“Realistic films are easy, glam films are tough” – Bipasha Basu

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

July 16, 2010 - 12:28 PM IST

'Oh this film has been the toughest in my career so far as it belonged to the real world'

“Realistic films are easy, glam films are tough” – Bipasha Basu

'Because I had to go totally de-glam in the film, I had to work extra hard to gain audience attention'

'Working in this set up was the biggest challenge ever as it made me come out of a comfort zone and do something that was far closer to real life'

And so say most of the leading ladies when they act in a realistic film, deal with an issue based subject and go totally de-glam for a role. However, Bipasha Basu has a different take on the state of affairs and this is what makes her stand apart from the crowd. Making no big deal about doing films where she is required to wear minimal make up, she instead goes on to state that working in such films is far easier than the 'fantasy world' of hardcore commercial blockbusters.

"Because of the kind of person that I am, I am constantly on the edge while working in commercial entertainers. When you do something which is frothy and frivolous, you are really conscious because there are some intellectuals who are out there to judge you. It becomes a far tougher setup than a realistic one", says Bipasha who has made her career out of being an ultra glam woman who definitely knows her style statement.

"But I had to learn on the job", says Bipasha who is currently in the 10th year of her professional career, "I wasn't brought up in a surrounding where I was in the midst of film talks and filmy people 24X7. Acting also just happened by chance. Even when I decided to take on acting as a full profession, I didn't go to any acting school. I learnt everything on the sets. It took me a lot of time to break my inhibitions. When I look back, I am actually glad about all that I had to go through."

She is not convinced with the theory that actors worldwide are taken far more seriously once they do realistic films.

"That's wrong actually", she says immediately, "This has happened to me first hand though. When Corporate happened, quite a few people said that I have proved myself as an actor. Then when my Bengali film Shob Charitro Kalponik arrived, there were all the more praises that came my way. But still, I stand by my statement that these films were easier to do. Reason being that these are much more believable and humane. They didn't put much stress on me."

It's a different world though for Bipasha when she acts in an out and out commercial entertainer.

"When I have to go glam, do dance numbers and create this fantasy like world, it becomes really tough for me", she admits, "Having said that, I feel that whatever I do means a lot to me as an actor. Some of these commercial flicks may not be serious cinema but then there is a lot of credibility required since you are entertaining audience at the end of the day. This is the reason why every film is like a challenge to me."

Now that she is on her way to complete a decade in Bollywood, is she looking at taking a deep breath and figuring out how exactly does she wish to plan the decade to come?

Says Bipasha after a hearty laugh, "Can I shatter your illusion and say that 'No, I haven't really thought on these lines'? Really, I am not so deep with such far fetched thoughts and plans. I am a very grounded person and have enjoyed my life the way it has been. Nothing has been planned in my professional career so far and I have gone by guts. Am I enjoying it all? Oh, of course yes. Now that I am enjoying it all, I am not into any planning mode. Till all of this stays interesting enough for me, I am on. What I am clear about though is that once the going gets bad, I am not going to be a part of this world."

Tags : Bipasha Basu