With Freida Pinto rumored to star in the next James Bond film (has this been confirmed yet?), I got to thinking, even though she seems to still be cashing in on her 15 minutes of fame born by Slumdog Millionaire's success, there are much much better Indian actresses that could not only handle 007 in the bedroom, but also in the field. Here's my thoughts on who would make some kick ass Bond ladies.
#5 Riya Sen - Okay, admittedly I haven't actually seen any of Riya's movies, but one of the components to being a bond girl is the hotness factor, and Riya Sen totally fits that qualification in my books. I see her as a Wai Lin kind of character (Tomorrow Never Dies), smart, quick and a love interest. Also, if Denise Richards can play a bond girl, almost anyone can, don't you think?
#4 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - I can take or leave Aishwarya if I'm being totally honest, but I loved her character in Dhoom 2. She was gorgeous, of course, but she was also a chick with attitude, fearless and cunning, doing whatever it took to get what she wanted in the end. All that and a soft side. I totally see her doing a Vesper Lynd kind of role (Casino Royale) - double agent that falls for the man she's suppose to hate. Perfection.
#3 Kangana Ranaut - Kangs is what I would term a "serious" actress, or at least anything I've seen her in would qualify her as one. She's the type that really gets into her role, almost losing herself I think, and often plays tragic heroines. I can totally see her playing something like Live and Let Die's Solitaire, the virgin psychic who is employed, and abused, by Dr. Kananga (seriously, that's him name. Fate, na?).
#2 Kareena Kapoor - I haven't always liked Kareena. Often I've found her characters spoiled, self centered, but she has definitely grown on me as an actress and I think she would be the perfect candidate to play a role like Elektra King (The World is Not Enough). She can be soft and sweet one moment, completely ego maniacal the next, and you never know what her motivations are until she reveals them. I can totally see her playing the tortured and scared kidnap victim, succumbing (so it seems) to Bond's love and then playing everyone for the fool. Now that I think of it, can someone please just write this screenplay now!
#1 Bipasha Basu
Bips definitely has the yowza factor and I consider her to be probably the most sexiest female actress today. She manipulated her way through Race (well, almost), was fierce as the super ambitious model in Bachna Ae Haseeno, and knows how to wield a gun and looks good doing it in Dhoom 2. Not only could she hold her own to the infamous ladies man, but I think she'd probably end up turning the tables on him. She could easily slip into a role like Xenia Zirgavna Onatopp from Goldeneye. James, Don't even try to start something with her. She's got a workout vid and can probably kick your ass!
Who do you think could slip into the shoes of a Bond babe?
May 29, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Great potential Bond girls! Looks like Freida missed out though. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2951768/bio
May 29, 2010 at 12:53 PM
I love your choices (gorgeous pics too), especially Bipasha - I think she would be an absolutely terrific Bond girl. Riya Sen too.
I am not really a Piggy Chops fan, but I think Priyanka would make a pretty good Bond girl too. Maybe Lara Dutta as well.
May 29, 2010 at 1:26 PM
I don't know...having seen Aishwarya in far too many non-Indian flicks, I don't think I could stomach her as a Bond girl. She's not a great actress, and while she's very pretty, I don't think she has the personality for it. I actually think her turn in Dhoom 2 prooved that, at least for me. Her character in that was so vapid and weak that I fast forwarded through a lot of her scenes. If I had to pick someone from this list to be a Bond girl, I'd go with Kangana. From outside that list I'd pick Mahi Gill, who showed more pluck and fire in Dev D than any of the girls on that list have ever shown in their entire careers. Being a Bond girl isn't entirely about looks!
I'd actually probably go with someone like Tabu; she's a bit older than your picks but then again so was Michelle Yeoh when she starred in Tomorrow Never Dies. She was dynamite in that.
Sigh. I think about this way too much. I just don't think anyone on that list has the heft. I think my dream pick for a Bond girl would be Bai Ling, but that's just me!
:)
-Melissa
May 29, 2010 at 1:30 PM
@Mezamashii - Hi! Actually, even though she missed out on Quantum of Solace, she's signed on for the next one that comes out summer 2011 to be set in Afghanistan. Here's the link I found for a recent article: http://www.merinews.com/article/freida-pinto-becomes-bond-girl-signs-next-bond-film/15801783.shtml
Thanks for stopping by! I see you're in Edmonton (I'm in Red Deer). Are you a Bollywood fan?
@Daddy's Girl - I thought about Priyanka, but I don't quite think she has got that "edge" that Bond girls generally need. I've was very disappointed with Lara in Blue (though, to be fair, I was disappointed with the entire movie).
May 29, 2010 at 1:36 PM
@Melissa - The one advantage of not seeing an exorbant amount of Hindi films I guess is having more open mind about actresses (I haven't really seen that many of Aish's films, not in the scheme of things). I have Dev.D, but haven't seen yet. I've heard good things about Mahi Gill.
I absolutely think being a Bond girl is about more than looks. I think attitude, passion, intelligence rank just as high. There are lots of beautiful women I left off of this list (and none of them fall into my top 5 overall actresses list I posted a bit ago).
I thought about putting older actresses on here, and actually Tabe did cross my mind, as I really liked Michelle Yeoh a lot in TND. If I expanded my list to include any actresses it would be very different.
May 29, 2010 at 1:40 PM
I think the problem with Aish in non-Bollywood films is that she's just terribly wooden. Mistress of Spices, Provoked, Bride and Prejudice, that weird Colin Firth movie...she was the same in all of them. I don't dislike her; I thought she was wonderful in Guru, KK, Devdas, etc., but she doesn't have a lot of range when it comes to her expressions, and she's definitely a director's actor.
I love your lists, in any case! They always make for fun conversations. :)
May 29, 2010 at 1:52 PM
@Melissa - The only non-Bollywood films I've seen Aish in was Bride & Prejudice and Pink Panther 2. Neither left an impression of any kind on me, but that's why I can take or leave her.
Yes, I love all the conversations on here. That's the entire purpose of blogging isn't it?
May 29, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Love your post! I would definitely propose Priyanka Chopra. She looks great in Don! I also like Kangna and Bipasha :)
May 29, 2010 at 9:56 PM
May 30, 2010 at 5:38 AM
RIYA SEN!!!! I adore her! I'd add Sophie Chaudhary to the list - the girl has oopmh!
http://filmigirl.blogspot.com/2009/09/sophie-chaudhary-september-fhm-shoot.html
May 30, 2010 at 9:24 AM
After watching Dasavatharam, I think Mallika may work!
May 30, 2010 at 4:46 PM
May 30, 2010 at 4:48 PM
Blue was a terrible film - watched the first 10 minutes then felt my brain start to go numb, so stopped. I firmly believe that Lara is much better than that, though, although to be fair she really hasn't done many good films.
Have to say I love Bombay Talkies' suggestion of Mahie Gill, and tBf's suggestion of Sameera Reddy. Mallika is an interesting proposition as well - I think she could pull it off....
May 30, 2010 at 4:56 PM
Oh, wow! Lots of conversation going on here! I love it!
What a cool idea for a list, and what a great list it is! I don't really know which Indian actress would be a good Bond girl... Mahie Gill was one of the only things I liked about Dev D, and it'd be cool to see her take on some sort of badass role. =) Tabu... I love her, but I don't know. I admit, I thought of her instantly when I first saw this, but now I'm not so sure. I haven't seen anything of Riya Sen's, but she sure has the looks for it!
May 30, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Great post and choice of "Bond Girls".
I think Priyanka is an over rated actress and am glad to see that she is not one of your choices in this list.
Speaking of Ash in non hindi films, I personally liked her acting in Provoked - it was natural. I haven't seen her other
English movies listed by Melissa.
See her in the tamil film Iruvar her first film - she was good for the very first movie. It is a Mani Ratnam movie and very well made and focuses on the two lead protoganists in the political realm of Tamil Nadu. BTW, it is not an Ash movie lest people think it is. She is one of the characters.
May 30, 2010 at 7:16 PM
I share your desire for a Kareena script! That's an awesome idea, but I'd switch it up a little so that she was playing the Vesper-type role--one that actually requires acting chops in addition to beauty.
May 30, 2010 at 7:58 PM
@Sonia - Thanks for stopping by. I thought Pri was just okay really in Don. I haven't seen her in anything that would qualify her in my books as a Bond girl. Mallika could have potential though.
@tbf - Sameera Reddy, or Celina Jaitley and Katrina Kaif all crossed my mind actually. Might I ask what Bips did to tarnish India? Must have been something big that I missed?
@Filmigirl - Haven't seen Sophie in anything, but she definitely looks like she could pull of a femme fatale kind of character. The picture of Riya I posted is so stunning, I can't just see it translate to spectacular Bond girl!
May 30, 2010 at 8:08 PM
@Daddy's Girl - I had such a hard time watching Blue. The only thing I remember about the whole movie was Chiggy Wiggy and Fiqrana at the end. I couldn't even tell you what the story was. Total rubbish.
Mallika certainly has the sex appeal. I've never actually seen her act though I don't think, so have to reserve complete judgement.
May 30, 2010 at 11:42 PM
YES!!!! Bips all the way!!!!
May 31, 2010 at 7:51 AM
I think tBf might be referring to the Cristiano Ronaldo kiss thing... lots of stories about it online.
I keep coming back to this post to look at the pretty pictures - you did a good job picking them out - I love the Bipasha one.
May 31, 2010 at 2:36 PM
@rhilex - Isn't it fun to come up with lists! I get excited when it spurs so much conversation, and it doesn't help when there's so many great actresses out there.
@Filmbuff - Generally I agree with you about Priyanka. She's one of those actresses that I can watch fine, but I wouldn't rush out and see something just because she was in it, but actresses really have to work hard to win me over.
@ajnabi - I can certainly see Kareena in something like the Vesper role, but any kind of double role where she plays both sides would be fantastic.
@Tady - I think Bipasha got ripped off in Dhoom 2, where we only got to see a little bit of the edgy cop (I would have preferred just that role to the bikini wearing twin sister). Anyway it would be fantastic to see a whole movie where she's insanely strong
@Daddy's Girl - Why have I never heard of this Cristiano Ronaldo kiss. Am going to have to look it up online.
As for the pics, aren't they gorgeous! I love them all. Could have really done without the watch though in the pic of Aish. Must have been maybe for an ad campaign? Come back as much as you want!!!
June 1, 2010 at 12:14 AM
YES!!! I completely agree...total rip-off...i can't wait to see her do a good strong female role... {crosses fingers}
June 1, 2010 at 9:45 PM
Bips is my first choice but would also like to add Shilpa Shetty & Isha Koppikar.
I did a remake wish with them three here
http://apunbindaas.blogspot.com/2009/11/nickis-wish-forget-charlies-angels.html
June 13, 2010 at 2:05 PM
BIPS BIPS BIPS all the way :D
June 14, 2010 at 7:28 AM
@Nicki - I could totally see all three of them doing a remake of that film! What a great idea. Shilpa I think could seriously whip James butt right into shape. She's a woman I don't think many men would have the courage to try anything with. Good suggestion.
@Pitu - It seems Bips is the clear winner! Do I know my gals or what!?
November 26, 2010 at 7:34 PM
I think it's long overdue for an Indian Bond girl. I would love to see an Indian girl like Bipasha or Frieda Pinto as a sexy Indian intelligence agent help Bond fight the villains and also help Bond in the bedroom! I am a white American guy and I think Indian girls are the most beautiful girls in the world!
Peace,
William Grove
November 27, 2010 at 10:21 AM
Namaste William aur swagat hai! I totally agree! We're starting to see a lot of Indian integration into American film and tv, and a beautiful Indian woman would be awesome as a bond girl! There are so many wonderful actresses to choose from, I almost don't care who it is (almost!)
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