"I am 20," and this PYT already thinks that she is aging gracefully. Does she ever stop and think how that makes fourtysomethings feel?

"Oh don't take me too seriously. I am just joking." Flashes of a sense of humour -- perhaps Bipasha knows how charming she looks when she breaks into a smile.

Will bringing up the name of Bangalore hunk, Dino Morea, wipe that smile off her face? Wasn't she seeing him -- particularly during the "scandalous" Calida underwear ads?

"He is my best friend, and that's it."

Come on, the old `we are just friends' line doesn't work here.

"We did have this on and off thing, but now it's off."

Enough about the love life, what about her career? She had been in the news about a possible debut in a film opposite Abhishek Bachchan. What happened to that?

"Yes, I was meant to be in J P Dutta's Aakhri Moghul, but that got shelved."

As did her film career -- why isn't she in Dutta's next project, Refugee?

"I was offered arole in it but there so many stars in the film that I did not think it would be right platform for a debut. I am sure his film will be a hit and may be I will get another chance to work with J P Dutta." No sour grapes here.

But other than that experience, this Bengali beauty seems to have had it easy ever since she won the Ford Super model contest 18 months ago?

"Not at all. Breaking into modelling is really hard. I only had problems to start with. It is so difficult breaking into the clique."

Does that mean that she is at loggerheads with the other models or does she have friends in the industry?

"Now I do. With time they come to accept you. And hat's off to Noyonika Chatterjee -- she is one model who will help any new girl." Or maybe it was the Bengali connection.

Does that mean that Bipasha is now at home in the city?

She is totally happy here and her parents are also moving down to be with her.

Why are they moving from Calcutta to Mumbai, don't they trust her?

"Myelder sister is getting married and now they want to be with me." And since Bipasha is always on the phone to her mother -- as she tends to get very homesick -- it will probably cut down on their phone bills too.

What does she enjoy most about being a model?

"Actually I am little bored of it now. But I do like to travel, and now when I go anywhere, after the shoot or show, I stay on to see the place."

What is it about travelling that appeals to her the most?

"I must admit I am a bit of a shopaholic. I spend the first two days shopping and then I like to see all the sights. But I just love clothes." Finally, Bipasha sounds like a young girl who loves the good things in life.

Does she share the same passion for shoes and make-up?

"I am not into make-up." That's because she knows she looks great without lipstick, powder and paint. "And shoes, I am not into them at all. Look at what I am wearing," she says pointing to her worn-out black shoes. "My feet are just huge and ugly." Abeauty acknowledging her flaws -- a rare commodity indeed.

Bipasha seems to have a firm head on her shoulders -- so has she made any plans for the future?

"I would like to finish my studies and my mom wants me to start something with her." A family girl to the core.

Right now, Bipasha doesn't think beyond her next meal.

She loves to eat even though you wouldn't think so by looking at her. "I love food especially biryani, I can just eat and eat biryani. But I can't cook myself."

How on earth does she stay slim?

"I am not slim. I have just started to work-out as I want to loose six or seven kg." She doesn't need the gym, she needs to visit an optician if she thinks she is fat!

And what is this Bengali babe most likely to say?

"Rubbish, everything is rubbish."

And least likely to say?

"I try not to use the word hate as it is a very strong word."