"No plans of settling down
at the moment. But when I do... Mr. Right has to match a lot of
my parameters... He has to be someone who knows how to make me
feel special... make me feel like I'm walking on air...,"
said Priyanka, who turned 27 Saturday.
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: Having had two hits in 2008 - "Fashion"
and "Dostana" - along with several awards... how do
you look back at your past year?
A: I feel like I'm 20 years into my career because
I've done so much work in such a short time. When I look back,
it's been only five-six years since I've been here. I've never
received any formal training in acting or cinema nor do I belong
to a film family; so for me, the biggest achievement is that my
hard work and my family's support have led me to the place I'm
in today. I take great pride in that.
Q: How would you review your performance in Bollywood
ever since you made your debut with "Andaaz" in 2003?
A: I think I was a terrible actress when I started
off as compared to what I'm today. I still have a lot to learn,
but I believe that I've grown as an actress and I evolve constantly.
I always had the hunger to learn and become better at what I do
- just like a sponge, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible.
Q: Your forthcoming movies are "Kaminey"
and "What's Your Rashee?" and "Pyaar Impossible".
Which one are you more excited about and why?
A: I have different feelings for different films.
I'm very excited about "Kaminey" because it's pathbreaking
cinema. On the other hand, I'm equally nervous and excited about
"What's Your Rashee?" because it was a huge challenge
for me. I play 12 different characters in it, something that hasn't
really been done in Indian cinema before and the fact that I'll
be a part of history in the making is very scary.
"Pyaar Impossible" is a sweet, cool
story where I have a glamorous look and contemporary character.
As cliched as it sounds... each one is special...
Q: In "Kaminey" you play a de-glamourised
role opposite Shahid Kapoor. Were you sceptical about the look
because you were seen in ultra-glam roles in "Fashion"
and "Dostana"?
A: Let's put this into context. I chose the role
not because she was de-glamourised. I chose it because of the
way the character is etched out and not how she looks. That's
incidental. With most of my films, especially the most recent
ones... I have taken up roles that are interesting and different
from what I've done before.
Q: You have always been silent about controversies
related to your personal and professional life - why?
A: Because I firmly believe that all aspects
of my life are for public consumption. I learnt early in my career
that speculation, rumours and gossip come with the job... a professional
hazard. But I'd much rather approach it with dignified silence
than to engage in ugly mud-slinging.
Q: What about your multiple link-ups and break-ups
news - don't they disturb you?
A: They definitely do because eventually I'm
a girl and have a family - a father, a mother, a brother. It does
bother me, but I don't believe in clarifying the rumours. It just
gives it undue importance. As long as my family knows what the
truth is, that's all that matters. The rest doesn't!
Q: Any plans of settling down in the near future?
What sort of a guy would you want as a companion?
A: No plans of settling down at the moment. But
when I do... Mr. Right has to match a lot of my parameters...
He has to be someone who knows how to make me feel special...
make me feel like I'm walking on air... He has to be somebody
who loves me for who I am and takes pride in being with me. He
also has to be honest and be able to speak well... make me laugh...
all in all, somebody who really really loves me.
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