Priyanka Chopra has earned her place in Bollywood, from doing challenging roles in films like ‘Barfi!’ to making her way into global space with her TV show ‘Quantico’. Piggy Chops has carved a path of success and her recent release, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ is also earning her a lot of accolades. PeeCee opens up about playing a supporting but vital role of Kashibai in the film, her production plans and ‘Jai Gangajal’…
On working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali
I am Sanjay sir’s biggest fan. I believe a lot in his cinema. Whatever he wants me to do in his films, I am always willing to do it, as you have seen it since ‘Ram-Leela’. Sanjay sir is such a director who likes to throw a googly and I am such an actress who likes to hit a sixer, so our combination is really great.
On the success of Kashibai
There has been a lot of detailing on my look and the credit goes to the entire team, I cannot take that. My contribution to the character has been that of understanding Kashibai’s thinking and portraying it as realistically as possible. Sanjay sir used to give me the freedom during filming. Portraying the character was difficult for me because Kashi continued to love the man who has done wrong with her. I am not that large-hearted. I would tell my husband a bye, if he were to fall in love with someone else. But as an actor it is my responsibility to portray the character, even if I don’t agree with it.
On doing supporting roles in Bollywood
At the beginning of my career I had heard this, ‘there are no small roles, there are only small actors’. And I am not a small actor, I strongly believe in my capabilities. I feel that a role is never small or big, the work has to be respected and given your 100 percent to it. There are billions and billions of people who want to become actors, but it is we who get the opportunity to play the roles on celluloid. Our faces are etched and I feel a lot of pride in that. No work is small.
On box office numbers
I am not the producer of ‘Bajirao Mastani’ so I don’t get into numbers. I am an artiste, so I work when they shout ‘action’, and am also there to promote the film. After that it is not my responsibility.
On being a producer
I cannot be a director because the job has got many responsibilities. I have started my production house titled Purple Pebble Pictures. And I want to work with new talent, give a push to new writers. I also want to promote regional cinema. I am working on three regional movies and two Hindi films. I will soon make an announcements but trust me, getting a foothold is very difficult.
On her character in Jai Gangajal
Are all army officers the same? Abha is a character, she is a person and her speciality is that she doesn’t become a man when she wears the uniform. She still wears a ‘bindi’ and does not need to abuse. Abha is also honest and straight forward. I wouldn’t compare her to other inspectors, because I think you cannot generalise with a job.