'I'm the only positive character'

Bipasha Basu is on the top of the world. "It is amazing to have a hit on my hands," she gushes. "Especially because a lot of people said I was taking a big risk with Jism. I did not think so even though Jism was a new project, with a new hero (John Abraham) and director (Amit Saxena). I believed in the film. Even if it flopped, I would not have been disappointed."

Bips is getting a lot of offers since Jism but she is nonchalant. "I have been getting a lot of work since Raaz. Since I have been branded an unconventional actress, the roles [I get] are unconventional. Which is good for me. I like playing diverse roles. It does not bother me that I am not playing a conventional Hindi film heroine."

The actress will be seen next in Vikram Bhatt's Footpath. "Footpath is a male film with Aftab Shivdasani and Dino Morea. The film is about four kids who grow on the footpath and get hooked on drugs. I do not have much footage but my character has a lot of strength. I am not the protagonist though I am the only positive character in the film, the only one who does not get hooked on drugs, the only one who moves away from that life."

Priyanka all the way

Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra has five releases coming up. The first to hit the screen will be Suneel Darshan's Andaz, starring [former Miss Universe] Lara Dutta and Akshay Kumar.

"Andaz has been the most fun film I have done. I miss it now that it is over. Working with Sunny Deol in The Hero and Gandhi has also been very overwhelming. He is a lovely person and a great actor," she claims.

Both films are scheduled for release next month. She will also be seen in Kismat with Bobby Deol and in Feroz Nadiadwala's next with Akshay Kumar, stated to begin shooting in June 2003.

Gul's yarns

Did you know Gul Panag loves spinning tales? Apparently, the ex-Miss India can dream up stories at the drop of a hat.

"I have played a neurosurgeon on a flight when my co-passenger did not recognise me. I have even played a pilot and scared this man who was flying with me to Vienna. The flight was going through this turbulence patch and I told him the wind was strong enough to rip the plane apart. He freaked out!" Gul laughs.

The actress claims the only time 'acting' came handy was when she had to take the Intercity Bus from New Delhi to Chandigarh. Notorious for eve-teasers and known to be unsafe for women travellers, Gul pretended to be an IPS officer. "I convinced the man sitting next to me that I was on a mission to catch eve-teasers on that bus. After that, at every stop, I was served Coke and snacks and, of course, treated very courteously!"

Nailbiting!

Model-turned-actress Richa Pallod enjoys her time in front of the camera.

After her acting debut in Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahen, with Fardeen Khan, flopped, Richa returned to her first love: modelling. The petite girl is currently shooting for the Sunsilk campaign in Goa. "Since I have grown up in the ad world, I am extremely comfortable. Besides, it was a picnic to be shooting on the beaches of Goa!" she says.

As for films, Richa signed Priyadarshan's next in the South and has finished shooting for Wrong Number. "It stars Rakesh Bapat (of Tum Bin) and is a thriller. After playing giggly and bubbly, it is fun to shriek and yell. Once I got so worried because I had to hit my costar with a glass bottle that I began crying. They still tease me on the sets," she grins.