Tripping on Stripping

In the past week alone, Poonam Pandey has finally begun work on her Bollywood debut, after a succession of threats to pose nude if the Indian cricket team reaches new zeniths, which never happened. Veena Malik, of Bigg Boss infamy, has sent signals that she is willing to pose nude for Playboy if the dosh is good. i.e. $ 1 million dollars. (her FHM cover shoot, in which she appeared topless, recently ruffled many a feather); and Paoli Dam has become a B-grade star on the rise in Bollywood with Hate Story hitting newer ebbs in the perennial skin fest bankrolled by the Bhatts.

What is the big hurry, one might ask, for this sudden rush to drop your clothes? The reasons are three-fold: for one, with films like LSD, The Dirty Picture and Ragini MMS, breaking new ground with how much is permissible on screen has become easier. The market for this sort of film has therefore increased manifold; come to think of it, it always existed in the DVD market, but there is a decided kink, it seems, in seeing these films on screen. Thirdly, within the Bollywood kitty of leading heroines not many are even willing to go to the extent Vidya Balan went to in 'Dirty Picture', a tour de force that won her the National Award.

The result: there is a gold rush amongst aspirants in the Bermuda triangle of aspiration that lies between the nodal points of Yari Road, Oshiwara and Malad. While a Kareena Kapoor will have reservations about wearing a bikini even for her beau's home production, those on the perennial periphery have not much to lose, and everything to gain, if you hit the odd jackpot.

Here's a look at three women who've been in the news for their desire to bare all. Sorry for not including Sunny Leone; she's engaging the same process, albeit in reverse with roles in Ragini MMS 2 and Jism 2.

Veena Malik to go nude for Playboy on Page 2>>