"I almost got dropped from 'Singularity'"

Bipasha Basu, who is making her Hollywood debut with 'Singularity', says she almost got dropped from the project because of her hectic Bollywood schedule which left her with little time to prepare for the period drama.

"Bollywood actors work a lot. I remember I could not fit my dates for 'Singularity'. Roland Joffe (director) wanted me to train for a month and I could get only a week. There was a time when Roland would have dropped me because I was not giving enough time for the preparations," Bipasha told PTI.

"Everyone was in Australia for a month and I was the only one who came in for a week. I came and shot 'Palyers' in Goa and went back to Australia and by that time everyone had learnt how to ride a horse and I had not even started." Bipasha, who is one of the main leads in the movie, plays a Maratha warrior Tulaja Naik in the period drama, set against the backdrop of first Anglo-Maratha war.


'Singularity' will also see the actress doing some of the most dare-devil stunts, which she says were very exhausting. "It was very demanding physically. I had to ride a horse, do a battle scene fighting 50 men and climb the mountain and come back. I would say this film made me very brave. I did everything even though I was not prepared that much."

The 32-year-old actress is currently promoting 'Players',an official remake of Hollywood heist drama 'The Italian Job' and her third outing with Abbas-Mustan after 'Ajnabee' and 'Race'. The film releases on January 6.

Despite bagging the lead role in 'Singularity' and starring in 'The Italian Job' remake, Bipasha does not want to go out of her way to do Hollywood movies.

"I was lucky that 'Singularity' fell into my lap. But it is tough. Freida (Pinto) has been able to do it successfully because she was beginning her career. We are already well settled here (Bollywood). It is very difficult to start and struggle again all over for something that could happen or not."

'The Italian Job' has been remade twice in Hollywood but Bipasha does not fear comparison from the previous movies as she believes the Bollywood version is contemporary and sharper.

"I am not worried about comparisons because this film is way higher. That film was in 1993 and it is 2012. We have kept the basic plot line but have added new sub-plots and twists. It is a complete package," says Bipasha.

The actress, who will be seen doing some perfect con scenes in the movie is happy to reunite with the director duo, who directed her debut film 'Ajnabee'. "You have to be a cool girl or a guy to work with Abbas-Mustan. They know how to use me as an actor.

My character is very dynamic in the film. She is an automobile expert and full time con artist. I get to spend time with lot of machines and men in the movie. "Bipasha will next be seen in 'Jodi Breakers' with R Madhavan.