Bolly divas sizzle in bold avatars

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Shruti Haasan’s movie stills from her upcoming D-Day are already creating a sensation. The sizzling beauty will be playing a sex-worker from Napier Road, Karachi. However, she is not the only one donning the bold avatar. Kangna Ranaut will be seen playing a prostitute in Rajjo. Recently Kareena Kapoor’s stint as a hooker in Talaash was much talked about. Tara Alisha Berry is making her debut as a porn writer’s wife in Mastram and Veena Malik will be seen as streetwalker in her upcoming Zindagi 50-50. While Rekha in Umrao Jaan, Rani Mukerji in Saawariya and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Kareena Kapoor in Chameli, Sushmita Sen in Chingari and many more characters from brothels in the past have ruled our hearts, we ask members of the film fraternity what is it about playing bold and controversial characters that manage to attract much attention?
Neha Dhupia, who sizzled the screen in Julie where she played a call girl, says that the film helped her explore her darker side. “The biggest challenge of playing a call girl is to be able to retain the decency of the character. Julie was a story of a college girl who becomes a prostitute. It was also a very emotional tale about how a college girl becomes a prostitute and then meets the love of her life, played by Priyanshu Chatterjee, who is taken aback when he discovers her profession,” she says. Neha also played a call girl in De Dana Dan.
Suchitra Pillai played a sex worker in Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, Manisha Koirala in Market and Preity Zinta in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. Bipasha Basu’s call girl character in No Entry was bold, straightforward, fearless, yet like any other woman, looking for love and respect.
Casting director Honey Trehan says actresses do not hesitate to embrace a raunchy and layered character from a brothel. “Such characters always arouse curiosity and evoke interest among audience. However, not every actress can be comfortable playing the tricky yet bold role. An actress as versatile as Priyanka Chopra could be a good choice though,” says Trehan.
Actresses are not afraid of portraying sensual characters. A known face down South Tapasee Pannu, who recently made her Bollywood debut with Chasme Baddoor, says, “Such a character has many layers to her. I am open to such challenging roles and won’t mind playing a prostitute.”
Shruti Hasaan, whose upcoming bold act is being most talked about, says that such roles require immense emotional integrity. “It was one of the most challenging roles I have ever done. Such roles cannot be taken lightly. It was a bold choice and I took it up because the script interested me,” says Shruti.
It’s not about accepting the subject but accepting the heroine in that role, says Trehan. “Tabu reportedly said that she visited dance bars to work on her body language and mannerisms for her role in Chandni Bar. And she did a remarkable job. Casting an A-lister in the role of a sex-worker helps create a buzz around the film,” he adds.