Nine looks, not nine roles

“Pankh is very special, and not just because it’s my first so-called art film. But the minute I heard the subject, I was bowled over. It deals with a very serious problem within the film industry,” she says. “Let’s not trivialise it by people speculating whether the character I play is based on me. That’s exactly what would have happened if my name was Bipasha in Pankh.”

Pankh is a wild ride through the underbelly of the film industry. Directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyay, it stars debutant Maradona Rebello along with Mahesh Manjrekar, Lillette Dubey, Ronit Roy, Sanjeeda Sheikh and newcomer Amit Purohit.

Talking about her role, Bipasha says, “It’s not nine roles as has been wrongly reported. It’s just nine looks. I play a character who doesn’t really exist. I am the young hero Maradona Rebello’s fantasy figure. Every look is a reflection on his mood. When he’s mellow, I come out looking like an angel. He sees me the way he wants to see me. I loved the script and director Sudipto Chattopadhyay’s passion.”

Is it true that the director wanted to name the character Bipasha Basu? “Yes, he was very keen that I be called Bipasha in Pankh. But I am not at all comfortable with my name being used for any character. I’d rather stick to the character’s name Nandini,” adds Bipasha.

Currently, the actress is busy shooting for Priyadarshan’s Aakrosh. Set in Bihar, it is a hard-hitting film about love across caste barriers and honour killings and also stars Ajay Devgan and Akshaye Khanna.

Bipasha plays a refined school teacher, so she doesn’t have to speak in a Bihari dialect. “It’s based in a small township. I am dressed in simple saris for the role. It’s a no make-up look. But no make-up also means some make-up that the character uses when she goes out. We’re at this heritage bungalow called Bangla. It’s a very nice place but very basic. It’s very hot with big mosquitoes,” she informs.

Bipasha is completely new to Priyadarshan’s cinema. “So is Ajay. But Akshaye is not. He has worked repeatedly with Priyan. He’s his favourite,” she adds.