Bollywood's Scorpion queens

Bollywood's Scorpion queens

The idea of a birthday celebration still excites her. And Sushmita Sen has planned a family holiday at Bangkok to celebrate her birthday.

The elusive actress turns 32 years today.

"I will be going to Bangkok this time and it's going to be really special as this will be a family holiday after 10 long years. My entire family including my mom, dad and my brother will be there with me," the curvy actor says, adding, "The reason I want to travel abroad is this is one day when I would like to be extremely naughty."

So does the ticking biological clock worry her? Pat comes her reply, "Not at all. I can't wait to turn 32. I have waited for this year for a long time," she says stressing her staunch belief in astrology, "My Jupiter year begins as I turn 32 and this comes once every 16 years. It's a spiritual planet which awakens the deepest knowledge of one's own self. My golden period begins (from this year)."

We can't wait to grill her on her relationship status and why she hasn't been able to get a steady man in her life. Sushmita refuses to buy any reason.

"In terms 'a' relationship with a man, I have been very stable. Ya! The men have been unstable (laughs). No relationship has lasted to the point of making a commitment. I take my time before making a certain choice and if I choose to say no, then it is based on my idea of what will work for me and what won't," Sush says matter-of-factly.

This leads us to the obvious: Her idea of marriage.

"…There has to be a reason to get married. Marriage is something you do not feel every time you fall in love. It's got to feel like a marriage and I have not felt like that. It's good to know that you did not jump into it for because of peer, family or age. Marriage does not mean turning 22 and staring to panic…," she says.

Does that mean that she is going to live up to her reputation, we say. She raises her voice, "Give me a break! Even if I was to be having torrid affairs, I cannot be changing a man every two days like I am changing a channel. The number of men I have been linked with in the past two weeks is obnoxious."

...And Zeenat Aman's stealing a few quiet moments with her sons

She zoomed into the Bollywood orbit when heroines were pallu-wrapped and pati-worshippers. Flaking banal frills, she pioneered the Indo-western face of the Indian heroine. When a 'ticket to Hollywood' endorses an actor's grade today, Zeenat as early as 1978, did the international production 'Shalimar' with Rex Harrison.

Her appeal cutting across classrooms and boardrooms. Zeenat reveals why she mapped the unbeaten, "My mother remarried a German but I was always loved and made to feel that I could achieve anything. I was a good student and even won the state scholarship. Later, I won the Asia Pacific beauty contest."

Today Zeenat Aman doesn't miss being in the limelight. "I lead a rich life full of books and music. Being a

single parent (she lost her husband actor Mazhar Khan to an illness), my sons Azaan and Zahan are my priorities. I love my two dogs, a golden Retriever and a Labrador," she says adding, "I do miss the pay cheques though."

Quiz her on whether she has any misgivings and Zeenat says, "When you are young, life's on an upswing. I'd do whatever I wanted to, which sometimes led to bad choices." So, would she reconsider a remarriage? "No way! When you are young you are unaware of a life beyond romance. Now, you're not ready to take the plunge because you know what's beyond. Not getting married doesn't mean that you can't be in a relationship. The best way to kill romance is to get married," she muses.

For somebody who has led a multi- chaptered life, will she pen an autobiography? "I'm bad at putting my thoughts on paper. It has to be an honest account. I'm not ready for the bargain," Zeenat muses, adding that she still enjoys when her kids call out, 'Hi Zeenie baby!'