Bruna: “Indians like my sexy, voluptuous look”

The small screen just got hotter. After Canadian import Mia on MTV, hot Brazilian babe Bruna is going to take over Channel [V]. She is the same sizzling scorcher who swivelled to the item number Rehem karein in the Anubhav Sinha film Cash.

Born and brought up in Porto Alegre in Brazil, modelling happened to Bruna when she participated in the summer girl contest in South Brazil. But she wasn’t happy. “Back there in Brazil, they have a preference for a different look... they like blondies more,” Bruna tells t2 in broken English.

Bruna started globetrotting five years ago. She went to Japan, to Thailand, to Indonesia, to Philippines in the hope of becoming a model but nowhere did she find enough space. Finally when she was almost giving up modelling, she thought of making a quick trip to India. “That was two years back and I haven’t gone back to Brazil since,” laughs Bruna.

So what clicked in India? “I look very Indian and they like the sexy, voluptuous look here,” is the candid confession. The hottie has been not only walking the ramp but also modelling for reputed brands. “I have walked for the Lakme Fashion Week, I have modelled for the Kingfisher calendar, I have shot for Clinic All-Clear,” Bruna rattles off the impressive list.

While all this proved to be quite easy for the Brazilian babe, shooting for a Bollywood item number was as difficult as it gets. “I had to memorise the whole Hindi song and I have no clue about Hindi,” Bruna admits. “It was not easy at all. Since I actually sing the song on screen, I couldn’t cheat or fake it. At the same time I had to dance to the song. I did the song because I wanted to learn. I am not sure whether I would take up another such project again.”

What Bruna has actually taken up, though, is to be the new VJ on television. She will host the new Channel [V] show India’s Hottest. People who think they are hot enough need to just send in their snaps to Bruna. The hottest pictures will get featured on air with 12 pictures showcased everyday. Viewers can vote for their favourite pictures by logging onto the [V] website or simply voting via SMS. In the end there will be one girl and one guy crowned ‘India’s Hottest’ and given the cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

“It’s fun,” giggles Bruna. “I love giving compliments to people and here I have to just bring the hottest participants on air. The rest is up to the audience. It’s quite simple for me really.”

So how does one know whether he or she is hot enough? “Well, for me, being hot is being yourself,” Bruna whispers. “You have to have the confidence in yourself and the attitude. You don’t have to sing or dance.”

And who are on Bruna’s hot list? “In Hollywood, I find Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz to be the hottest. While here in Bollywood it has to be Hrithik Roshan and Bipasha Basu.”

Bruna herself ain’t so lukewarm either. As Amar K. Deb, head honcho of Channel [V] sums up: “We apologise for adding to the already existing global warming threat. With Bruna making things hotter we hope we don’t receive any complaints from Rajendra Pachauri.”

So if you want Bruna in your bedroom, er drawing room, catch India’s Hottest every week Monday to Friday, 7pm on Channel [V].

(Who is the hottest VJ on television? Tell t2@abpmail.com)