I charge what I deserve: Bipasha Basu

Asking for a crore for an item song or not performing for New Year, Bipasha Basu does some straight talking as she looks back on 2011 

Bipasha Basu is not looking back with regret or nostalgia. She's looking forward to 2012, what with her birthday (on January 7) and her latest film, and of course, December 31, when she's going to have that "one day when I can let my hair down." 

So, no New Year's Eve performance like previous years? "No," says Bips, "Also, no regrets this year. But then, I don't like to look back. But what I remember is that this year has gone by very fast, I have travelled a lot, I have made too many friends, it's getting difficult to spend time with them all. I had a lot of fun this year. I have laughed a lot... Yes, 2011 has been amazing for me." She's also ended a longstanding relationship... Slightly curt, she says, "The relationship was gone way back before that - it's been more than a year now. There's no point in discussing it. Right now, it's just hard work for me." 

But why no year-end moolah-raking performances this time? "I've done it for the last four years. This year, I wanted to take a break. There was also the promotional tour for "Players", and it would've been impossible to build a show into this itinerary. So I thought this New Year's, I'd rather be with friends and family, just let my hair down for that one day," she replies, and adds that she doesn't get to party much in India. "I don't get to do it much because most of the time, I'm working. But I'm a very dinner-with-close-friends kind of person. I do love to go out dancing, but in India I can't, so when we are abroad, sometimes the unit heads out and goes partying - so that's when I go clubbing all night." 

There was news about the Telugu remake of " Dabangg", " Gabbar Singh", for which she was approached to do the Tamil "Munni Badnaam". Reportedly, she asked for a crore - is that true? "I demand exactly what I deserve," comes her reply, before she goes on to explain, "I am not going to get into the nitty-gritties, because figures are very loosely quoted in our industry. Sometimes it is highly exaggerated, and at other times, it is quoted as quite low. Finally, the job that we do, if we are paid the amount we ask for, it is because we deserve it. I'm not answerable to anyone about how much I charge for what and why I do it." 

And what's her role like in "Players"? "I play a girl called Rhea - an automobile expert and the best thief in town. She is all woman, knows how to use her charm and con people..." Quite like Bipasha in real life, barring the con bit, is it? "Oh no! I am so pathetic with machines in real life, it's not a joke. I'd rather walk, or even run, than take the car out myself. I like to be driven around. Yes, I like fancy cars, and fancy bikes too. It's my dream to learn how to ride one myself, but for now, I am content being driven around. And, for the record, I don't con anyone - I never have. I am what I am and what you see is what you get. And as for charming, I am said to be charming - people do tell me that, but I don't know about it myself, I think a little bit of it must be true - not so bad, huh?" 

And wearing the bikini - that must've made her feel attractive as well... "It's all positive talk, so it's great - if my carriage in a bikini is great, and if I do it gracefully, then I think... that's it. In a film like "Players", a sexy thriller - it's like a James Bond film where you can wear a bikini and look in sync with the film, it doesn't look forced. And the character I play is like that. Also, I wore a bikini on screen when it made sense to me. I would not do it for anybody on earth, and did not, till now. We did a lot of prepping for it. Six weeks of training - I followed a discipline - you know, to look right on screen. There's a fine line - you can either look vulgar or look sexy, and I would always opt to look sexy rather than going in the other direction. And for that, more than anything else, you have to have the trust the directors, and I trusted the DOP. It has to be about your style and your comfort level - you have to be as easy as you are in a pair of jeans in the bikini - only then will it work," explains Bipasha. 

But what's it with the 'trusting the directors' bit? "Well, how such scenes turn out depends entirely on the sensibility of the director. Cheesy camera angles can spoil it. Also, you have to have an inner sense as an actor - the intentness to do what you want to do in front of the camera. Everything cannot be spoon fed. I did the shots, and I wanted to do them, whether the frontal shots or the side pose. I have been into bodies and fitness, so I am very critical about how a body should look in terms of flaunting it. I would never fall down and roll and do a cleavage shot - I have seen those in Bollywood films and those are things I cannot tolerate. I wouldn't do that. That's not me - I'd rather look sharp and sexy and stylish just doing a walk." 

Ok. On to "Singularity" then. When do we get to see what she's done with Josh Hartnett? "I have no idea about when the film is coming to India. I am to fly down to London to see it, I have no dates right now to do so. I hope to see it End of Jan, and sometime in summer, you will all see it," says Bipasha. And as for Hollywood career, Bips says, "I am definitely not planning a move to Hollywood, but if anything comes my way and I can entertain a global audience, I am open to it. But I am not open to flying down and living in LA for two-three months. I am accepted here and I am very happy doing the films I do here. " 

And 2012 for her will be about? ""Players", "Raaz 3", one of the most challenging roles of my life, and in April, I want to shoot my second DVD. So, 2012 is all about work for me," says Bipasha.