Don't look, Bipasha is changing

Bipasha Basu is Bollywoods most curvaceous actress but for now she has ditched those short skirts and plunging necklines for chic business suits. Perhaps a hangover from her latest film Corporate.

It is a film that she is pretty much expected to carry on her own shoulders, considering she is the only star in the film.

However, in her next release, Vishal Bharadwaj's Omkaraa, she shares the screen with an ensemble cast.

She is a village dancer in the film and she can't seem to understand why Vishal was so keen to cast her only in that role.

So it is an exciting time for Bipasha who has new films coming out back to back. When CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor, Rajeev Masand spoke with her earlier this week, she confessed she is enjoying every moment of being an actor.

Rajeev Masand: Bipasha Basu welcome to Now Showing on CNN-IBN.

Bipasha Basu: Thank you

Rajeev Masand: Bipasha lovely new hair cut and you have lost lots of weight. Is this a new Bipasha?

Bipasha Basu: Well it is the same old me, but I guess you have to try and change a little bit everytime because when you are doing five films, you get so bored of yourself looking like the same. And I cut my hair because my film with Abbas Mastan required a couple of different looks. I was also dying to cut it because I have never had short hair in my life.

Rajeev Masand: So was it a difficult decision because for women, cutting their hair, is like a big thing? And you had nice long hair.

Bipasha Basu: I have been so easy about any kind of styling, I said 'cut it off'.

Rajeev Masand: So were there any tears?

Bipasha Basu: No. But when I went for a head bath the first time, I was like 'Oh my god! It's gone. Where is my hair?' But it's so easy to wash and dry your hair when you are working out. It is very convenient.

Rajeev Masand: And it looks lovely.

Bipasha Basu: Yes it looks different. It's nice.

Rajeev Masand: Your new movie with Madhur Bhandarkar Corporate which is about to release has other interesting, good characters in that like K K Menon. But from a business point of view, you are the only star in the film. After Jism perhaps it is the first film where you are carrying the film on your shoulders.

Bipasha Basu: Don't put it on my shoulders. It's not a good idea because the film has 35 characters and they are all good actors. And everybody put together makes the film. One person can't really carry the film because it's about the corporate house. So everyone's interactions, the way they behave and their stories, their human emotions, cutthroat decisions makes the film. It's about the totality of everybody. But because there are very few women in the film, just Minisha and me, and because I represent the commercial Bollywood cinema and my face is easily identifiable, it's being seen like that. And i am definitely palying an important role in the film.

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Rajeev Masand: Tell us a little about Omkaraa. That is exactly the other kind of film.

Bipasha Basu: Absolutely.

Rajeev Masand: It is Shakespeare, but certainly in Indian heartland. It's a mass film. Isn't it? It is like taking Othello and putting it in the middle of...

Bipasha Basu: Absolutely. But, the subject and they way Vishal has adapted the film, is just beautiful. He has changed it all over and put these characters. Every single character stands out. Like my particular character is really interesting. But I don't know how much Vishal wants me to talk about it so soon.

Rajeev Masand: What are we allowed to say is that you are a dancer in the film?

Bipasha Basu: Yes. I am a village dancer and my name is Billo Chamanbahar. When he narrated the film to me, he said he wrote this character of Billo Chamanbahar and he thought of me, I said "Why? Do I look like a Billo Chamanbahar?" But it's fun. It is a really colourful character, who is a loud mouth.

Rajeev Masand: I have always wondered why actors do the roles that they do and I have to ask you Phir Hera Pheri is a boys film, a comedy film. What was it for you to work in a film like that?

Bipasha Basu: Money. And a chance to be a part of the brand that has worked in the past. Hera Pheri is a film which is a cult classic comedy. I have seen it many times and I really enjoyed watching it. At the end of the day, I am heroine. I need to be on the side sometimes, dance other times. I need to do it because I don't get a Corporate all the time.

Rajeev Masand: So you weren't as disappointed as us when you saw it turned out to be such a small role?

Bipasha Basu: No. They cut out a lot of the role, but it's fine. It's slapstick comedy. Who cares who is doing what as long as you are laughing.

Rajeev Masand: But the big film this year is Dhoom 2?

Bipasha Basu: Yes. But I can't talk about it.

Rajeev Masand: But are you riding the bikes?

Bipasha Basu: Can't talk about it.

Rajeev Masand: Tell us something we don't know.

Bipasha Basu: Can't talk about it.

Rajeev Masand: Ok. So we just have to watch that one to understand what you are doing?

Bipasha Basu: Yes.

Rajeev Masand: But are you happy?

Bipasha Basu: Very happy. I think it is going to be one of the most beautiful, good-looking films. It's going to be youthful and a visual delight. I think everyone is going to enjoy it.

Rajeev Masand: And finally. You know Bipasha when you came into this industry, you were an outsider, you were a model making her way into the movies. Do you feel like you belong here? Because I know that when you started out you said I’ll do acting, I might start a restaurant, I might do a lot of things. Do you now feel that this is what you really want to do now? Do you enjoy acting?

Bipasha Basu: Absolutely. I think the kind of chances that the film industry has given me, the respect that the media has given me has been very good. They have applauded me everytime I have done a different kind of film. I have been appreciated even when the film hasn't done so well. So I think the media, the film industry, the fans have accepted me really well. I was called the unconventional one but in todays time, I think I have become conventional.

Rajeev Masand: Well best of luck and lets hope we can always see you in interesting roles and doing lots of different kinds of films. Thank you so much for talking to us.

Bipasha Basu: Thank you so much.