In times when actresses make headlines even if they don bikinis for a shoot, Bipasha Basu and Mandira Bedi decided to do away with even the bare minimum. While the former posed topless on the cover of Maxim, the latter followed it up in the latest issue of Vogue. While the jury is out on whether the photos are aesthetic or vulgar, one
can’t help but wonder, what exactly has made Bollywood shed its inhibitions and clothes alike, almost overnight— is it Western influences or a well-timed publicity stunt?
Bollywood photographer Dabboo Ratnani, however, believes that the change is not sudden at all. “It’s been happening in India for a very long time now. And I strongly believe that if it were just models and not prominent personalities, it wouldn’t have made so much noise.”
But the photographer who has also shot a topless Bipasha for his 2011 calendar adds, “I feel people are getting more comfortable in their skin and Bipasha and Mandira can pull this off with a lot of class, without making it vulgar.” Dabboo entirely rubbishes comments that define the bold moves as “publicity stunts”.