Indian women are the sexiest: Bipasha

Fans who got a taste of the sultry Bipasha Basu inJism andRaaz will finally get the chance toquench their thirst later this year, when the Kolkata-born supervixen releases arecord five films.
But despite her busy schedule, Basu says she''s notready to go on hiatus just yet.
"I''m not taking a break," she said."But I''m definitely spacing it out, because the last one-and-a-half or two yearshave been very hectic for me."
Hectic for her, but hypnotising forfilm viewers, who were so enamoured with her brazen performances thatRaaz andJism became two of only a handful ofrecent Indian films to earn hit status.
Though her passionateonscreen scenes have, not surprisingly, earned her legions of male fans, Basusays that Indian women are drawn to her choice of films and independentspirit.
"I have a lot of fan following among women who are workingwomen," she said. "They feel this is a different kind of actress, who doesn''tjust sing songs and dances and just becomes second fiddle to a man. The modernIndian woman is very independent; they like to do everything on their own. Theyhave a mind of their own; they''re not just beautiful girls and dumb up there,"she said, pointing to her bejewelled forehead.
"Women relate to me ina way, in terms of films I''ve done. I was a modern housewife inRaaz, and it did very well. So, I guessI am a modern woman with a certain kind of Indianness to myself because of myupbringing, so that''s what a modern Indian woman would relateto."
"India is not ages back," she added. "Indian women have alwaysbeen the sexiest women in the world. Indian women are gifted. They''re absolutelynot afraid of their sexuality and the way they look. They have greatpersonalities to match."
Like Marilyn Monroe, Basu has only to slinkinto a room or utter a single line of dialogue to make temperatures rise. Shelaughs when people claim she sticks to a "sexy" genre of film.
"I''veonly done one sexy film!" she said. "And it was based on adult attraction.Beyond that, I don''t think any of my films have been sexy, but it''s the imagethat I have so I guess it''s my image."
"I try to play all differentkinds of roles -- I played a funny cop inGunaah, I played a housewife, I playeda salesgirl, a simple girl, so many different kinds of roles. But I think myimage is too difficult to break, because the image created inJism was far stronger than the imagesin the other films. So it stays on with me. But I''m very happy with that image.I''m okay with it," Basu said during a brief break between songs at the MegastarMania concert in Los Angeles, where she was co-starring with Sanjay Dutt, SalmanKhan, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Amisha Patel.
Graciously, sheapologised for taking so long to get ready: in addition to the three elaboratecostumes (a stylishly ripped red mini dress and boots, a glittering black sari,and a hot pink bodysuit, all from designer Rocky S), there is the makeup --sweeping black eyeliner, a few brushes of pearlescent powder high on thecheekbones, and most spectacularly, a labour-intensive row of a dozen tiny,bronze-coloured rhinestones which an artist painstakingly affixes to eacheyelid.
"I want everything to be just right," she confides. "This isonly the fifth time I have done this onstage; this is my first-ever tour. Theseother guys have done it hundreds of times."
Basu maintains that themass Indian audience is sophisticated enough to accept a film likeJism on its artistic merit, not justfor its love scenes and controversial onscreen kisses.
But if Indiais so modern, we ask, why is it national news when a new film has 17 kisses?Simple: the Himanshu Chatterjee and Mallika Sherwat vehicleKhwahish is merely a ripoff ofJism, said Basu.
"BecauseJism did well this year -- and it wasthe only film that did well -- it''s like, okay, now this is working," she said."They don''t understand that Jism had astory. There was a depth to the characters; it was not all about the kisses andeverything. So now, they''re trying to put 17 kisses into a new film, trying tomake it work, but I''m sure if you don''t have depth and a story, and characters,it''s not going to work. You could have a thousand lovemaking scenes and it''s notgoing to sell."
Basu should know -- she''s watched as dozens offormulaic films flopped like dominoes at the box office, while lower-budget,edgier and more risk-taking fare continue to show promise. She also feels thatthe Indian American audience needs to pry itself away from the Shah Rukh-Swissmountaintop masala formula.
"I would appreciate that people try tosee the different kinds of movies made in India, and not just the Bollywood onesall the time," she said.
"Indian films are giving a variety. Theyshould try to accept the smaller films, maybe with a new cast. They could besensitive movies; they could even be great movies. That''s the only way thestereotypical Hindi film industry will move on and grow into something global.
"I wish stars and directors would have the risk-taking capacity todo new films with new ideas. The day we do it, Bollywood will be at a globallevel because we have great talent. They get into their secure zone and theydon''t want to take a risk. But I enjoy taking risks. To me, being different isfun," she said.