’s next. She plays a married woman who goes all out to woo her husband’s married friend.

comfortable in this dress

Her forthcoming films, Bipasha admits freely, aren’t too many. She says, “If one wants to bag films out here, the practice is to be in touch with producers. I feel uneasy doing this because I don’t want people to get the impression that I’m desperate for work. I’m doing Abbas-Mustan’s forthcoming, untitled venture with Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor and Bobby Deol and am enjoying every minute of it.”

i know what you have in mind

About her image of being sexy, she shrugs, “Sexy in India, is not considered positive. But, with today’s crop of fresh faces, in the modelling arena, being sexy is an asset, so let’s hope for the best. I’m often asked if my image has tempted industry men to make a pass at me. The answer is, ‘No’! And, if anyone dares try it, I’ll knock the daylights out of him.” The light-eyed Bipasha, also the Tulips Miss Super Vivacious in the same contest, says, "I can't believe it. It feels out of the world. I knew I was good, but I am surprised." While she knew she was good enough for the finals, Bipasha found her spirits sagging as her very advantage — her eyes — caught an infection on the morning of the event. "I was very worried. I went to an eye specialist, and I called home and spoke to my mom and dad. I became my mom's baby." Coaxed into participating for the zonal rounds by a friend, she says, " I cannot boast about my figure because I have not worked on it. My eyes are my strong feature. Whatever I am, it's because of Mehr Jesia. She is my godmother. "My mom and dad said, you don't have to win. It doesn't matter. Just do what you want." She seems determined, and says that she wants to finish graduation. "Otherwise I'll get thrown out of my house," she jokes. She then wants to go on to MBA, along with modelling. "And no, I won't do any films."

I am confident

bipasha basu data:
Birthday: 7th Jan

First Film: Ajnabee

Favourite actors: Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Al Pacino

Favourite actresses: Rani Mukherjee, Tabu, Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon

Favourite films: Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Godfather

Favourite books: Robin Cook

Favourite food: Hyderbadi Biryani

Favorite restaurant: Thai Connection

Favourite music: Buddha Bar

Favourite color: Pink, Blue and White

Favourite vacation spot: Paris

Favourite perfume: Baby Doll by YSL

I am very happy

She was the second daughter in the family and her pet name was bonny. She recalls that till the age of 14 she was considered to be a very ugly child and after that she blossomed into a true beauty. Apart from modelling, her other hobbies include dancing, reading and helping her mother with interior designing. She must be hoping fervently that the third time proves lucky for her. Though roles in two movies — Aakhri Mughal opposite Abhishek Bachchan and Refugee with Sunil Shetty — got shelved shortly after announcement, Bipasha is still a current name in Bollywood. Director-producer Abbas Mastan (of Soldier, Baazigar fame) has recently signed her for a movie opposite Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol. Bipasha must have heaved a sigh of relief — at least now she has another movie to boast of. So what if the main reason for signing her was the availability of bulk dates! She was a household name much before she entered films.