I’m not conscious about my body: Bipasha Basu
From Noreen Aslam

MUMBAI—The bootylicious Bipasha Basu, whose bikini-clad appearance in Bollywood blockbuster “Dhoom 2” has set audience pulses soaring, says she is “not at all conscious” about her body.
“We shot in Brazil where everyone was dressed in shorts and other summer clothes. That didn’t make me the least self-conscious,” Bipasha told newsmen.
“I’m not at all conscious about my body. Brazil is the best country for me. I freaked out in the local dresses. With my long curly hair and Brazilian look, I looked like a local,” she added.
The sultry siren was even mistaken for a local while shopping in that country. “I actually had people asking me for the price of things in the shop. I loved the anonymity. Most of all it was a relief not having my bodyguard around all day long. I didn’t look like a tourist, I didn’t behave like one.”
Didn’t she feel vulnerable? “No. What danger could I face in Rio? It’s the hub of tourism. The best thing about Brazil was there were hardly any Indians around. I had these cute Brazilian guys asking me out to coffee. And you know what? They didn’t even know who I was. That’s what made it so much fun.
“I can’t be anonymous in Mumbai anymore. But I still get into a three-wheeler within Bandra. I never restrict myself from doing what I want to do,” she said.
About “Dhoom 2”, she said: “I saw the first ‘Dhoom’ four times in 15 days. And not because John was in it. I haven’t seen any of John’s other films so many times. ‘Dhoom’ is ‘today’. It’s a youthful brand title. I want to see ‘Dhoom 2’ also four times in 15 days.
“(Director) Aditya Chopra is a genius. It’s a pleasure to be in a Yashraj film. We actors are not used to this kind of lavish treatment the way we get at the new Yashraj studios. It’s like entering a new world.”
Didn’t Bipasha and Hrithik do an ad together long ago? “Yes,” she laughed. “That ad was never released. Then I became a brand ambassador for Thums Up and he was endorsing Coke - same family of aerated drinks. Hrithik hasn’t changed. He’s still a lot of fun on the sets.”
About Aishwarya Rai, her co-star in “Dhoom 2”, she said: “The general impression is that she’s aloof. But in truth she’s very warm and accessible, always hanging out in a group with us. There was never any hassle. She was fun.
“I get along with everyone on the sets. I don’t carry those working relationships home. But I can’t work under stress on the sets.”
However, Bipasha admitted that her experience with first co-star Kareena Kapoor during the making of “Ajnabee” was “rather funny”.
“But it has been smooth sailing with all my co-stars after that. I must admit I had never seen that kind of behaviour before or after,” she added.
After “Corporate”, Bipasha feels good about being in a film with an ensemble cast. “The location supports the cast and film. There’s a song Uday and me shot in Brazil. It’s the most amazing song I’ve shot. I had tourists from Iran, Japan and other places taking my pictures. I’ve to confess I felt good. I loved the attention.”
In “Dhoom 2” the Bong bombshell also gets to speak her mother tongue! “I get to speak Bengali for the first time (as) I play a Bengali girl. I speak fluent Bengali at home with my maids and dog.”
Why not a Bengali film? “I will when it comes to me. Rituparno Ghosh makes 10 announcements a day. May be one of them will be with me. Jokes aside, I really want to work with him. I hope he makes ‘Draupadi’ with me as he promised to.”
Bipasha is pragmatic about John’s absence from “Dhoom 2”. “The first ‘Dhoom’ did enough for John. I wasn’t in it, though that was also offered to me. Now it’s my turn”.