Bipasha Basu may be the host of a world event, but she is fighting to stave off rumours back home.
Following a stint in modelling, Bipasha Basu took Bollywood by storm with her bold role in Jism. Since then, her popularity among fans and critics has been on the ascent. She has steadily climbed the success ladder and has also been rated as a good actress (Madhur Bhandarkar's Corporate helped in a big way), shattering the belief that models can't act. Hindi film offers continue to roll. Rumours say that Basu has been signed up for an off-beat film titled Pankh by Sanjay Gupta's new production house. However, Basu will not confirm this.
Basu also got the opportunity to bask in the adulation of a worldwide audience recently. Reason?
The actress was selected to be the host for the New Seven Wonders of The World event on July 7 in Lisbon, Portugal, that selected the seven new wonders of the modern world. And by all accounts she did a splendid job.
"Representing India on the world stage brought along with it a whole lot of responsibilities and hence lots of pressure. I have never hosted any show before and used to stay away from this, but this was different and I could never say no to such a prestigious offer," says Basu.
The fact that she shared the stage with luminaries such as Ben Kingsley, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Lopez, Christiano Ronaldo and Neil Armstrong only makes the sense of excitement understandable.
"They are big celebrities and I loved meeting them and getting to know them. There were some great performances as well and that's why I was very excited about this," she says.
For all the excitement, she was keenly aware that the event was a prestigious one and would demand a proper dress code. "Wearing the right dress is very important.
"Presentation is very important as well. The ghagra-choli (ethnic Indian outfit) I wore is very Indian and it was designed by my friend Rocky S. They wanted me to be dressed in Armani, but I stuck to the Be-Indian-wear-Indian mantra" she says. And yes, her vote did help in the Taj Mahal being selected as one of the new wonders of the modern world.
"I take pride in anything that is Indian. Besides, the Taj Mahal is such a marvellous piece of art. It has it's own love story, which is very romantic," she says.
Dressing up good and with the world as an audience may translate into film offers for her. "Maybe. But I never went to Lisbon with the intention of being beseiged with film offers. I know that it was a very prestigious event, but I am not taking the baggage of being the new global face. I was just happy being there," she says modestly.
We do remember that Shilpa Shetty was suddenly in the international eye post-Big Brother. And foreign film offers followed.
Also, a boost to Basu's career would take the spotlight from her supposed troubled relationship with longtime beau John Abraham. Rumours abound that her relationship with Abraham is on the rocks, so much so that she had to make a trip to Pondicherry to be with him to thwart the rumours.
She may have taken swift action to protect Abraham, but mum is still the word when dealing with the media. "I don't like answering questions about my personal life. All I can say is everything is fine and take it as true. I am not a fake and when I say something, I stand by it," she says.
Basu has also been denying all allegations of her link-up with Saif Ali Khan. They have been seen together at many places recently and the actress maintains that they are ‘just good friends' and that Khan is a ‘good human being'. Ditto ex-beau Dino Morea with whom she made an appearance at the Rocky S fashion show in Mumbai recently. Basu feels she does not have to explain whom she is with. We agree.
