Doing something different makes acting fun: Priyanka Chopra (Interview)

GURGAON - Priyanka Chopra loves challenges. Doing the same thing every day makes her bored, says the actress who now enjoys numero uno status in Bollywood.

“Doing something different is what makes acting fun. I get bored of doing the same thing every day myself,” Priyanka told IANS in an interview.

“So when you are challenged with something, you want to perform better, you want to do well. And when you get success out of something which is hugely challenging, the satisfaction and gratification is tremendous. I think that has been an ambition for me,” said the actress, who is currently hosting an action-adventure show “Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi 3″, aired on Colors.

The show is shot in Brazil and involves many challenging tasks, including fighting off creepy crawlies, as well as underwater and mid-air stunts.

Priyanka was here at the Kingdom of Dreams to promote her upcoming film “Anjaana Anjaani”, where she has teamed up with Ranbir Kapoor for the first time. It is releasing Sep 24.

Directed by Siddharth Anand, “Anjaana Anjaani” is about two strangers who bump into each other when they are going through the lowest point in their lives, and have gone to the same place to commit suicide.

“With so many suicides happening it is a topic of discussion in India now. The greatest thing about this film, I feel, is that it is the window which shows you shouldn’t do that (commit suicide), you never know when life will turn around.

“Give yourself an opportunity. This message is conveyed in a beautiful way through the film,” she said.

Priyanka says it is flattering to see oneself on top, but she works very hard to be there.

“Being number one is always flattering. I work really hard. I come from nowhere. I come from a very normal middle-class background. I am an army officer’s daughter. It feels great to see where I have reached now. God has given me so much; I feel really blessed,” Priyanka, 28, told IANS.

Priyanka insists her journey to stardom has not been an easy one.

“It is definitely difficult when you arrive in the film industry without knowing anyone. There is nobody coming to you and saying ‘ok, I am making a film for you’. When people don’t like your work, you are written off. However, at the end you are only known by the work you do,” she said.

Priyanka made her Bollywood debut with the Sunny Deol-Preity Zinta starrer “Hero: Love Story of A Spy” in 2003 and won her first Filmfare Award for best female debut in “Andaaz”, starring Akshay Kumar and Lara Dutta, that released the same year. After that there was no looking back for the former Miss World.

With her films like “Aitraaz”, which won her the Filmfare award for best villain, “Muzhse Shaadi Karogi”, “Dostana”, “Don” and “Kaminey”, she proved she could not be taken lightly.

She played 12 different roles in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “What’s Your Rashee?” opposite Harman Baweja. Although the film did not do well, her acting was largely appreciated.

Her performance as a struggling model, who goes on to make it big in the fashion world at the cost of her ethics in Madhur Bhandarkar’s 2008 film “Fashion”, won her a National Award.

(Priyanka Sharma can be contacted at priyanka.s@ians.in)