Bipasha may be smug about her position, but detractors have begun to audit her years in the industry. Has she fallen behind in the race against young ‘uns, Deepika and Katrina? “Well, I’m not too surprised with these theories,” she scoffs. “I’ve been written off several times and have come back stronger each time that happened. People who say I have fallen out of the race may want to consider that I don’t want to be part of that race. I’ve said it earlier; I don’t see myself acting all my life. So I don’t need the know-alls to give me a certain time frame in this industry. I’ve given myself a time frame. I’m here only as long as I enjoy going on sets and playing different characters. When it starts feeling like a chore, I’ll stop on my own. I won’t need anyone to tell me.”

So, pitted against the likes of Priyanka or Kareena, does she regard them as adversaries by default? “There’s no need to look at anyone as rivals,” she exclaims. “I don’t have to hang out with actresses just to prove that I get along with them just fine. Priyanka and I have worked together and done several shows together. She’s worked very hard to get to where she is now and I always have respect for that. Kareena and I have gotten to like each other over time, there’s no bad blood. But I have very close friends from outside the industry who I don’t get to spend enough time with, so they take priority whenever I have free time,” she explains.

The hatchet was buried when Bebo invited Bips for Saif’s birthday party last year. But Saif and Bipasha haven’t worked together since. Does she feel she’s lost a friend? “People are reading too much into things,” she protests. “We did Race just last year. You want me to do every film of mine with Saif? Then you’ll ask why I haven’t signed a film with John. It was gracious of Kareena to invite me for the party last year; we understand each other better now. There is no reason to not work with Saif, but we have to be offered films together, no?”

“Moreover, when you are in a relationship you tend to want to spend more time with your partner. It’s only natural. I think Saif and Kareena make a lovely couple, and they look happy. It’s nice to see that,” she adds.

What about her hot property, boyfriend John Abraham, allegedly Bollywood’s busiest actor now? Does that take a toll on their relationship? “We’ve always been busy with our schedules ever since we started dating, so it’s nothing new. I’m glad he’s in a good place right now. He deserves every bit of the success that comes his way. We’re savouring it together, just like we should be,” she says.

Bipasha Basu who is shooting for Ajay Devgan’s home production All the Best in Goa, is very excited. "It’s a No Entry like comedy," she says adding, “It’s been a long time since I did one of these, and it’s going to be great fun.’’

Her career took a ‘serious’ turn because suddenly she was completing Rahul Dholakia’s Lamha (shot in Kashmir) and Sanjay Gupta’s Pankh, a psychological thriller “When I return from Goa, I’ll get into the promotion of Pankh and shooting some commercials,’’ she says. “My character in Pankh is a very radical one; very strong and exciting.’’ Bips has tried out 11 different looks in the film.

The actress also recently performed for a live show with Shah Rukh Khan in Mumbai; and like everyone else who is touched by the Khan, she too is all praise for the Badshah of Bollywood. “Shah Rukh’s energy levels are so high; he is charismatic and he motivates everyone around to give their best shot. I feel those who work with Shah Rukh are lucky because he truly transforms the lives of those around him. His zest is infectious and I’m looking forward to doing a film with him.”

With so much happening in her own career, she is not amused with reports saying that she is the one who actually nixed her boyfriend John Abraham’s pairing with Vidya Balan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Chenab Gandhi. “I don’t even wish to dignify the rumour saying that I’m responsible for John not doing Chenab Gandhi,’’ says the luscious Bipasha, who has till date never interfered in John’s professional decisions.

“Honestly I don’t know why I’m even being asked this question?’’ She points out, “Both John and I are very strong individuals. We’re both totally non-interfering when it comes to each other’s careers.’’ The actress says that even John is not amused that her name has been dragged in here for no fault of hers; and what she totally fails to understand is — why people would indulge in such loose talk, without realising the professional ramifications of it all. “Rumours such as this upset a lot of personal and professional equations,” says Bipasha.