I look best with Abhishek: Bipasha

Bipasha Basu and John Abraham have been staying in the news doing what they do best - stay in the news! The couple recently attended an event in Mumbai to launch the latest issue of Filmfare magazine that features them on its cover page in a steamy asset flaunting pose.

The cover story has more photos inside as well as an interview with the couple that diehard fans with a lot of time to spare may actually care to read through.

What we liked about John and Bipasha was the way they were attired - in blue denims and trendy white tops. We call it style++ casuals.

John and Bipasha at filmfare event. Photo Credit: IANS
John and Bipasha at filmfare event. Photo Credit: IANS

Move over, John Abraham. If lady love Bipasha Basu is to be taken for real, her hottest co-stars are Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan.

Even newcomer Ranbir Kapoor scores a 10 in the dusky Bengali beauty’s book. She’s acting opposite him in a forthcoming film and says of the young Kapoor scion and other co-stars, “Ranbir is a very charming guy. We really look good together on screen. But people say that Akshay and Abhishek, too, make a fantastic screen pair with me.”

Her last film Goal’s failure to score at the box office has not really sent the sultry actress into hiding to lick her wounds. Reports about her “good friend”, the hot Latino soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, backing out from promoting Goal hasn’t left a bad taste in Bipasha’s mouth either. “I don’t feel let down. It wasn’t my idea to get him involved. So if didn’t work out, it’s fine, Cristiano is still my friend,” she said defensively.

There are other reasons to keep her happy.

Like being voted the Sexiest Asian Woman in the world by a leading UK-based Asian newspaper. And several other exciting things happening in her career. Like her first Bengali film, Sab Chiter Kalpanik , directed by Rituporno Ghosh opposite Bengal’s superstar Prosenjit.

Bips said excitedly, “This is my first Bengali film and I cannot wait to begin the shoot. I have never been able to stay in Kolkata for more than couple of days. Now, during this 20-day schedule, I will take out time and do everything possible from eating my favourite dish Mach Bhaat to visiting relatives and connecting with old friends. Beneath the surface, I am still a simple girl from a humble background in Kolkata. I like the little things in life.”

She also has Sir Ben Kingsley’s Taj Mahal to look forward to.

In this epic, Bips plays Shah Jehan’s daughter Jahan Ara Begum who looked after the ailing emperor when he was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in a fort from where he continuously gazed at the Taj Mahal.

Technically, Bips will be playing Aishwarya Bachchan’s daughter in the film, because Ash plays the legendary Mumtaz Mahal for whom Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a monument of love. “Aishwarya and I will not be sharing any screen space. My role is delineated to show the relationship between Shah Jehan and Jahan Ara and I will enter the film much later,” said Bips who is also doing another historical, Ashoka, opposite Ajay Devgan to be directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi.

Ranbir & Bipasha's secret compatibility test

Bipasha Basu and Ranbir Kapoor took a day off for a photo-session to check out their on-screen compatibility.

While Bipasha coloured her hair, Ranbir cut his tidal tresses from Saawariya to a much more manageable length.

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Ranbir's immediate struggle is to get into three different looks for three phases of his character's love life in his next movie for Yashraj films to be directed by Siddharth Anand.

For the film, which Ranbir insists is not a remake of the 1999, Chris O'Donnell romantic comedy The Bachelor, the actor is required to have three different looks.

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The character has to go from the ages of 17 to 28 and finally to the age of 35.

Will the 25 year old actor be able to pull off the role of a man 10 years older?

The director and the actor have spent the last one week getting Ranbir to look older. The actor had his long hair cut (by Aalim) into an austere, executive styled haircut. Ranbir also plans to sport a stubble to look 35 years old.

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For role of the character at the age of 17, Ranbir intends to sport long hair and a beatnik cool-dude attitude, with clothes and accessories to match.

Says Ranbir, "I have to look compatible with my leading ladies, and yes, this is my first of the three looks for the new film. Working with Siddarth is a very give-and-take thing. We've been friends from the time both of us were kids. His father is my dad's best friend and his mom and my mom are close friends. So naturally we had no choice but to be friends."

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So will Ranbir be working with his childhood chums turned directors, just like the other star-son Abhishek who has done two films with pal Goldie Behl?

"I don't know about the future. But right now it's fun working with a friend," says Ranbir.

Bipasha At Cannes

Bipasha Basu Interview

When do you come to Kolkata for shooting Rituparno Ghosh’s Sob Choritra Kalponik?
I’ll be in Kolkata from December 8. I’ll return end of the month to celebrate New Year’s. I am very keen on shooting in Kolkata. While I’ve played Bengali characters, this will be my first Bengali film.

Many Bengali actors acquire a Hindi accent after shifting to Mumbai. How about you?
I speak Bengali pretty regularly. But yes, I have never done a film before. Guess, everything can be controlled during dubbing stages.

What do you find unique about Rituparno’s films?
Hindi film industry doesn’t make his kind of films. In fact, the character that I’m penciled to play is remotely not similar to what I am in real life. Though I am not at liberty to talk about it, I know that she is much more matured than I am. I like the way he presents his leading ladies. My favourite Rituparno film is Chokher Bali . He made Ash act so beautifully. I am a director’s actor and hence, I am very keen on being presented by him.

A lot has been written about John Abraham in No Smoking . How do you think John could evolve further?
I think it was wrong to market No Smoking as a commercial film. It was a niche film. It was a film that was way ahead of its time. People thought they’d see John go Dhoom with his bike. Instead, they found him coming out of a tub. Many who watched No Smoking hadn’t even heard of Being John Malkovich. John is fantastic and it’s great that he could choose such a film at a time when comedy is working big time. We need to evolve. I don’t want to advice John on that.

When media speculates about the status of your relationship, do you miss a life less ordinary?
Though it’s tough, I will not trade this life for anything. Sometimes, the media speculation is so amusing that I wonder why the world is so childish. It’s true that I too want to know details about Brad Pitt. Celebs need to accept the curiosity as part and parcel of their lives. But I never share my notes on how to react to media speculation with anyone from the industry. Laughter on the sets is fine but I am not close to anyone in the industry.

Has the whole speculation brought the two of you closer together?
We have always been close. It’s worthless to discuss this since people don’t value anybody’s privacy.

Does it flatter you to be voted the sexiest Asian woman in 2007?
Yes. It’s great to get back the title that I won in 2005. But then, even a routine compliment can flatter me.

How would you define the word ‘sexy’?
Indians have used the word ‘sexy’ confusedly. It used to be a derogatory word. Recent surveys on sex have elevated the word to mean something good. It’s not a dirty word. Today, SRK without a shirt onscreen can also be very sexy. Society changes with time and so do definitions. The term sexy has gone beyond a beautiful body. Today, it encompasses talent, screen presence, personality and intelligence too. It’s a package deal of what you are in person — and on screen.

Do you find inanimate objects like cars sexy as well?
No way! But John would say a bike is sexy. Unlike John, I lack passion for inanimate objects.

Who would you judge as the all-time sexiest woman from India?
I need personal acquaintance to vote for someone. Due to media exposure and social interactions, lives of actors today are more open than that of our predecessors. Of course, many yesteryear actors were attractive. Though I liked their films, I haven’t known them personally. I admire Sharmila Tagore for still being so graceful. I’ve met her once and I like the way she speaks. She is an icon.