“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love showered on us since we revealed the pregnancy. It was a safer timeline for us [to announce it closer to delivery date]; our doctor advised it,” says actor Bipasha Basu, who announced her pregnancy on Instagram with husband Karan Singh Grover last week. Few days later, she shared a funny video saying, “There’s a baby in my belly”.

Dressed in a white shirt, Basu is resplendent at 43, and full of glee. “I am not 20,” she says, “It’s a late pregnancy, and [I] couldn’t announce it. You have to love yourself, no matter what your body type is—I am so big, but I find it cute. It’s magical what’s happening inside. We let the news out late as we had to be responsible. But once it was out there, we were in tears because everyone gave us so much love…”

“You had tears, I was fine!” pipes in Grover, “I was having different kinds of explosions inside my body.” Basu laughs, “Karan is a softy. He was in tears as well. We let our larger family know—the fans, the media...”

We chatted with the couple over Zoom on Thursday evening, and they seem in high spirits. Basu, whom we know from movies such as Dhoom and Bachna Ae Haseeno, and Grover, who is a TV regular in shows such as Qubool Hai, got married six years ago.

Basu keeps the delivery date under wraps, saying only that it will be soon. “I think Karan is going to be the best father ever,” she gushes. “He lives life from his heart; he’s creative, affectionate and warm… I want those qualities in my child.” “Sometimes, leading with the heart is not a good thing,” Grover quips.

But it’s good that his heart has been in charge; he’s been a hands-on partner, looking after Basu during the first few months of pregnancy, which were excruciating.

“No one talks about how horrible it can be,” the former model says. “It’s not morning sickness, its all-time sickness. I was vomiting all day; It was as if I was possessed. I used to look up at God and shout ‘why are you doing this?’ Karan was looking after me all the time. My mom was relaxed. ‘Kitna acchha pati mila hai,’ she would say.”

It got so bad at one point that Grover asked Basu whether she wanted to continue suffering. “If a man had to be pregnant, he wouldn’t be able to at all,” he says. “She was so sick. But at least we’re past that stage.”

For now, the expecting parents are busy nesting. When we had interviewed Grover in 2020, about his painting exhibition, he had described Basu as being a very organised person, who looked after everyone.

“She is a very evolved,” he says now, “To be her best possible self is her normal state of flow. I am in awe of how she thinks 20 steps ahead.  She has an excel sheet of what the child will need, what products, what brands, the cost... everything organised already.”

It’s Basu’s turn to laugh. “Karan will keep bringing up and joking about the excel sheet, but we need to make sure the baby gets the best of what s/he can.” To which Grover just says, “I am good at groundwork and following instructions. So I’ll just do what she asks me to.”

We ask her about the lifestyle decisions they’ve made to make room for the baby, and Basu replies that since she’s always been a fitness-centric person, no detox routine will be needed.

“The real changes will happen when the baby comes. Karan is being trained to change nappies; he will be good at it,” she says, and Grover cringes. “I once smelt a diaper in a changing room and it’s the smell of hell. But I will do what I have to do,” he resigns. As far as taking a break from work goes, neither will be doing so. “I have been on a break all this while, as it was a sensitive pregnancy. But once the baby comes, baby and mommy will be ready for work. It’s time!”

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 17, 2020)

My first shot was for Aakhri Mughal. Both Abhishek Bachchan and I were to make our debuts in the film and I remember how scared I was to have Amitabh Bachchan on the set, watching us give our first take. I kept asking Abhishek to make him leave and he would say exasperatedly, “He is my father, how can I ask him to go!”

I wasn’t sure if I could act when J P Dutta and Jaya Bachchan approached me with the film. I couldn’t say “no” to them. But I’ve to admit, I was really happy when Aakhri Mughal was shelved! Yes, I know I’m a bit of a weirdo, I always have been one.

By the time Ajnabee came along, I was bored with modelling. Vijay Galani wondered if I would meet director duo Abbas and Mustan Burmawalla for a role in their film. I agreed, but was afraid they wouldn’t converse in English. On meeting them, I realised they were scared that a model wouldn’t speak Hindi. But we immediately liked each other. I didn’t watch a lot of films back then, but the suspense-thriller seemed like a very international film to me. And they were shooting in Switzerland, so I signed on thinking that at least I’d get to travel. I went with that intention; not to act.

Luckily, everyone on the set was very fond of me. Abbas bhai, Mustan bhai, Bobby (Deol) and his wife Tanya, Akshay (Kumar) all were very protective of me and got me an entourage of my own. My hairstylist had worked with Manisha Koirala earlier and was quite scandalized by my behaviour. She’d tell me that as an actor I should drink alcohol only in cups so that no one found out and not wear backless dresses. I remember the look on her face when I applied coconut oil on my body and sunbathed as opposed to actresses who slathered themselves with sunscreen and insisted on moving around under an umbrella. In fact, she was aghast when I told everyone that I had a boyfriend.

My first scene in the film was the one when neighbours Priya (Kareena Kapoor) and Sonia (my character) meet for the first time while jogging and strike up a conversation. It went off really well and my directors told me I was a natural actor. And I thought to myself, “Wow, so this is acting…I can do it!” Despite it being a negative role in a film way ahead of its time, it still fetched me a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

So, Bipasha Basu is relieved to have husband as co-star in MX Player’s exclusive new series, Dangerous, which starts streaming today
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 14, 2020)

Bipasha Basu returns to the screen after four years with a slick thriller, Dangerous, a story of betrayal, love, passion, deception, and rivalry. The Bhushan Patel-directorial had started off as a film, Aadat Diaries, but will now mark the actress’ debut in the digital space. She is happy it will release on MX Player as a series, reasoning she wouldn’t want people watching it in theatres in the midst of a pandemic. “More people can be reached through digital platforms anyway. Internationally, people had warmed up to OTT long ago. In India, the Coronavirus lockdown has brought about a boom, which is only going to grow,” she asserts.

A huge fan of investigative thrillers and female detectives like Eve Polastri in Killing Eve played by Sandra Oh, and Anna Friel’s Marcella Backland in Marcella, she jumped at the opportunity. “I play Neha Singh, a Scotland Yard detective. I cut my hair short, and put to use all that I had learnt at acting workshops with Roland Joffé for Singularity, which includes making her own back story for the character.” So what’s Neha’s backstory? “Even my director doesn’t know,” she chuckles.

In Dangerous, Bipasha pairs up with actor-husband Karan Singh Grover for the first time after they got married in April 2016, insisting that on the set, they are actors first. “I need my space when I’m working and Karan understands that. Having a spouse for a co-star works, because you understand their moods. Also, kissing scenes are easier,” she quips, admitting that in the past liplocks always made her break into a fever. “I don’t mind lovemaking scenes because you can cheat on camera but a liplock is scary! I got rid of one in Dum Maaro Dum and had my livid director (Rohan Sippy) wondering which era I belonged to. During Bachna Ae Haseeno also, Siddharth Anand would laugh at my reluctance. I gave in eventually, but was freaking out even while kissing my good friend (R) Madhavan in Jodi Breakers. Now, they’ve become the norm, so I’ll have to power through my fevers.”

So, does this mean more films only with hubby? “No, Karan and I won’t be working together for some time now, except for ads. It’s unhealthy!” she insists, adding that she’d completely blissed out, not realising how much time had passed. “Last year, during the Diwali parties, my producers and directors lectured me, and even Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan wondered where I’d been, and why I wasn’t acting, looking pointedly at Karan, who explained he wasn’t my boss. I promised him I’d be back soon and last month started reading scripts.”

Dangerous brings back some harrowing memories too as, during the London shoot, Karan had injured himself badly. “A titanium rod had to be inserted in his left leg. I didn’t have family there, so had to take all decisions myself while filming,” she shudders, recalling that since Karan wasn’t allowed to fly home immediately after the surgery, they spent Diwali in a hotel room with only her assistant. “We didn’t know if he’d be able to be as active with the rod, but he does more things now with that leg than with the other,” she gushes, adding that her better half is not a regular guy chasing money and fame. “He’s sensitive and creative; his soul belongs in the jungle. Atrangi aadmi se shaadi ki hai maine and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The duo has packed a lot into the lockdown with their ritual of meditating, working out, gardening, and cooking. “We have a lot of plants and with the gardener away; I’ve become quite an expert at looking after them. I am growing so many vegetables and have discovered I’m an international chef too, who can whip up some healthy but tasty recipes while Karan has grown into a good handyman. He’s also been painting a lot while I’ve taken courses in everything, including chakras,” she reveals. She adds that their TV time is limited to between 7-8:30 pm. And today, she’s looking forward to watching Dangerous with Karan when it streams for free on MX Player. “I wanted to experience it with the rest,” she signs off.

Bipasha Basu talks about reuniting with Karan Singh Grover as she ends her five-year hiatus with a web series
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; August 14, 2020)

Her fans may complain about her hiatus, but Bipasha Basu believes it was a much-needed break. "After my wedding [in 2016], I wanted to take some time off. I wanted to build my relationships and spend time with my family," she says. However, Basu admits that the actor in her couldn't be kept away from the camera for too long, as she returns to the screen after five years with the Bhushan Patel-directed Dangerous.

"Karan [Singh Grover, husband] was signed on for Dangerous first. The makers wanted me to come on board, but I wasn't keen. I have always been clear that Karan and I should collaborate on a project only if we like the material individually as actors. But Vikram Bhatt [producer] and Bhushan coaxed me to read the script. As soon I read it, I realised it belonged to a genre that I thoroughly enjoy," she recounts. Basu's foray into digital entertainment happened by chance. "Dangerous was shot as a film. Given the current situation, the producers and MX Player [streaming platform] decided that they wanted [to convert it into] a series."

Bipasha Basu's romance with Grover had blossomed on the set of Alone (2015). A fairytale wedding and five years of togetherness later, the two have reunited professionally. "Being on set with him was comfortable. The husband and wife in us would take over only during lunch and after pack-up. Otherwise, on set, we were simply two actors working on a scene and exchanging notes," she says, before joking, "The only time it's convenient to be husband and wife on set is while shooting intimate scenes."

Bipasha Basu Singh Grover and Karan Singh Grover open up about their relationship after four years of marriage
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 15, 2020)

Bipasha Basu Singh Grover and Karan Singh Grover spent Valentine’s Day walking the ramp together at a fashion show in Mumbai, which was a first for them. What followed was “a cute plan” and then the couple flew to Colombo, Sri Lanka to celebrate the day where they graced a special event.

As the duo celebrated their fourth Valentine’s Day after they tied the knot, Bipasha says that their love has evolved with time. “For us, it just becomes stronger with each passing day. We don’t need a special day to tell each other how special we are for one another. We make sure that we make the other person feel special every day. I know for a fact that we say ‘I love you’ and ‘I’m so grateful for you’ to each other, every day, without planning it,” she says.

Karan says that he shares an unbending equation with Bipasha and believes that. “Love, for me, is the truth of life. It’s the most special and the highest emotion. It’s something that cannot be destroyed because it connects us,” he says.

For Bipasha, it’s an “inseparable” bond that she shares with her husband. She says, “The best part is that we’re enough for each other and we don’t need a third person for entertainment. We spend a lot of time with each other and have a blast. We both are in sync about that. Our friendship is getting stronger each day because we’re evolving.”

The Dum Maro Dum (2011) actor believes that it’s their profound friendship that has intensified their love over the years. “Love is a deep bond. Friendship needs to be its foundation. Love and friendship go very well together and that’s the bond that I share with my husband,” she says.

Ask Karan about their first date and he shares, “It’s strange when I think of our love story. We didn’t really have our first date as such (laughs). Every time we went out, we went out with our close friends. So, there was never a moment where we told each other that let’s go for a date. Today, every dinner that I’ve with her is a date, even if it’s at home.”

Harshada Rege (DNA; February 14, 2019)

Bipasha Basu enjoys celebrating occasions in a grand manner and her husband Karan Singh Grover never fails to impress her. The couple, who tied the knot in 2016, doesn’t shy away from displaying their love for each other in personal life as well as on social media. On Valentine’s Day, they talk about the personality trait they consciously changed for their spouse and what’s remained constant over the years. Over to the much-in-love jodi...

It’s been three years to your marriage. How do you keep the romance alive?
KARAN SINGH GROVER: By telling each other how much we love each other as many times as we can.
BIPASHA BASU: Yes, it’s necessary to tell your partner that he or she is important in your life. We make each other feel special. That’s how you can keep the romance alive. You should never take your partner for granted.

What’s your journey been like over the last three years?
KSG: The journey of getting to know each other every day has been great. Loving each other through different kinds of experiences and learning a lot of things about ourselves is so much fun.
BB: Ditto!

Both of you are fitness enthusiasts. Has a common passion contributed towards strengthening the bond?
BB: It does help. One good thing about our fitness enthusiasm is that we can spend that time with each other. It’s like following the passion that we love together!
KSG: Yes, it’s like a movement towards keeping yourself fit. This also means giving respect to your body and the right kind of treatment it needs. When you do it with your partner, it will obviously contribute to strengthening the bond.

Do either of you ever get lazy to go to the gym?
KSG: No, we never get lazy to hit the gym.
BB: We have to actually stop ourselves from going to the gym when we are unwell. We have to tell each other why we should not train on that particular day and give our body some rest. That happens pretty often (laughs).

What is the one thing that has remained constant over the last three years?
BB: Our love for each other is not just constant, but also growing every day. Respect for each other is the other. Start your foundation on the basis of respect for the human being that you are. Respect the person you are falling in love with.
KSG: We are quite crazy. We both love food. That’s a kind of constant — our love for each other and food.
BB: That’s a lie! You were never a foodie before you met me.
KSG: Being married to you for three years now, I am one.
BB: Well, yes, then both of us are foodies now!

What traits have you consciously changed for your spouse?
KSG: I am not late anymore.
BB: Yes, be it work or personal stuff, he’s always on time now.  I have learnt to be more patient. I like everything being done fast. I do understand that we are two different individuals.
KSG: Yes, absolutely!

Are there any special Valentine’s Day memories that you can share?
BB: We have many beautiful memories. There was one when we went to Ananda (near Rishikesh). That was extremely special because we had an amazing time there. Another year, he took my entire family for dinner. When we came back, he had got the terrace done up with red balloons, decorations and everything that I like. It was a beautiful surprise for me because I am quite childlike. I love celebrations, occasions and everything, that too, in a big and glamorous way. Also, he writes me poetry and a note in his beautiful handwriting every Valentine’s Day. I frame all these handwritten notes because those are close to my heart and nobody has ever done that for me.
KSG: She makes yummy custards. So, last year she made my favourite custard for Valentine’s Day.

What are the plans for V-Day this year?
KSG: We are going to eat some great food for sure!
BB: I can’t disclose our plans, but it’s definitely going to be one of the most special days.

As told to Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 9, 2018)

I was in school when I landed my first modeling assignment. I had just given my Higher Secondary (Class 12) exams when I was spotted at a five star hotel in Kolkata. Some strangers approached me saying the preliminary rounds of a supermodel contest were coming up and asked me if I’d like to take part. I was a science student and I didn’t know much about modelling. But they urged me saying they were selecting 100 girls from Kolkata and all I needed to do was fill out a form so that’s what I did.

Within a few days, the list of 100 aspiring models had whittled down to 17 and to my surprise, I was one of those shortlisted. We were invited to a cocktail party which would be followed by the final round. I told my parents I was going for a birthday bash and sneaked off. We were asked some questions, I rattled off my replies and returned home, quickly forgetting the whole thing.

But in a week’s time, super model Mehr Jesia called my residence and told my mom that I was one of the three girls selected from the city. She pulled me up for taking part in a contest without telling them and I whined that since it was holidays, I had done it for a lark. The team convinced mom to let me fly to Mumbai, promising her that I would be looked after well and that my family would not be required to make any financial investment. She, in turn, convinced my dad and I dashed off for the finale. To my surprise, I won the contest and was sent to Miami for the international pageant. That was a jolt for my family because they were expecting me to return home in a month and focus on my studies.

I was only 16 and it was my first trip alone abroad. I guess I did something right because I got signed by Ford and started working in New York as a model. I was enjoying the job and didn’t want to give it up. I told my parents I would complete my graduation from an open university later and wanted to continue doing what destiny had planned for me.

Making a name internationally as a model was tough because all the other girls were far better prepped up. They came from modest backgrounds — some European girls had absolutely no money — while my family was well off and I was a little spoilt. So, I made the other girls cook for me while we were living together because I didn’t know how. I couldn’t even open a tin! Also, I had never taken public transport before so I would always get lost. The agency gave me a chaperone who taught me how to take the metro.

When I returned to India after a year, things were tougher as no one remembered me. I was put up in an apartment in Kalina by the organisers. It was a truck drivers’ colony and I was scared to live there. Photographer Farrokh Chothia, my first friend in Mumbai, was disturbed by the fact that I was made to stay in a rough locality like that. I used to leave home early and roam around with a hammer in my bag. Thankfully, I never needed to use it. Farrokh helped me send my pictures to other top photographers and quickly, I started getting work. I used to work late and fall asleep in the cab.

I recall an incident when after a fashion show, I was going home late at night. A bunch of rowdy men started following my car, the cabbie managed to dodge them and got me home safe. Those days, we had pagers and he made me call my PG guardians down to take me home. Eventually, I moved out and into an apartment in Breach Candy which was far safer.

Modelling is a competitive business and tough to break through. Once the senior models at a fashion show asked me and another newbie to get them coffee. My fellow model got up to serve them but I stayed put, telling them to get it themselves. I got ragged a lot because I was a no-nonsense girl. Fortunately, I had some protective friends like choreographers and those who worked backstage who would watch out for me. But senior models wouldn’t let me enter when I got my cue and harass me while I was changing.

The makers of my debut film, Ajnabee, saw me at a Rohit Bal show, and introduced me to director-duo Abbas-Mustan. Before that, Vinod Khanna had offered to launch me in Himalaya Putra with his son Akshaye but I was not interested in movies then. Akshay Kumar and Parmeshwar Godrej had approached me for a movie that time around and I had turned down that offer as well.

I was then to be introduced in J P Dutta’s Aakhri Mughal with Abhishek Bachchan. Jaya ji (Jaya Bachchan) had herself called me and asked me to do the film. I was intimidated by her and said "yes" out of fear of offending her and gave my first shot in front of Mr Amitabh Bachchan but that film didn’t work out. I finally made a beginning in Bollywood with Ajnabee which was ahead of its times and had me in a negative role. I was only 19 then and travelled the world with the film. Everybody from Akshay Kumar to Bobby Deol and their families helped me. Abbas-Mustan are gems and gave me as much attention as the stars. The rest, as they say, is box-office history.

The fittest couple of B’town, Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover, tells us why every couple should take up at least one physical activity together to keep their romance alive
Deebashree Mohanty (BOMBAY TIMES; January 28, 2018)

Define wellness...
Bipasha: It’s a state of being. It’s about the choices we make in our lives every day. It could be about the food we eat, the activities we indulge in, the mental happiness we seek... so on and so forth. Every step we take through the day should be a choice towards wellness. Choosing the right thing for your mind and body should be everyone’s priority.
Karan: Wellness begins by understanding our own selves, and not mindlessly falling for fad diets. Instead, try to get to know your own body. Be aware of what your body wants, how you feel about your body.

Does working out together help keep the romance alive?
Bips: It’s not as if we train on the same schedule at the same time. We do our own routines but we often cross each other’s path. He sometimes winks at me, and I smile. We give each other a peck, and sometimes, I also kick him a little bit on the butt.
Karan: A workout is the highest level of quality time that you can spend with yourself and if you are sharing that with your partner, the romance doubles.

This sounds exciting. Tell us more...
Bips: I love spending time with my husband. To find a partner in sync with me when it comes to our outlook towards fitness is Godsend. And we both do it effortlessly, not because it is something we have to do.
Karan: Well, I can check out my hot wife all the time while working out. That’s a good thing!

Give us a peek into your workout schedule...
Bips: There is nothing fixed about what we do every day; what is certain is that we have to sweat it out. Sometimes, we push ourselves so much that we end up with ice packs on our knees and back. But in the end, we laugh aloud, and we’re good.
Karan: We get so carried away while training at times that you’d wonder if we are athletes training for the next world championships. I tell Bipasha that it’s like we are training for the end of the world – where it is my responsibility to save each and every person on Earth! But jokes apart, this is what we love doing and we love doing it together. As for training, we mix it up... Cardio, weights, intense training and yoga!

So a healthy body makes a fit mind?
Bips: It’s simple. If you are healthy, there’s no battle between your mind and body. It’s like you are actually in a happy state. That’s why I firmly believe investing in your body and mind is a necessity. But some people don’t get this. They constantly crib that they don’t have time to de-stress or work out. They don’t understand that if they manage to be healthy, they are going to happily handle the rest of their lives.
Karan: It’s a misnomer that happiness is somewhere outside of you. It’s within you. Only when you are truly healthy, can you spread cheer around you.

Any specific fitness goal for 2018? Anything new that you’d like to try?
Bips: Both of us have very strong fitness goals for 2018. Mine started from January 8, post my birthday. The last six months, we have been enjoying our cheat meals. A lot of it thanks to my mother who keeps feeding us all the time. I dabble in all kinds of training but this year, I want to be more serious about yoga. Somehow, I have always let go somewhere in the middle. Karan, on the other hand, is a total ashtangi. I want to reach maybe 40% of Karan’s fitness levels. I am a strong girl. But in terms of flexibility, I wish I could be more like him.

What other activities do you both enjoy? Do you both cook or do you like doing up the house?
Bips: I cannot paint or sing like him. Karan is the dreamer and I am practical. I love organising things while he can just sit and look around. The other thing we love doing together is spending quality time with family and doing pedicures together. Karan roams around barefoot so his feet are as dirty as they can get. Pedicure is an absolute must. Although he complains. He keeps saying... ‘Am I your girlfriend?’
Karan: I know it will sound like a cliché but we really do complete each other. We are an interesting mix! I make eggs for her and she makes me custard on Sundays. But our chef at home is so good that we don’t really want to try any other ‘haath ka khana’.

Individually, what have you learnt from each other after marriage? What have you learnt about yourself since they say living with someone under the same roof teaches us more about ourselves.
Bips: I need to be inspired by my partner and I am lucky that Karan inspires me. He is very spiritual and has a very pure heart. If you spend time with him, you will feel his positive energy. In today’s time it’s very difficult to find a man like him. I call him Mowgli because he has no materialistic attachments. He is totally non fussy; you give him anything to eat, he will eat. He’s very easy to live with. I try to be as spiritual as him. What I have learnt about myself after marriage is that I can be quite determined if I set my eyes on something.
Karan: What I have learned about myself is that I am really very sensitive and that it is not a bad thing. I used to think it is not manly to be so sensitive about little things but now I care a damn about what people may think about my nature. What I have learnt from Bipasha is to value time and do everything at the soonest. Every delay causes another delay. And what I have learnt about women in general is that it is impossible to do the stuff they can. And men should stop trying to compete.

What’s your wellness playlist like?
Bips: I listen to the UK Billboards top 50.
Karan: Believe it or not, I listen to a lot of Krishna Das’s devotional music. It acts as a stress buster. I also listen to loud thumping music when my workout is at its peak.

Q. Workout outfits...How essential is it to get comfy while exercising?
Bips: When I train, I am all over the place. I feel very cold in the gym, so I prefer full tights and a vest. The brand is very important.
Karan: If I have to go to a gym outside my home, I wear a jacket and loose pyjamas. At home, I work out in my under pants!

Trolls may have a field day going after Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover’s shenanigans on screen and social media. The two, however, say they know no other way to be
Kusumita Das (MID-DAY; October 29, 2017)

When Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover stepped into a Bandra eatery for this interview, it was refreshing to not see them flanked by their managers. They find this writer waiting at a table, greetings are exchanged, orders are placed after a mutual exchange of notes on our favourite smoothie, and just like that, without a formal ‘start’ signal, we realise we are five minutes into the conversation.

Their unassuming demeanour takes a little getting used to. But then, almost everything Basu and Grover do appears so. They steer clear from industry parties and brandish their love on social media, making them the least private celeb couple we know.

Now, with the latest condom commercial they have shot for, they have become the first married couple to have endorsed such a brand. “Why can’t a married couple endorse condoms? Just because you are married does not mean you have no responsibility towards your partner,” Basu says. “We can’t use sex as a dirty word. We wished that the conversation moved from sensuality to planned pregnancy, protection from STDs, and of course, loving your woman. Who talks about this in this country?”

The ad was offered to them soon after they were married, and the decision to star in it was mutual. But they waited till they were sure the communication was fine-tuned to convey what they wanted to say. Call them an evolved couple, and Basu rolls her eyes. “You know, Karan loves to use that word for us. But, we are what we are. I love taking photos and sharing them. My friends call me a ‘Japanese tourist’. I have been like that since I was a little girl.” “You are still a little girl,” Grover says, landing a peck on her cheek. A slightly conscious Basu then smiles and says, “We love expressing love. We are goofs. We are lame.” Karan has his own theory on this. “When you are acting, you get to be someone else anyway. Why be so, at other times.”

Edited excerpts from the interview:

On intimacy
Basu: We shared great chemistry and, even while shooting this ad, Karan looked like he was on holiday. He was in the pool all day, and each time the shot was ready, we had to beg him to come out.
Grover: I am getting paid to get into the pool and make out with my hot wife! What do you expect?
Basu: He was always into the moment.
Grover: I am always into you!
Basu: I don’t think the ad is steamy, per say. It just shows our playfulness. We did not need a director’s instructions. That’s how we are when we are together anyway. It was comforting to have my husband with me. One thing’s for sure — we would not have done this ad with another co-star.

A physical and a non-physical trait you are attracted to in each other?
Basu: Physical would be the whole package. Non-physical would be his heart. He has a golden heart, and he will hate me for saying this, but he is more sensitive than me.
Grover: You are not supposed to say these things in public.
Basu: I need to keep his macho image going.
Grover: I like her eyes, if I had to choose.
Basu: Why don’t you tell her what you really like? I’m the most ungraceful person, and that’s what he can’t get over.
Grover: Let me explain. So, you see her working out in the gym, so hot and sexy, and then she just comes out and sits and talks in the most ungraceful manner (makes a face)
Basu (laughs): I said to him last evening, I am like a Parsi aunty at home, who likes to just lounge in her nightie.

On social media
Basu: I had to convince him to get on it. He’s not a poser, unlike me. After the first shot, he starts making faces.
Grover: I don’t even understand the art of taking photos — lighting, cropping. I don’t understand what to do with myself in photos, that’s why I make faces. But, I’m learning, and I’m better now.

On trolls
Grover: Really? People troll me? Like they say bad things?
Basu: The negativity is little when compared to the love we get back. Yes, people can be brutal, but does it bother us? No. Social media is a great tool but you need nerves of steel to deal with the criticism that it can draw. If our friends, normal couples post their cosy moments on social media, why can’t we? And why does it have to be seen as a ‘brave’ act?
Grover: Celebs are private because they fear judgment.
Basu: It’s hard to read the mind of trolls, but we do feel sad for them.

On consent and #MeToo
Basu: When it’s a crime like rape or sexual assault, that is horrific and one obviously doesn’t know what to do. But when you can make a choice, you cannot be the victim. I have never taken this much sh** from anyone in the industry. I have lost out on stuff but I have slept in peace.
Grover: But then you are a strong woman.
Basu: No, I was only 15 when I started. But, I made tough choices to stand up for myself and not be the victim.
Grover: If you don’t respect what the other person wants, sexually or otherwise, then that’s weird. Nothing that follows then, is real. I am not sure what exactly this campaign is achieving, but at least people are coming out and sharing stuff.

On socializing
Basu: He sleeps at 10.30 pm, wakes up at 5 am. How can we party?
Grover: We have also never understood what happens in these parties. Yes, people network. I say, boss, that’s never going to happen for us.
Basu: We only go when we are well rested, and of course, most often to honour an invitation, say thank you.

On dealing with the past
Grover: Whatever life that was, good or bad, it brought me to her. Now, my real life has begun.
Basu: I have had my share of sadness, and I needed this storm of laughter and happiness, someone looking after me. Initially, I was like, ‘is this really happening to me?’ I never had anyone looking after me.
Grover: When I told my parents about her, my dad said, ‘beta, tumhara toh sab kuch wrong hai, how did you manage this?’ If you judge me by what has happened in my life, that’s not good. I chose not to live a lie. That is hard to do.
Basu: You need to give a person a chance. Initially, my parents did not like him. And now, they are so fond of him. Mum says, ‘Yeh mera beta, tu meri bahu!’ He’s the fish-eating, conch-shell playing damaad they had thought they’d never have.

On starting a family
Basu: He’s great with children and I love kids too, but I don’t think we are ready yet.
Grover: Children should never be a mistake, that is also one thing we want to communicate through the ad. Planned pregnancy is crucial. We’ll get there when the time is right.

Days after their first marriage anniversary, Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover tell us what they’ve learned about each other
Upala KBR (DNA; May 2, 2017)

Bipasha Basu finds husband Karan Singh Grover to be a great partner. After a year of being together as husband and wife, that’s something that hasn’t changed. She finds his being over-sensitive annoying, he hates it that she’s always right. Those are things boyfriends and girlfriends say about each other. They pick up after each other. She manages his money, he knows how to end an argument/fight by saying sorry. And she’s protective while he’s possessive. We could tell you more but why not make it more fun by letting them tell it as it is. Here’s the conversation we had with the year-old pati-patni who are still very much in love..

What’s the most annoying habit of the other that you would want to change?
Bipasha: Karan’s a quirky guy. I got my man and this is what for me is the mark of a true man. But what annoys me? He’s very sensitive. Sensitivity is a great thing. But he’s too sensitive...
KSG: You’re annoyed by that? It goes with the person I am. I’m so hurt!
Bipasha: Yes and I am okay with that. I don’t want you to change that. Sensitivity is a great thing, but Karan is too sensitive.
KSG: Things can hurt me very quickly… but only things Bipasha would say, not anybody else.
Bipasha: And with a moophat person like me, it’s tough on Karan. I am very dry. My straightforward manner is not sugar-coated ever. I am definitely very blunt, but I don’t mean that. His heart is so soft that he gets hurt.
KSG: It’s soft for you. I understand what she’s saying once I process what she says. I have to analyse it. The most annoying thing about her is that she’s always right. It’s tough to be in a fight where you know that the other person is always right, no matter what and you are spending the rest of your life with her (Bipasha laughs). No matter how angry or upset you get in your head and heart you know that she’s right. I like to be right sometimes (looking at Bipasha). She’s very particular about always being on time.
Bipasha: So much so, I have sent him to places early and he’s roaming around. I’m very edgy about timings.
KSG: Unfortunately, there’s a never-ending fire lit under my behind. For an award show, she sent me 15 minutes before it started and I had to wait in a restaurant! That’s not fair.
Bipasha: See that’s how he makes me laugh so much... By talking baaje-baaje kotha bole (nonsense) all the time. He can understand and talk fluently in Bengali now. He loves the word chulkuni (itching).
KSG: She’s very romantic too. She bought me the best jacket in the world and made dinner for me. She got me this amazing international brand which takes a lot of time to be delivered.
Bipasha: The courier guy gave it to him. It was to be a surprise. His eyes lit up and he didn’t take it off till night, that too he did, because I told him to or he would have kept wearing it (laughs). You don’t know how he is with clothes. I can’t let him destroy the jacket in his sleep. We are very different in that way. He has to use it then and keep using it. He’s like a big kid. Another quirky trait is he’s over-generous.

That’s wonderful...
Bipasha: Not at all! (laughs) My job has increased now!
KSG: That’s why she takes all the money from my account and puts them in fixed deposits. Like hai hi nahin, kya karega abhi?
Bipasha: All his investments are locked straight as it comes. I am all for helping people, but he’s helped a lot of useless people in his entire life. Money for him is nothing. If someone needs it, he gives it away. But he’s changed now a little bit.

Who is the problem solver?
KSG: We don’t have problems, but fights and we get engrossed too much in that, so we take turns.
Bipasha: If there’s a problem or complication including finance or the family, then I solve it.
KSG: And she starts it again by saying, ‘Don’t say sorry. I hate sorry!’ She has no place for a word like sorry in her life so she doesn’t like to use it or hear it.
Bipasha: Sorry was made for people who need excuses in their lives.
KSG: Next time we have an argument instead of saying sorry, I will say ‘I am so Lulu!’ (laughs) I take the big decisions in life, like, ‘Who will go to war with China or Pakistan?’ I have learned this from my father-in-law. He told me, ‘Hamara dono biwi na... fire hai! Tum usske saath thoda thanda rehna. Tum water sign na, aag ke upar paani daal dena. No problem.’ One day, I saw Bipasha and her mom fighting and it was like this tandaav happening! Her dad and I kept looking at each other. His sarcasm and humour is something else.

Do you do stuff without telling each other?
Bipasha: Like work stuff, maybe, but not often. We keep our work separate unless we have deals which come to both of us. That’s the only time we discuss. When he asks me to read scripts or listen to narrations, I say no, because he is a very bad narrator to me!
KSG: You do stuff without telling me? I would like to clear this out. This is her perception of things. Her work is separate. My work goes through her and then comes to me. Somehow everyone who is managing my work first goes to her...
Bipasha: If he’s not answering his phone, they call me to pass on a message.
KSG: Now they don’t call me at all. Any work I do, I always check with her first as she gives good advice. Where scripts are concerned, I come back and tell her all excited and she looks at me and says, ‘I don’t know what you are so excited about but it’s crap!’

Of the two of you, who is more possessive?
Bipasha: I have my moments, but Karan is more possessive between the two of us. He keeps telling me, ‘She’s mine. All mine.’ and he wants me to keep saying it. ‘You are all mine? Only mine’. And I have to say ‘Yes, I am yours. Forever’.
KSG: She is more protective than possessive. Till a few days before our marriage, she couldn’t say the word ‘husband’. She would stammer!

A candid chat with Bipasha Basu about shaadi ke side effects
Shikha Shah (TIMES LIFE; September 18, 2016)