| Bipasha Basu in Omkara |
Small talk
Bipasha Basu talks about her all too brief appearance in Omkara
Subhash K Jha
Finally, it's Bipasha and not Aishwarya who gets into a bikini in Dhoom 2. "Ha! I'm not going to answer that one. But yes, my character in Dhoom 2 is definitely nothing like Nishigandha in Corporate or Billo on Omkara," says Bipasha.
Apparently her role is really small in Omkara? "Billo's screen time is brief. But I don't think she can be ignored," Bipasha asserts.
Omkara takes Bipasha away from the corporate kingdom in Mumbai to the heartless crime-infested hinterland in UP. "Both are realistic films. But no, I'm not into art cinema. My aim isn't to turn into a 'realistic' film actress. I don't want to be stereotyped. Right after these two films I have Dhoom 2 where I'm larger than life! I feel I can be versatile and my personality can be projected into any kind of character from a small-town girl in Omkara to the urban entrepreneur in Corporate."
Bipasha says that looking the part is an essential part of acting. "If you look the part, your job becomes easier. Also, now I've begun looking after myself. It's nice to know that people are interested in what I wear, my hair, etc."
Bipasha is all praise for her co-stars in Omkara, especially Viveik Oberoi. "Viveik is very enthusiastic. He wants to rehearse, he gets into lots of discussions with his director. It's nice to work with an actor who's keen on his work than someone who just gives his shots and leaves. I know of so many actors face the camera just for the heck of it. They're more bothered with pack-up than packing in a performance."
So, where does one draw the line between enthusiasm and interference? Bipasha insists that she doesn't believe in making her will prevail once the camera is on. "Although I'm interested in my work, I don't interfere with the director's decisions. I don't think I've reached that level where I can question the director. I'm guided by the director completely. Yes I make my suggestions. But I shut up very quickly if the director disagrees."
She wasn't intimidated by her Omkara director though. She says, "Vishal Bhardwaj is so clear in his head and so humble on the sets. He's always smiling. He has a sweet sense of humour. Although I hadn't attended his acting workshops Vishal was convinced that I could pull off my role. He gave me taped dialogue of my character. In fact, I had Vishal's voice following me everywhere…"
This was Bipasha's first sync sound film. "My co-stars had done sync sound before. I hadn't. I've to admit I like sync sound more than dubbing. Much as I enjoy dubbing, the feeling that you get by recording while acting on location cannot be replicated in a dubbing studio."
Ironically Bipasha had her voice dubbed in her earlier release. She laughs. "Yeah isn't that something? But my voice is my voice. You can't take it away from my personality."
• Now I've begun looking after myself. It's nice to know that people are interested in what I wear, my hair, etc — Bipasha
Health and Fitness
Naagin 7
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