Bipasha Basu recently revealed that she received warnings against starring in the 2003 film Jism. According to Basu, many people cautioned her against taking on the role because of the film's mature content. Despite the advice, she chose to proceed with the project, a decision that ultimately proved to be a turning point in her career.

In an exclusive interview, Basu stated that during that time in her career, she was at her peak, and everyone told her that she could not do a film with adult content. However, she liked the story. The film, directed by Amit Saxena and produced by Vishesh Films, was theatrically released on January 17, 2003. The erotic thriller featured Basu as Sonia Khanna and John Abraham in his film debut.

Basu's decision to move forward with Jism was met with disbelief from some. She said that everybody stopped her from doing it and that her manager thought that she had gone crazy.

Jism explored themes of lust, deception, and unchecked desire. The film generated significant buzz upon its release because of its bold content. While some critics lauded the film for pushing boundaries and tackling adult themes, others felt that it relied too heavily on titillation. Despite the mixed reviews, Jism was a commercial success.

The film's success had a transformative impact on Basu's career, and on Bollywood in general. She stated that it worked for her and then things changed. Women suddenly started tonging their hair and wore a bronze look. There was no stereotypical (thing) that the woman can't play the negative character. According to Basu, it all changed after that, and it has been path-breaking for her, making it a very important film.

Jism is often remembered as one of the most daring erotic thrillers in Bollywood history, and its success paved the way for more adult-oriented fare in the industry. The film earned Basu a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role. The film also cemented Basu's status as a sex symbol.

The film is about Kabir, an unhappy, alcoholic lawyer, who meets Sonia Khanna, the wife of a millionaire. They begin an affair, and Sonia convinces Kabir to murder her husband and make it look like an accident so that she can inherit all his property.

The music of Jism, composed by M.M. Kreem, also garnered attention, particularly the song "Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai".

Bipasha Basu's career began with Ajnabee in 2001, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She is known for her roles in films such as Raaz, No Entry, Phir Hera Pheri, Corporate, Dhoom 2, Race, and Bachna Ae Haseeno. She has also appeared in horror films such as Raaz 3D, Aatma, Creature 3D, and Alone. Bipasha Basu married actor Karan Singh Grover in 2016, and they have one child.