'Humshakals is a disturbing part of my life

Bipasha Basu on the Humshakals 'mistake', Harman Baweja and more...

The interview begins with a glass of water and some pills.
Popping them, Bipasha explains she'd lost her voice a few days ago, prompting the query: So, India's Scream Queen can't scream anymore? (Laughs) Yes, all the screaming during the dubbing of Creature took a toll. I lost my voice, and according to Vikram's help, who heard him making weird sounds for the creature, he has lost his mind. I'd prefer 'Goddess of Fear' to Scream Queen.

What was more terrifying-Creature or Humshakals? Humshakals is a disturbing part of my life. Normally, I make my own mistakes but in this case, I made the mistake of listening to my manager, who felt I wasn't picking any commercial films. I'd have been happy if my character had some stand-out quirks but humiliatingly, I was shoved at the back, behind the other two heroines. I didn't say a word even though it trou bled me to be on the sets where there was no respect for anybody.

Yet you continued to shoot? I reported on time, would sit around all day doing nothing, then go home to my mother and cry--something that had never happened before. But I refused to promote the film because I had no role to talk about. If I spoke, I'd only pull down the film and I didn't want to do that to the unit and the producers. It's unfair to be called unprofessional for being professional.

Buzz is, you got an indecent proposal on the sets of the film and then was compensated for not making the matter public? If it had, I'd have murdered that person! People are scared to even open their mouths in front of me. It could have happened to someone else.

After this will you do another commercial film? Why not? I've done a lot of them before, and even the bad ones had something good about them, unlike Humshakals.You have cut down on work and have just one film, Alone, in hand I'll pick up something when this one is done. Alone is a passionate romantic film about two sisters who are twins, yet very different, one man and fear as an important tool.

You plan to stick to horror genre? I've never planned anything which is why I have survived for 13 years. I'd do one of these Rs 100-crore movies with an Aamir or a Shah Rukh Khan, but since they're not coming my way, I have moved to the horror genre where I have no competition. It's not easy doing an SFX film like Creature, imag ining a creature of a certain height and width during the shoot. I'm proud that we've made India's first creature film at one per cent the budget of a Jaws or a Jurrasic Park. I am open to all genres.If the money is good...reportedly, that's an important criterion now.

I'm not here to do charity. I trusted people in the past and ended up in debts. Nobody helped me through dif ficult times. So now, I insist my staff and I should be paid and on time.

I did 13 films in the first three years which left me ill and exhausted. Post Jism and Footpath I decided to enjoy the money and the fame now, not when I turn 80. Films are not the end all of my life. I'm an entrepreneur, my accessories line has gone global, I'm planning lots in health and fitness.

For two years, I let opportunities go by because I'd decided to settle down.

Now I'll never give up films unless I'm bored. I don't have to play a teeny bopper, it's not important to be the hero's love interest.

Will you play Harman Baweja's love interest on screen? I don't know if I'd like to mix personal and professional life. I did twice, I don't think I'd want to do it again.

Buzz is, Harman and you have got engaged and will marry soon... If you love someone why do you need to exchange rings? It's not going to keep you together if you're not meant to be. All around me I see marriages breaking up it's scary. I still believe in the institution because of my parents but unless I'm 100 per cent sure I won't marry. He should take away my sadnesss, hold my hand all my life.Harman is a fab guy...I hold myself pretty high, but he's a better human being. He has a bigger heart.But two people have different journeys and you need to respect that.

So will you marry him or not? (Laughs) Sometimes I think I'll be a runaway bride though I'm sure my family will lock all the doors and ensure that doesn't happen.