The stars of Bollywood have graced the shores of the Mother City once again. This time it’s debonair Bobby Deol, visiting for the first time, and the beautiful Bipasha Basu shooting for the film Barsaat (Rain) in various parts of the Cape.
Talking to these stars is like catching up with old friends. Both are extremely casual and keen to chat about anything, even personal issues unrelated to the usual star talk. “I’m homesick”, says Deol in response to being asked whether he’s enjoying the Cape. He’s quick to say that it’s not the effect of the city that makes him feel that way but because his wife has just given birth to their second child, also a boy and he would love to be back with the family. “I try and take them with me as often as possible when I’m on location. But as my eldest son is in school, it’s important for him to concentrate on his studies. But I really miss them and especially my wife”, says an obviously family orientated Deol.
Basu is also very close to her family. A very proud Mommy Basu is with her on this trip. But far from being an over protective mother, she is more of a friend and confidante says Basu. “My Mom is really great. In fact my whole family has been very supportive of my career. No one else in the family has embarked on a career in entertainment. From my initial entry into modelling and now films, they’ve been behind me every step of the way.” Her career took off from her very first film Ajnabee, which had the taboo subject of wife swapping as its central theme. In fact many of her films have bordered on the risque. “You’re right”, she says, “It was a conscious effort to do something different. I wanted to attempt roles that I would be remembered for and I think that in a short space of time I’ve achieved that..” Fans will undoubtedly remember the poster of the erotic hit Jism, loosely based on the Hollywood hit Body Heat, which featured Basu in a provocative pose. Her sensual love scenes with co-star John Abraham was a major reason for the films sizzling success at the box-office. “I’ve conditioned my family to realise that it’s only a role I’m playing, nothing more. We are a small tight knit family and I value the relationship we share. When I’m not before the cameras, you’ll find me in coffee shops with friends, doing everyday things like anybody else. I appreciate the support the audience has given me and will always have time for my fans.
Deol is someone who has gotten used to dealing with fans over the years, not only his, as his father Dharmendra and brother Sunny are also well known Bollywood stars in their own right. “It wasn’t easy following in their footsteps as they are amongst the most highly regarded and respected actors in the industry. But even as a 3 year old, I knew that I wanted to be an actor”, he says with a smile. “I’ve managed to do a variety of roles and not been stereotyped as any specific type of character. I know that Hollywood films inspire many of our stories and I don’t necessarily have a problem with that. It shouldn’t be a total copy, but if it is a source of inspiration and we add to that our values and traditions then that's great. There aren’t many writers who are able to be totally original, so we work with what we have and do the best that we can given the circumstances. It also depends on what the audience wants. I acted in a film based on the life of Bhagat Singh, an important figure in Indian history, but the film flopped. Our audiences want to see upbeat films with a happy ending. I’ve also thought about Hollywood, but have no illusions about making it in that industry when Indian actors are not really known to western audiences. As that situation changes and opportunities start coming our way, I would consider it.”
Talking to these stars is like catching up with old friends. Both are extremely casual and keen to chat about anything, even personal issues unrelated to the usual star talk. “I’m homesick”, says Deol in response to being asked whether he’s enjoying the Cape. He’s quick to say that it’s not the effect of the city that makes him feel that way but because his wife has just given birth to their second child, also a boy and he would love to be back with the family. “I try and take them with me as often as possible when I’m on location. But as my eldest son is in school, it’s important for him to concentrate on his studies. But I really miss them and especially my wife”, says an obviously family orientated Deol.
Basu is also very close to her family. A very proud Mommy Basu is with her on this trip. But far from being an over protective mother, she is more of a friend and confidante says Basu. “My Mom is really great. In fact my whole family has been very supportive of my career. No one else in the family has embarked on a career in entertainment. From my initial entry into modelling and now films, they’ve been behind me every step of the way.” Her career took off from her very first film Ajnabee, which had the taboo subject of wife swapping as its central theme. In fact many of her films have bordered on the risque. “You’re right”, she says, “It was a conscious effort to do something different. I wanted to attempt roles that I would be remembered for and I think that in a short space of time I’ve achieved that..” Fans will undoubtedly remember the poster of the erotic hit Jism, loosely based on the Hollywood hit Body Heat, which featured Basu in a provocative pose. Her sensual love scenes with co-star John Abraham was a major reason for the films sizzling success at the box-office. “I’ve conditioned my family to realise that it’s only a role I’m playing, nothing more. We are a small tight knit family and I value the relationship we share. When I’m not before the cameras, you’ll find me in coffee shops with friends, doing everyday things like anybody else. I appreciate the support the audience has given me and will always have time for my fans.
Deol is someone who has gotten used to dealing with fans over the years, not only his, as his father Dharmendra and brother Sunny are also well known Bollywood stars in their own right. “It wasn’t easy following in their footsteps as they are amongst the most highly regarded and respected actors in the industry. But even as a 3 year old, I knew that I wanted to be an actor”, he says with a smile. “I’ve managed to do a variety of roles and not been stereotyped as any specific type of character. I know that Hollywood films inspire many of our stories and I don’t necessarily have a problem with that. It shouldn’t be a total copy, but if it is a source of inspiration and we add to that our values and traditions then that's great. There aren’t many writers who are able to be totally original, so we work with what we have and do the best that we can given the circumstances. It also depends on what the audience wants. I acted in a film based on the life of Bhagat Singh, an important figure in Indian history, but the film flopped. Our audiences want to see upbeat films with a happy ending. I’ve also thought about Hollywood, but have no illusions about making it in that industry when Indian actors are not really known to western audiences. As that situation changes and opportunities start coming our way, I would consider it.”
Basu agrees with Deol’s sentiments, “I have made a commitment to move away from the provocative roles that I started with and focus now on pure commercial Bollywood cinema, be it comedy or love stories, I want to be a part of the typical mainstream cinema from now on.” Whatever she aspires to achieve, one thing is for sure, her family will always support her. Her Mom says that Bonnie (Basu laughs with surprise that her mother has revealed her family nickname) has never allowed her fame and fortune to go to her head. “She has always retained her roots and remains firmly grounded in her traditions and that makes me very happy and proud”, says her beaming Mom.
The same sentiments can be applied to Deol as he is very much the original family man. “I owe a lot to my Father and the way he raised us. Many people used to question his judgement when choosing roles. But what they don’t know is that my Father takes care of many people, almost like extended families and that is an expensive exercise. Therefore he signed as many films as he could, not always thinking about his career, but more about how he could help as many people as possible. In that way, I’ve learnt a lot about humility and I extend that to my family life and even my roles.”
Both these actors are a far cry from the image of stars that are cold, aloof and have no time for others. Their take on life is extremely refreshing and holds them in good stead in the often pretentious world of entertainment.
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