"I think and hope that `Jism 2` will be my `Arth`. It is a coincidence that I am at the same stage like my father. Even he had four films like `Naya Daur`, `Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain` and others before `Arth` but none of them did well," Pooja told reporters here last night, at the promotional event of `Jism 2`.
Pooja made her directorial debut in 2004 with John Abraham and Udita Goswami-starrer `Paap`, after which she directed `Holiday`, `Dhokha` and `Kajraa Re`, all bombing at the box office.
"I think somewhere what is special about `Arth` is that finally the lady makes a choice of not to be with the husband and not be with the lover. In `Jism 2`, Izna (Sunny Leone) is a porn star and by the end she makes a choice that redeems her character. So we are talking about choices and that is the similarity between the two movies," she said.
This time the 40-year-old director is hopeful that `Jism 2` will do well, thanks to the trailers and music. "I think I am at a stage where as a director I have got nothing to lose as I have had four flops behind me. I have a brand (`Jism`) about which there is excitement and interest among the public. The film is looking good, music is liked by all," Pooja said.
The Bhatt camp has offered Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone her first break in Bollywood with erotic thriller `Jism 2`. "As the film is about porn star, we did not need to establish the film and the character since it is already there in the people`s eye. I think it is the combination of her (Sunny Leone) persona and the brand `Jism` that the second part looks interesting. If we would have taken Sunny in other film I don`t think the excitement level would have been same," Pooja said.
While the promos seem to convey `Jism 2` as an adult film, Pooja feels being bold does not necessarily mean showing off the skin.
"Bold is not just taking your clothes off, bold also means your actions, your thought process. I was known as bold actress as I lived my life on my own terms. Similarly in `Jism 2`, Sunny is someone who lives her life on her own terms. It was in 2002 when I saw Sunny, that innocent face stuck in my head. I thought she would be perfect but things did not materialise that time," she said.
Actors Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh will play Leone`s love interests in the sequel to the John-Bipasha starrer 2003 hit film `Jism`. "I saw Arunoday Singh in `Yeh Saali Zindagi` and in an ad for a liquor brand. I felt he was perfect for the role of Ayaan in `Jism 2`. We wanted the person to look believable, rooted from North India, and he fits the bill," Pooja said.
"And then began my nightmare of finding Kabir (Randeep Hooda), as it is a very complex role, it not only requires a good looking man but a power house in terms of talent. It was while the editing of `Jannat 2` that I happened to see Randeep`s work. I felt I found Kabir," she added.
Produced by Pooja Bhatt and Dino Morea, the film releases on August 3.