Bipasha Basu (Hindi: बिपाशा बसु , Bengali: বিপাশা বসু; born 7 January 1979) is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996. Basu was born on 7 January 1979 in New Delhi to a Bengali Hindu family. She is the middle child of three daughters: she has an elder sister named Bidisha and a younger named Vijayeta. Basu's family later moved to Kolkata shortly before she entered middle school.
In an interview, she has stated that she had initially planned to study medicine, but entered modelling and acting by accident. Basu studied science till the 12th standard at Bhavan's Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir and then studied commerce at The Bhawanipur Gujarati Education Society College, an undergraduate college affiliated with the University of Calcutta. In Kolkata, she did modelling and ramp shows part-time. When she was 17, she met model Mehr Jessia in Kolkata; the latter suggested that Basu take part in the Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest. Basu participated, and eventually won the contest.
Career
After winning the Ford Godrej Cinthol contest, Basu was flown to New York by the Ford Company, where she had a successful modelling career at the age of 17.
Basu made her film debut in Abbas Mustan's Ajnabee, with Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol and Kareena Kapoor. She played a married woman who goes all out to woo her husband’s married friend, and eventually won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for her performance.
In 2002, Basu starred in Telugu movie Takkari Donga and Vikram Bhatt's thriller Raaz. Raaz was a big commercial success and surfaced as the biggest hit of that year. For her performance in the film, she received her first Best Actress nomination at the Filmfare. One review in The Tribune noted, "...it is Bipasha Basu who steals the show with her fine performance." She appeared as Sonia Khanna in the 2003 hit movie Jism alongside John Abraham. The movie earned her a Filmfare Best Villain Award nomination.
Besides acting, Basu did the video "Tu" for Sonu Nigam's album, Kismat. She also made a guest appearance in Jay Sean's music video Stolen.
In 2006, she performed an item number Beedi in the film Omkara for which Rediff noted Basu's picturisation. In 2008 Basu starred in Race, her second collaboration with Abbas-Mustan. Co-starring Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, the film performed well at the box office, and Basu's performance was appreciated by critics. Taran Adarsh of indiaFM described her performance as "her best work so far. She’s superb". She also received good reviews for her role in Bachna Ae Haseeno opposite Ranbir Kapoor. She completed the year by appearing in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in the song Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte.
In 2005 Bipasha and John Abraham did a fitness video with Eros called Bollywood Bodies. In 2010 she has launched her own line of videos with Shemaroo under the banner BB – Love Yourself. The first release is called 'Fit and Fabulous You.
Personal life
Basu with boyfriend John Abraham at the launch of the Filmfare magazine (2007).
Basu was in a relationship with actor John Abraham from 2002 to 2011. While together, the two were often referred to as a supercouple in the Indian media. She previously dated Bollywood actor Dino Morea.
In 2006, Basu claimed to have been harassed by certain organizers of the India Day Parade in Edison, New Jersey. Basu was initially scheduled to lead the parade on 13 August 2006. She eventually appeared on stage late, according to her, because of the harassment. She said, "I wanted to attend the parade, but I could not." She explained that she was harassed physically and mentally in the car by two people who were taking her to the parade.
In 2005 and 2007, UK magazine Eastern Eye named Basu the "Sexiest Woman in Asia".
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Awards |
| 2001 | Ajnabee | Sonia/Neeta | Winner, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award |
| 2002 | Takkari Donga | Panasa | Telugu film |
| Raaz | Sanjana Dhanraj | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
| Aankhen | Raina |
|
| Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai | Ria |
|
| Chor Machaaye Shor | Ranjita |
|
| Gunaah | Prabha Narayan |
|
| 2003 | Jism | Sonia Khanna | Nominated, Filmfare Best Villain Award |
| Footpath | Sanjana Rai Shingla Khan |
|
| Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula | Special appearance |
|
| Zameen | Nandini |
|
| 2004 | Ishq Hai Tumse | Kushboo |
|
| Aetbaar | Ria Malhotra |
|
| Rudraksh | Gayetri |
|
| Rakht: What If You Can See the Future | Drishti |
|
| Madhoshi | Anupama Kaul |
|
| 2005 | Chehraa | Megha |
|
| Sachein | Manju | Tamil film |
| Viruddh | Special appearance |
|
| Barsaat | Anna |
|
| No Entry | Bobby | Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award |
| Apaharan | Megha |
|
| Shikhar | Natasha |
|
| 2006 | Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye | Sonia Berry |
|
| Darna Zaroori Hai | Varsha |
|
| Phir Hera Pheri | Anuradha |
|
| Alag | Special appearance in song Sabse Alag |
|
| Corporate | Nishigandha Dasgupta | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
| Omkara | Billo Chamanbahar |
|
| Jaane Hoga Kya | Aditi |
|
| Dhoom 2 | ACP Shonali Bose/
Monali Bose |
|
| 2007 | Nehlle Pe Dehlla | Pooja |
|
| No Smoking | Special appearance in song Phoonk De |
|
| Om Shanti Om | Special appearance, Herself |
|
| Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal | Rumana |
|
| 2008 | Race | Sonia |
|
| Bachna Ae Haseeno | Radhika/Shreya Rathod | Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award |
| Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi | Special appearance in song Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte |
|
| 2009 | Aa Dekhen Zara | Simi Chatterjee |
|
| All The Best: Fun Begins | Double role: Jhanvi Chopra/Princess of Lushoto |
|
| Sob Choritro Kalponik | Radhika | Bengali film |
| 2010 | Pankh | Nandini (Alter-ego) |
|
| Lamhaa | Aziza |
|
| Aakrosh | Geeta |
|
| 2011 | Dum Maro Dum | Zoey | Released |
| Players |
| Filming |
| Singularity | Tulaja Naik | Post-production |
| 2011 | Kyaa Kool Hai Hum 2 |
| Announced |
Mamata Shankar (born 7 January 1955) is an actress in the Bengali language film industry of India. She has acted in films by renowned film directors including, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Rituparno Ghosh, Buddhadev Dasgupta and Gautam Ghosh. In addition to being an actress, she is a dancer and choreographer.
