Bidita Bag mistaken for a Naxalite; escapes riot!

Even as actress Bidita Bag is preparing for the release of her first Bollywood film From Sydney With Love this week, she is all shaken by memories of a recent village attack, where she witnessed the fury of a mob who mistook her for being a Maoist or a Naxalite. 

While renowned filmmaker Prakash Jha, who is directing his next movie Chakravyuh on Naxalites, has stated that he has met them over the years, Bidita went through a terrifying experience of a more dangerous kind on the sets of a Bengali film called Chokher Pani - Tears of Nandigram! 

Recalling her horror, the actress says, I was shooting for this Bengali film in the sensitive Nandigram village in West Bengal some time ago, when a group of very unruly people thought that the unit comprised of armed Naxalites.  

The villagers started shouting - Yeh log film shooting ke naam par logon ko hathiyaar chalane ki training de rahein hain (These people are providing combat arms training in the garb of a film shoot). Before we could explain anything, a wild rumour spread and suddenly a mob emerged and started attacking the unit members,  recalls Bidita. 
The actress remembers seeing agitated people chase others with swords and even burning nearby houses in a mindless riot, as she ran and hid inside a rice field to save her life! 

Bidita's publicist Dale Bhagwagar adds, the actress told him, she was too shaken, witnessing such animalistic violence and that even the local police and media termed her a Maoist. Bidita felt helpless and traumatized in the village. But luckily for the unit members, she did not give up shooting for the film,  he remarks. 

As the situation calmed down, the actress is reported to have completed the shooting schedule under police protection and safety assurances by The Rapid Action Force (RAF); the specialized wing of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

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Kangna-Deepika comparisons hound newcomer Bidita Bag!

Having modeled for many successful brands and campaigns, spunk-chick Bidita Bag, who is all set to make her Bollywood debut this week with the comedy From Sydney With Love, is in a quandary.

The reason: This Bong beauty is continuously being compared to more established heroines namely Kangna Ranaut and Deepika Padukone. In fact, she has been getting a lot of film offers that have gone to Kangna earlier.

`It's amusing how some filmmakers have been thinking of me as some kind of replacement to Kangna Ranaut, ` she happily giggles. `I've been offered at least half-a-dozen movies by makers who say I fit the bill for a 'Kangana-type-of-role' - whatever that means!`

As if this isn't enough, some makers tell Bidita, she looks and even sounds like Deepika Padukone; so much so that if she would dub for Deepika, no one might come to know - another comparison that the debutante has to live with, at least for now.

And while the girl takes these links with a pinch of salt, Bidita does assert that she wishes to `carve a completely original identity` for herself, even if she agrees to a Deepika or Kangna-kind-of-role. Lol. Looking at her performance in the promos of From Sydney With Love, we do believe that the actress is versatile.

For the record, her movie's release will clash with none other than Jism 2; the debut vehicle of international porn sensation Sunny Leone. But Bidita smiles and shrugs it off. `I don't fear Sunny Leone. Apart from my looks and acting capabilities, I have inner beauty, ` she remarks with confidence.

When compared to the mass appeal Sunny's cleavage carries, Bidita reacts, A little bit of concealing is any day more erotic than showing everything, isn't it?

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Bidita bags Bollywood film through Facebook

Model turned actor Bidita Bag, who has worked in critically acclaimed Bengali film `Ichhe`, will soon make her Bollywood debut in the film `From Sydney with Love`.

On a promotional event of the film in the city on Wednesday, the director of the film, Prateek Chakravorty, said that he cast Bidita Bag from Facebook.

Prateek Chakravorty, who is the grandson of late director and producer Pramod Chakravorty, said that he would love to continue with his grandfather`s legacy.

Prateek, along with giving direction in the film, has acted in the film too.

Prateek, who assisted Bollywood filmmaker Vipul Shah in few films, said that he initially cast someone else to play his role in the film, but due to visa problems the actor missed the chance and instead he himself acted in the film.

Speaking about his character, he added: `There are certain similarities between me and the character that I am portraying in the film.`

The Bong actress said: `The film `From Sydney with Love` is a romantic comedy. I am playing the role of a girl named Meghna Banerjee, who lives in Bolpur. After earning a scholarship from a university of Australia she moves in to Australia.`

`In Australia she encounters three young men, portrayed by Prateek Chakravorty, Karan Sagoo and Sharad Malhotra. The story unfolds around the relationship between these four people.`

Music of the film has been composed by Sohail Sen. Singers like Mohit Chauhan, Mika Singh and Monali Thakur have lent their voices for the songs in the film.

The film has been shot in India and Australia.

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Starlet ATTACKS Sunny Leone!

Newcomer Bidita Bag who makes her debut as the female lead in the upcoming comedy From Sydney With Love releasing in the first week of August, gets furious when asked about her film clashing with the release of pornstar Sunny Leone’s sizzling debut Jism 2.

When questioned about the clash, Bidita, who has modeled for many successful brands and campaigns, fumes, “What can Sunny show in the film that she hasn’t already shown to the world?

On the contrary, I have a lot to show, that too with my jism covered. Subtle sensuality is far more explosive than raw sexuality.” “Moreover, Sunny is not even the topmost pornstar in the world! So what’s the fuss all about, ” Bidita reacts with a wink, adding that we can consider keeping that off the record (that makes it our turn to wink this time).

Such stinging statements from this new spunk-chick in town are sure to ruffle a few feathers! Wonder is how the fiery Ms Leone will react to the ‘insult’!

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