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."