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Sushmita Sen, who is 30-plus, believes that this is the best time for a woman to be with herself. Taking herself as an example, the former Miss Universe says, “I have never had this kind of space for myself because I have always been in relationships. But today, I am opening up to life like never before.”

This, of course, is Sushmita’s announcement of singledom since her relationship with Manav Menon is over and her alleged link-up with manager Bunty Sajdeh is a nonevent. “Manav and I remain great friends, of course.” says Sushmita defensively. “And as for Bunty, he is my manager and people had better get used to the idea of him escorting me around. Just because I put my arms across any man’s shoulders does not mean I am seeing him. Leave Bunty alone, he has a wonderful girlfriend.”

So, is she saying that there is no time or place for love in her life right now? “No, no, of course I have all the time for love, but no time for commitment. If I have somebody in my life, I will introduce him with dignity. If you are going to list the men in my life, and I have a record of that, then you might well as get your facts right. Otherwise it’s not fair.” Sushmita is aware that her name fuels news and controversies. She’s been variously called a thinking man’s actress, a home-breaker and a man-eater among other things. But she’s unperturbed by these sobriquets. “Man-eater,”she asks in amazement, “What people say is their choice, what I accept is my problem. I believe in discounting such stuff because if I let it affect me, then somewhere down the line I’ll start believing it. But soon, I will upset everything, including people’s perceptions and opinions.”

On the professional front, Sushmita Sen is all set to return to the screen this month end with Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. She plays a widow called Durga in the movie. “It’s every actor’s dream to be a part of a classic. But I have always been pestering Ramu because I wanted to work with him. When he narrated the subject to me, I just stared blankly at him. But he convinced me, and here I am.”

There’s a new man in Sushmita Sen’s universe if reports are to be believed. And the name’s Amit, Amit Sajdeh, aka Bunty Sachdev, more famous as fashion designer Seema Khan’s (who is married to actor Sohail Khan) brother. But the plot thickens. Bunty is also supposedly engaged to Mumbai businessman Shashi Chaddha’s daughter Neha. So, who is this Bunty’s Babli – Sushmita or Neha?

“I really don’t want to comment on my personal life. Neha’s not part of the industry. She’s in Spain right now and she doesn’t like all this. Anyway, why would people want to read about Neha and me? We are nobodies! I am known for the people I manage due to my work,” exclaims Bunty, who handles athlete and celebrity endorsements for tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi’s company.

And what about Sushmita then? “I have been travelling extensively with Sushmita of late and people have been getting the wrong idea. I manage her endorsement deals and she really trusts me with her work. But I’m definitely not involved with her. We are very good friends and I have known her for many years and we work very well together,” says the 29-year-old who was earlier romantically associated with actresses Dia Mirza and Neha Dhupia. “I have been linked with half the women I have worked with! I was seeing Dia for a good two-and-half years and contrary to reports, Neha (Dhupia) didn’t come between Dia and me,” he explains.

Bunty’s parents, Arun and Kiran Sajdeh, shuttle between Jakarta, Indonesia and Mumbai and are in the garment export business.

Sushmita Sen is looking slim ‘n’ svelte for all the wrong reasons. “I first had a viral infection and then I had a relapse. But I am feeling better now. However, it sure did my mind good – lying in bed, I thought about how my life was going. That’s when I decided to work harder and with serious passion. I am a person full of energy and lying in bed really doesn’t suit me. In fact it was more challenging than a role,” Sush says.

However, now she has another viral patient in the family. “Renee is now down with viral,” she says, looking a tad worried. Talking about her eight-year-old daughter brings out the proud mother in Sush. “She is a very understanding human being. It is not easy being Sushmita Sen’s daughter. There have been times when other kids in the school say that she is adopted and she does not have an ‘original’ mommy. But she turns around and says, ‘I am so cool. You all were born from the stomach and I was born from the heart.’ I am sure these things must have hurt her, but she is a very mature and brave girl,” she says.

And does Renee have any comments on her star mother? “Always! For instance, she hated Vaastu Shastra. She said I looked very bad in the film and I should not do such movies. And the way she loves cartoons, you may see me as a cartoon character in a film soon,” Sush laughs.

Cartoon characters apart, what does Sushmita’s film kitty look like? “There are loads of films. I will be seen in Durga’s shoes in RGV’s Aag. And then there is Dulha Mil Gaya, in which I play Shimmer. This character is just like me, only her name is different. I have never looked so glamorous,” she says.

And then, she is off to do her dream role. “Next year, I will be in China shooting Rani Lakshmibai. I have cribbed about so many roles – either the scene was not right or my lines were not good. As I didn’t want anybody to mess with this role, I decided to produce it myself. I have done thorough homework on her and I am fascinated by what I learnt. The film will be ready by 2009,” she explains.

Sushmita Sen’s motto, ‘Doing it my way’, has seen her through many ups and downs. Yet the former beauty queen continues to live life on her terms. We recently cornered her and the usually outspoken Sush shared selective memories about her life, love and work.

How’s life looking to you?
I’m very…

How pregnant is that pause?
When you’re talking to a lady, you know how pregnant the pause can be. I’m right now in a very relaxed state of mind. I’m very content with life.

How are things between you and Manav Menon these days?
I’m in love with life.

That isn’t quite what’s asked.
Let me tell you a joke about Harry and Sally. They share a perfect relationship. They go out for dinner twice a week. Harry goes on Mondays and Fridays. Sally goes out on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Does that answer your question?

You just had a tumultuous time shooting in the West Indies…
Tumultuous… no. But definitely titanic. I’m so in love with my director Mudassar Aziz’s work. I went to Trinidad 13 years ago, almost as a child, and now I went as woman. It was one of the many countries I had visited as Miss Universe. As a state guest of Trinidad I had signed in the log book along with Mrs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

I believe at times the fan attention got a bit too much?
The Caribbean is warm in every which way. The people are very friendly. At times like this, having my own space doesn’t matter. The people just overwhelm you with their warmth.

You went on a Caribbean cruise. How was the experience?
My crew didn’t give me a single day to cruise. We had Sundays off. But everything is shut on Sundays in Trinidad. I asked my unit to change the off-day. We shot so much on the beaches, they felt like home.

Did you get into a bikini?
I’m sure you’d like the answer to be yes. And it is yes… but with a sarong. On the beach you’ve to wear a suitable attire. I’m happy to tell you that I’m not wearing a gown on the beach. I feel Dulha Mil Gaya retains a sense of humour while telling a story. After so many years, I finally have a film that I can watch as a member of the audience. I’ve never played a character like Shimmer. It’s my first full-on comedy.

Sushmita Sen, we hear, likes to drive fast cars. Though she has a driver at her disposal, the sensuous lady loves getting behind the wheel and driving around the city. “She loves driving and when she was dating Randeep Hooda, she was often seen driving the car while he enjoyed the drive. And even when she’s alone she likes to drive herself,” says a friend of the star. Now that’s interesting news for filmmakers who are on the look out for a female Michael Schumacher, what say?

The battle has begun. This time, it’s between Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai. Both are ready to play Rani Lakshmibai. While Ash has already announced her film with Ketan Mehta last year, Sushmita Sen decided to produce a film on the same subject early this year. Speaking for the first time about her project, she says, “Why should I shelve my film because Ash is playing Lakshmibai too, in Ketan Mehta’s film? She will do it in her own way and I wish her all the best.”

Sushmita is planning to produce the film under her banner, Tantra. “Yes, I am doing this film based on the life of Rani Lakshmibai, but I don’t want to start the project in a hurry. It’s my dream project and I want to be sure about it,” she says. The buzz goes that Sushmita wants her boyfriend ad-filmmaker Manav Menon to direct the film. “It’s too early to talk about the director. I am keeping my options open, although I am certain that either my director or the director of photography will be from Hollywood,” she says.

The only film on Rani Lakshmibai was made in 1952, by Shorab Modi, where Mehtab played the role of the brave queen. Later Zee TV started a project titled Rani Lakshmibai with Hema Malini, but it was shelved. In 1999, Hema Malini produced a TV Jhansi Ki Rani, which was directed by Ravi Chopra. Marathi actress Varsha Usgaonkar played the lead in the serial. “Re-creating the era will be difficult, but not impossible. I also intend to train in horse riding and sword fighting,” she says. However, Sushmita’s Lakshmibai will be filmed from a different perspective. “My film will be based purely from the perspective of Lakshmibai as a mother,” says Sushmita. “She fought her battle as much as a mother as a queen. She didn’t want the British to kill her adopted son, Damodar Rao, and she succeeded in her mission.”

Considering the fact that Rani Lakshmibai died when she was just 22 years old, how come these two, much older actresses are getting ready to play the role? “We are actors by profession and we are well within our rights to take cinematic liberties, at least for another ten years,” she smiles. Incidentally, Sushmita and Rani Lakshmibai share the same birthday, that is November 19. “There is nothing called coincidence in my vocabulary,” says Sushmita. “Everything happens for a cause.”

In an earlier interview Aishwarya Rai had said, “I would love to play the role of Rani Lakshmibai because I see her as a a woman of strength, courage and affection.”

So, ad-filmmmaker Manav Menon is the new man in your life?
I reserve the right to speak about this one gentleman in my life… The only information I am willing to share with you is that I am very happy now. Touch wood.

Apparently Manav travelled with you all through your world tour
Perhaps he was. I refuse to answer this question (laughs).

Where did you meet Manav Menon the first time?
Hmm… I met him the first time during the shoot of an ad-film. Manav seemed very interesting, and promising. Later on we interacted some more, and that’s how our friendship grew.

Was it love at first sight?
Ha, ha, ha… We aren’t talking about a teenybopper film here, are we?

Are you serious about Manav?
Serious in what sense? Manav is my friend and I am happy to have him as my friend.

Do you see yourself married soon? Do you believe in the institution of marriage?
I do believe in the institution of marriage. However, marriage will be a sudden event in my life, for sure. It will be sudden, not because I am impulsive, but because I expect a lot from a relationship. The day I feel that I have found my ideal man, I’ll go for it with my eyes shut. Until then I will keep my eyes wide open.

You admit that Manav is important in your life, yet you don’t want to talk about him
I would love to talk about him. But we don’t know our future yet…

Your photograph with Manav has not yet appeared in print
Manav is a private person and doesn’t like being photographed. I am a public figure, and with Randeep it was different issue because he is also an actor. But with Manav, the situation is completely different. He has his own issues, why drag someone else into trouble? In fact, recently a photographer stood outside his office the whole day to take his picture. Now that’s insane. If someone doesn’t want to be photographed, why can’t he exercise his democratic right?

However, you have always been willing to talk about your private life?
Absolutely. To deny the existence of a person in your life, according to me, is an insult to the person. The fact that I have moved on from my relationship with Randeep Hooda is no big secret. I only wait until I am absolutely sure of my feelings. I have no problem in admitting to relationships beginning or ending. However, if my talking disturbs another human being and his equations with others in life, then I can only talk about my own feelings… Right now, I am happy, very happy.

How difficult is it for you to end a relationship?
It’s really difficult. Relationships are like habits in your life, after a point you get used to them. The scary part is that you don’t realise at what point in time love turns into a habit. In fact, there comes a time when there is no love, just a habit.

So Randeep became habit in your life?
Randeep will always remain a habit… a good habit. (Laughs) I have often said that there is a childishness in Randeep which I love. I have really enjoyed the relationship with Randeep, because I have never dated anyone younger than him. He always kept me on my toes. ‘Sush, let’s play football, let’s do this, let’s do that…’ He is very alive. But then we grow out of relationships because we need different things in life. There is a certain impatience in him which is beautiful, but if I start imbibing that impatience, I’d be in trouble. On the other hand, I cannot expect him to have the kind of patience that age and experience has built, in me. It would not let him live life the way he wants to.

So you feel bad about moving on?
Randeep is still important to me. It’s never easy to end a relationship. My relationships, be it with the man in my life or my friends I meet, they are very important to me. So every time a break-up takes place, it really hurts. Randeep helped me to understand the childlike side of myself. I had started behaving all grown up, when he came along and fixed it. He made me see myself as a child again. Then I realised that I was becoming too much of a child, so we parted. I think the parting is a good thing for both of us.

Does your public image bother you?
No. If my public image changes on the basis of my personal relationships is an image I am happy to live without. All this doesn’t matter to me anyway. I love being who I am.

Recently your exboyfriend Vikram Bhatt claimed that Ankahee was based on his relationship with you. But you have always refrained from commenting on this issue
When I heard that Vikram is making a film on our relationship and his equation with his wife, I didn’t want to comment on the issue, I didn’t want to stop the project either. He had a relationship with me and I thought that as a director he has the right to incorporate some instances in his film.

Are you on talking terms with Vikram Bhatt?
I would love to talk to him, but it has been years since we spoke to each other.

Unlike the rest, she prefers to let her work do all the talking, yet there is something about Sushmita Sen that strikes you. The actor is planning her trip to Pakistan in September with sister Neelam to raise funds for Imran Khan’s cancer hospital. No wonder she is looking forward to meeting former cricketer. Sush is also busy wrapping up the schedule for Rocking Meera and is awaiting the release of Karma, Confession and Holi. She is also all set to sign projects with filmmakers like David Dhawan and Boney Kapoor. This year, the actor has about six films on floor. “It’s been a long journey and today, I look forward to performances which will be pathbreaking. You can now say, Sushmita has come of age,” she laughs. After her Pak trip Sush will fly to Argentina to shoot for The Expat, with Hollywood actor Richard Gere.

Sushmita Sen could not contain her excitement when she saw her little daughter perform on stage at Shiamak Davar’s summer camp held at college in Mumbai recently. The actor was seen whistling and clapping at the event. Sushmita says effusively, “I am proud of her. She is learning at such a young age. I can’t get over the energy and was tired of clapping. It was wonderful to see my little Renee performing Kajra re. For a while I thought she has grown so much in a couple of years.” Renee’s instructor Shiamak Davar too is proud of her performance. “She performed gracefully. She can’t express herself like Aishwarya did in the song from the film as she is only a kid. But Sush seemed to be extremely happy with what Renee did on stage. She didn’t show any signs of stage fright,” says Shiamak Davar who is taking personal interest in grooming all the kids attending the summer camp. Well, looks like Renee too believes in excelling in whatever she does. We resort to the old saying ‘like mother, like daughter’ to describe her feat, what say you, folks!