Lara Dutta says she rejected Bipasha Basu’s role in ‘No Entry’

Bollywood actor Lara Dutta Bhupathi, who has a number of noteworthy roles under her belt, is currently seen playing the role of a powerbroker in the web series ‘Ranneeti: Balakot and Beyond’.

During the promotion of the show, Dutta discussed how her decision to work in comedy films altered the way people saw her in the industry. The actor also revealed that Bipasha Basu eventually played one of the two roles she was offered in Anees Bazmee’s ‘No Entry’.

During an interview with a leading media house, Lara discussed the turning point in her profession that altered her course in life.

She shared, “That moment came when I did ‘No Entry’. It gave me the opportunity to first step into the comic genre and maybe realise that it was something I was really good at. It gave me the chance to consciously break away from a certain image.”

“I was offered two roles, one that Bipasha ended up doing and one that I did. I picked the suspicious Punjabi wife as it was very different from who I am. That then set me up for quite a few years for what I did and gave me the opportunity to work with some of the best directors in our industry. It cemented my reputation as an actor,” she further added.

The former Miss Universe revealed that, in order to shatter the stereotype, she was subjected to, she decided to pursue comedy. She expressed that she was subjected to being solely confined to portraying glamorous characters.

She highlighted that a majority of her successful films were a result of her involvement in comedy. She further added that the decision to pursue comedy stemmed from her desire to escape the narrow perception of being associated solely with glamour and instead, embrace her playful and humorous side.