Bipasha Basu’s cheque didn’t come on time

Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Gulshan and Grover performed at the South Asian Carnival on August 15. Bipasha was to be part of the package but she stayed back in London as her cheque didn’t arrive. This was a part of a two-day, extravagant fun fair in Chicago to celebrate India’s Independence Day for people to see their favorite stars and get their autographs and pictures too. Bipasha, who reached Mumbai a couple of days back and is currently shooting in Kadaikudi for Priyadarshan’s film opposite Ajay Devgan, says, “Yes, I didn’t go for the Independence Day Carnival in Chicago. The money didn’t come on time so instead of going to US, I stayed back in London to spend time with John (Abraham) and shooting for Harpers Bazaar.” The actress is very clear about the stance she had to take vis-a-vis her trip to Chicago.

Katrina, Saif, Kareena were holidaying there but I had to take a nine-hour flight to Chicago. I didn’t want to fly without any confirmation. They were willing to pay me part of my entire remuneration. The organisers (Cineyug’s Morani brothers) told me to take a chance and fly down from London (where Bipasha was) to Chicago. They said they would try to see what they could do depending on the crowd turnout but I flatly refused.I couldn’t afford to take a chance and fly all the way down without getting my full amount.” So she stayed back in London “chilling with John and shopping for bath and kitchen accessories at Heels, John Lewis and Selfridges for my new home in Khar.” Morani says, “Frankly, the overseas business is handled by Karim and Aly and I really don’t have knowledge of this.” Despite repeated text messages and calls Karim and Aly remained unavailable for comment.

For Priyadarshan’s film which is based on honour killings, Bipasha dons “a simple, deglam, realistic and very traditional Bengali look though I play a Bihari girl. “I am clad in simple cotton sarees, with bindi, hair in a bun. I play a housewife and am growing my hair for the role. It’s quite a defined one and I am very excited to be playing it,” says the Bengali actress, who has Rituparno Ghosh’s Shab Charitro Kalponik, Sanjay Gupta’s Pankh and Ajay Devgan’s All The Best coming up as her next releases.