When Pooja Bhat, director of 'Jism 2', insisted on an A certificate, she was clear in her conscience. She wanted an erotica flick designed for people who respond from their hearts more than from their heads. And it seems she has succeeded in making a film that people don’t dare to even approach in Bollywood.
“In the world where people are changing, our questions can’t remain the same and cinema has to change as well. We must progress with the world and we can’t be steeped in time. That’s how my latest erotica flick came about,” says Pooja.
This film, according to her, is for aam aadhmi and is not for the elite. “It is not for intellectuals. It is a film that provokes thoughts, especially men who have distinct world views,” says Pooja, adding,“My writing comes from my father’s (Mahesh Bhat) art. The film will see his touch that you miss as it has got that sparkling peg with intellectuality and emotions within. It is as understandable to a man who is an auto driver to the ladies in chiffon sarees, who watch films in Gold cinema. That was more important for me to bridge.”
'Jism 2' needed a new energy and India needed a new fantasy and that’s why Pooja brought in a Porn star, Sunny Leone as the leading lady, she explains. “Bipasha was a diva in the first part of Jism who used her sexuality in almost a celestial manner, which I think was one dimension of the film. Woman cannot be seen as only sexual predators. You can also be a prostitute or porn star, yet have the honesty and innocence on the face. That’s part of Sunny’s appeal. When she came into our living room through Big Boss, kids were responding. People were charmed by her natural appeal.
What I wanted post 'Jism' was a woman who is sensual, who had a persona yet had that vulnerable quality to her face. I wanted someone who looks like you need to protect her and Sunny evokes that feeling,” says Pooja.
Pooja has not followed the tried and tested route to cast the characters.
“We have done that before with John Abraham who plays Kabir in the first part though we had well wishers who had come and told my father not to cast him as he can’t act. But my father did not care if John knew acting or not but he wanted him for his film. John was in Jism and rest became history. How we acted on our instinct with John is exactly the way we have done with Sunny Leone, Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh,” says Pooja.
Another aspect that Pooja has ensured in the film is to state that sensuality is not a male domain. “Randeep has been considered as a serious actor. Nobody has cast him as a male animal, who can look hot as well. Men in my film will not be a regular bimboy beef cake. In Hindi movies, either you act or you bare a six pack. But my characters have six packs and six packs in their brain as well. That’s refreshing. We women have as much right to see as much eye candy as brain candy with men out there,” she explains.
With Pooja being honest about her previous films failing miserably at the box office, will 'Jism 2' be a game changer for her?
“I come from a filmy family. My father had mentioned this to me very long ago ‘If there is a death in the family, do you pick up or does your neighbour pick up the body? The answer is, we pick the body ourselves’. He had told that I should not hide behind people when my films failed. I think what people forget is while Jism is a brand which comes from the idealities of Mahesh Bhat, it is a natural progression and something for me and my persona to take forward. It doesn’t lie to you, it is honest and is open,” she says.
Her film is all about sensuality, which is something that will remain for long in the minds of people after they watch the film, she says. “'Jism 2' will linger and remain with you much after you have left the film.
The backbone is the story. My film is not a sensual fest as it has more than that. I am not apologetic about the sensuality.
I think it is completely a new genre. It is high time Indians indulge to aesthetic sensual encounters and not see sex as a bad word. My father kept telling me ‘Bad people have sex, good people fall in love’. He wants to see that change in me too,” she says.