Savita Bhabhi, the pornographic cartoon character, first made her appearance in webcomics that sensationalised the nation, and then was on the tentative agenda of many a filmmaker. But apart from an animated version, it seemed as if her entry into mainstream cinema wouldn’t materalise. But it’s going to take shape now, even if a slightly Barbie-fied version of her.
Model-turned-actress Gehana Vasisth who comes from Chhatisgarh and is known predominantly for her work in Tollywood, will play the character in a Hindi flick that is likely to cause more than a few ripples. She won’t be playing a ‘bhabhi’ per se, but an inspired character who is closer in age to her. “The filmmakers wanted to unveil me officially as the face of the project at the International Film Fest in Goa last month,” says Gehana and adds, “But I couldn’t make it.
Even then the announcement made waves and I woke up to a furor online the next morning — but I was calm. Someone like Shah Rukh Khan did a movie with steamy scenes like Maya Memsaab early in his career and so did Katrina Kaif in Boom. Why can’t I follow in their stead? I’ll be known as ‘Savita Barbie’ for some time, but the novelty will wear off,” she says, with considerable maturity.
Gehana, 21, who first shot to fame when she won the Miss Asia Bikini title a couple of years ago, has studied to be an engineer and wanted to become a scientist. “But modelling offers came thick and fast whilst I was in college, and movies happened suddenly,” she says. She reveals that she plays a single woman in the film and it is scheduled for release by April next year.
She is quite practical in acknowledging that any publicity, be if favourable or controversial, is welcome for a newbie like herself in the film industry. “My friends and family members are okay with this, even excited. My mom is a doctor and was pretty shocked when the news broke, but has taken it in her stride. This should pave the way for me to act in more films down south. I’m also getting some offers in Tamil and Malayalam cinema that should materialise soon”, says the star. The die-hard SRK fan adds that working with the Badshaah of Bollywood is her dream, but in real life she would love to date a south Indian! “They are definitely hotter than men up north. I’m recently single and ‘Savita Barbie’ would love to have a boyfriend soon,” she adds with a laugh.
