Hollywood knows only Aishwarya

Bollywood's dusky beauty Bipasha Basu has carved a niche for herself in Hindi cinema and says she has no intentions of going to Hollywood because filmmakers there are familiar with only one Indian actor - Aishwarya Rai.

"No filmmakers of Hollywood are willing to sign any Bollywood actor without a screen test apart from Aishwarya. They seem to know no Hindi film actors, not even Amitabh Bachchan, " Bipasha told.

"I got a chance to go there, but I found out that I will have start again from scratch like screen tests and other tantrums. They treat you like a newcomer. So I decided to stay in Mumbai and be the 'queen' here, " said the actress who was in town to promote "Bachna Ae Haseeno".

Talking about the film with newcomer Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha said she signed on because she hadn't done a romantic movie for quite some time.

"I haven't done an out-an-out romantic film for a long time so when I heard the script of this film, I found it a little fresh.

"I play Radhika, who comes all the way from Ranchi to Mumbai to become an actor. But she ends up being a member of (choreographer) Shiamak Davar's dance troupe."

Bipasha doesn't seem to mind sharing screen space with two other actresses - Minissha Lamba and Deepika Padukone in the film.

"I am okay with even a 10-minute role provided I get an apt character and my share of attention on screen. Anyway, if you are a Bollywood heroine, you have very limited choice. I was intelligent enough to realise it long back and hence am picking up roles that look good on-screen, " she said.

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Bipasha declares war with Katrina

Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu is miffed at being tagged as the seniormost actor in "Bachna Ae Haseeno", which is releasing Friday, and says she has started feeling someone as old as legendary Amitabh Bachchan.

She co-stars with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, who are just one film old. Minissha Lamba and Karan Kapoor are also in the movie.

"People have been calling me the seniormost actor in the film. I almost feel like Amitabh Bachchan now. The others in the film are extremely good actors and not at all inexperienced, " Bipasha told.

"They have a lot of experience and have absolute clarity in their mind on what they want to do. They are very spontaneous and we even get together very well in that way, " added Bipasha who was seen in this year's first big hit "Race".

She is also very upset with some media houses spreading stories on her and Deepika Padukone's "animosity". But she admits there is a problem with Katrina unlike Kareena, Deepika and Minissha.

She says, "We should realise that women are transparent creatures and we can't be friends with anybody. Kareena and I had a problem so many years back that today I don't even remember today what it was.

I don't know Kareena as a person but today I can say openly I don't have any problems with her. People then created an awkwardness and with constant repetition the problem got aggravated but I hold no grudges. She's a wonderful actress."

But there is a problem with Katrina Kaif with whom she acted in Race? The buzz was that they didn't talk to each other at all during the film's shooting. Bipasha admits, "Yes there is a problem between Katrina and me. We didn't speak during Race but that never stopped shooting.

If she met Kareena or Katrina at a social event would she be cordial and greet them warmly? "I could walk up to Kareena and do that; but no, I can't do that with Katrina. There is an awkwardness between Katrina and me. We don't talk to each other."

Bipasha was here with her co-stars and director Siddharth Anand to promote the film that traces the journey of a young boy from the age of 18 to 30.

In the film, Bipasha plays an aspiring actress who travels to Mumbai from Ranchi to fulfil her dreams but ends up working with Shiamak Davar's dance troupe.

"The character in the film is just like me. Radhika works and keeps her relationship going simultaneously. The role is very contemporary. She is an effortless dresser. She wears shorts and vests and uses all kinds of funky bags and accessories."

The dusky beauty says she enjoyed shooting for the film.

"I was completely pampered on the sets and have finally made two great friends in Ranbir and Siddharth. I have not spent enough time with the girls though."

"Bachna Ae Haseeno" has been extensively shot abroad at locations like Venice, Switzerland, Sydney and 15 towns of Italy.

Bipasha enjoyed her Italy stint the most.

She said: "I got a lot of compliments in Italy for the clothes I was wearing. Italian men only know how to romance. They are impeccably dressed with styled hair and they only want to marry you."

Her forthcoming movies include Bengali film "Shob Charitro Kalponik" Sanjay Gupta's "Pankh" and Jeh Surti's "Freeze". All are schedule to hit the screens this year.

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Why are you avoiding Salman, Katrina?

Ask anyone about the hottest Bollywod property nowadays and they will answer you without taking time that it’s Katrina Kaif.

For last few months or so, she has been replacing actresses in films and now she has started replacing them even in the field of advertisements and brand representatives, too.

It’s very known but a great achievement for Katrina that she replaced Ash with the brand of Nakshatra, the diamond king, for the position of their Brand Ambassador.

Katrina seems very happy on the occasion as she says, “I am very happy that I am chosen as Nakshatra’s Brand Ambassador. I think it showcases my personality very well as I really like to adorn myself up.”

“Now I won’t have to look for jewelries before going to any function. Before that I used to ask for jewelries from my friends and now I don’t have to do any such thing, ” smiling asserts the beauty icon.

But how does she feel about replacing Aishwarya? Katrina says, “See, making me the Brand Ambassador is completely Nakshtra’s decision and I cannot help it in anyways.”

Katrina’s reply is enough to show that she has no wish to get entangled with any kind of controversy with Aishwarya. But she has replaced many actresses from their films, also.

“It’s nothing like that. Like others I am also different in my own ways. We all are bestowed with one or the other individuality. Actually, we all are almost the same, if not similar, ” explains Kat.

She further adds, “I am really happy with the films I am having these days. So, I don’t have to look at other’s projects.”

But is it true that like films, actresses have started fighting for advertisements, too! Katrina again plays it safe as she says, “Not at all. There is nothing like that.

The deserving candidate will always be called in for the right kind of project. As far as the fighting among us is concerned, it’s only you media persons who are only most interested in.”

Despite the film Singh Is Kinng not receiving better response from the audience, Katrina is still excited about the film. She believes that like her other flicks, this film will also get better response with time.

Talking about her co-star, Kat says, “Akshay is proved to be a great co-star with me. I am really affected with his understanding the audience and the entertainment.

There were several times during the shoot when I was left spellbound with his spontaneity and briskness.”

When Kat is there, sooner or later, questions about Salman are very obvious. Why are you avoiding to pose with Salman in films?

“I have never decided to stop working with Salman and nor have I counted the number of films I have worked in with any star. If the story fits well then I won’t mind acting with him also. But talking about the exact time is impossible, ” safe plays Katrina.

Listening to Katrina one must have understood how intelligently she faces the media. And it’s not only that as she has learnt well to face media’s questions regarding Salman even without the presence of Salman.

And when, at the end, Katrina is asked about her reactions towards her being alleged by Malaika, she stood up and joining her hands says, “Dhanyavaad”!

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Salman Khan Cannot Tolerate The Katrina-Akshay Pair Anymore

Akshay Kumar is giving Salman sleepless nights after having delivered the third consecutive hit Singh is Kinng with Katrina. Salman is not known to be fond of Akshay the erstwhile Casanova of the industry and can’t bear Katrina being paired with Akshay repeatedly.

Singh Is Kinng has stormed the box office in its opening week. Adding to this Namastey London and Welcome last year the pair is being put in the same league as Dharmendra-Hema Malini, Amitabh-Rekha and Shahrukh-Kajol. Industry experts believe they are now the most happening pair in Bollywood since Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.

Producers Vipul Shah has even thought of casting the two in his upcoming 2009 release. The only problem Katrina faces is her beau Salman Khan is not happy with all this. His career graph is going south which is creating friction between the two. It is highly unlikely that Katrina will reject projects with Akshay but that might just prove to be costly for her personal life. It will be interesting to see whether Katrina chooses career over Salman.

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