'Jism is an experiment that worked'

Jism has done the trick.

The trade has declared it a money spinner. The film scored over Aishwarya Rai's home production Dil Ka Rishta. Though DKR has performed well overseas, Jism has done well in India.

Producer Pooja Bhatt is ecstatic. Says she, "According to every trade magazine, it is the first genuine hit of 2003. Jism has held on and found its audience. There was a drop in collections a couple of days after its release. That was because the chavanni class who walked in expecting cheap sex went home disappointed. So it dipped marginally only to pick up again. Now it is doing well all over even in Punjab."

"What worked for the film," adds Pooja, "is its budget. Here was this small film made on a budget of Rs 3 crore that was pitted against a big budget, lavish, huge film like Dil Ka Rishta. It still worked. It is not just Jism's success I am happy about."

"Jism will give rise to similar projects made on smaller budgets. It is the first film I  produced that made money. The others fetched me awards but Jism is the only film that fetched me returns."

Is it celebration time for Pooja? "I am giving Jism one more week. Then I am off to work on my next film. My next production will be directed by Amit Saxena [who also directed Jism]."

Pooja plans to go location hunting in Moscow. She also wants to direct a film. "I think I am ready for it. About time, ya," she smiles.

"There are two ideas we are working on," she continues. "One is a love story, the other a thriller."

Why doesn't she direct the love story? "Deep down, I'm a die hard romantic. I believe love conquers all. But that is my philosophy. Bipasha Basu in Jism is different. She is a woman who is confident of her sexuality and knows how to use it."

What about the furore over the bold scenes in Jism? "Everytime there is something new, people criticise it. Jism is an experiment that worked. Anything new is never accepted. They go, 'Oh, how can it work? Is the Indian middle class ready for it?'

"There were more women in the theatre in Punjab than men. In Rajasthan, there was not one catcall or whistle during the lovemaking scene. People realised Jism is a film, not a skin flick."