Bipasha Basu

Bipasha Basu (Bengali: বিপাশা বসু; born 7 January 1979)is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996.

Early life

Basu was born on 7 January 1979 in New Delhi to a Bengali Hindu family. She is the middle child of three daughters: she has an elder sister named Bidisha and a younger named Vijayeta. Basu's family later moved to Kolkata shortly before she entered middle school.

In an interview, she has stated that she had initially planned to study medicine, but entered modelling and acting by accident.

Basu studied science till the 12th standard at Bhavan's Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir and then studied commerce at The Bhawanipur Gujarati Education Society College, an undergraduate college affiliated with the University of Calcutta.

In Kolkata, she did modelling and ramp shows part-time. When she was 17, she met model Mehr Jessia in Kolkata; the latter suggested that Basu take part in the Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest. Basu participated, and eventually won the contest.

Personal life

Basu was in a relationship with actor John Abraham from 2002 to 2011. While together, the two were often referred to as a supercouple in the Indian media She previously dated Bollywood actor Dino Morea.

In 2006, Basu claimed to have been harassed by certain organizers of the India Day Parade in Edison, New Jersey. Basu was initially scheduled to lead the parade on 13 August 2006.

She eventually appeared on stage late, according to her, because of the harassment. She said, "I wanted to attend the parade, but I could not." She explained that she was harassed physically and mentally in the car by two people who were taking her to the parade.

In 2005 and 2007, UK magazine Eastern Eye named Basu the "Sexiest Woman in Asia".