'I pick roles people would want to see'

Priyanka Chopra plays superhero Krrish's lady love in the film. Looking pretty in an aqua dress, she fielded my questions with the practised ease and diplomacy of a Miss World.

She seemed wary and distant at first, but relaxed visibly after she realised that I was not interested in the controversies surrounding her regarding her alleged affair with Akhshay Kumar and her dispute with her former secretary.

Did you feel left out while working with the father-son team?

I did not know the Roshans before I signed the film and it was quite different to be working in a father-son atmosphere. Between the two of them they have literally built the film, but they involved me in all aspects of my character. I have now become very close to them.

What was the most difficult part about doing Krrish?

Watching it for the first time because I was really nervous.

With so many actors, director and producers today being from film families, do you feel like an outsider in the industry?

I thought it would be difficult and sometimes it is. Everybody knows each other well and I do feel like an outsider. But when it comes to my work, the industry has been very welcoming and that is all that matters to me.
 
Don't you worry about being overshadowed in hero-centric films like Krrish and Don and multistarrers like Aitraaz and Salam-e-Ishq?

Commercial success is very important to become a star and reach a point where you can carry a film on your own shoulders. In Aitraaz, I had a pivotal role and some hero-oriented films I have done did not do so well. For the moment I feel, it is more important for me to pick films that reach every household and are commercially successful.

So how do you pick your films?

I look for a role that has enough meat. Krrish is about a superhero but has a lot for me to do too. Similarly Don and Salam-e-Ishq have great characters for me. I want to pick big films with big banners, ones that I feel people would want to watch because they are the kind that I as an audience would like to see. I think I have a good perception of that because I do not have a film background.

Do you feel the pressure of being compared to Zeenat Aman in Farhan Akhtar's version of Don?

I know that people will draw comparisons. Nobody can compare with Zeenat aunty and do the same thing better than her. So I would much rather do it differently. My character is different. I play a martial arts expert so my body language is different. I am not trying to outdo anybody. This is our version of Don for a generation that might have missed the original.

You are a good singer. Why have you not done the playback in any of your movies?

I am very fond of singing and will do something about it later. I have been approached by music directors but I want to establish myself as an actress first.

You are involved in a lot of social work. What is your favourite cause?

The education of the girl child and the welfare of those with thalassemia.

Share with us a memorable moment in Dubai.
 
As Miss India, one of my first shows was in Dubai and I was completely nervous and jittery. Every time I land here, somewhere in my mind I go into a flash of that first show and how nervous I was.

About Priyanka

Priyanka Chopra was surprised to receive a call to participate in the Femina Miss India pageant because her parents had entered her without her knowledge.

All the three winners of the Miss India pageant that year went on to win world titles.

Lara Dutta became Miss Universe 2000, Dia Mirza became Miss Asia-Pacific 2000 and Priyanka was crowned Miss World 2000 making it the first time all three titles went to the same country.

She is the daughter of an army surgeon, was raised in Bareilly, India, and finished her schooling in Boston.

She won the Filmfare award for best debut in 2003 for Andaaz as well as awards for her performance in Aitraaz.

Her hits include Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Bluffmaster.

She has several prestigious projects on hand such as Farhan Akhtar's remake of Don with Shah Rukh Khan, Aapki Khatir with Akhsaye Khanna and multistarrer Salam-e-Ishq.