Priyanka Chopra is on cloud nine. She
has had a remarkable 2015- Dil Dhadakne Do and Bajirao Mastani, and Quantico- and she is back for few days from the FBI thriller shoot in
Montreal.
Spotboye caught up with the actress for an interview in a Juhu 5-star. No winding questions about how she bagged Bajirao. Excerpts from the straight-up conversation that followed:
Did you expect that Bajirao Mastani will be so well-received?
I knew that the film's story is really special. I am a huge fan of Sanjay sir (Bhansali) and I believe in his cinema. But I hadn’t expected such overwhelming love lying in store for me. My house looks like a garden right now – I have received so many bouquets. When I landed in India and reached home, I thought it was my birthday (laughs). It’s wonderful because as an artiste, you want applause- and nothing else.
And you almost left the film. After shooting for 2 days, you said it was very tough to play Kashibai...
(Laughs) No, no, that was because it started taking me 4 hours to get ready every day. I am not one of those girls who is too interested in make-up, lipstick and stuff. I am one who is usually in jeans and jackets. So the costume drama part of it was very difficult for me. The jewellery was heavy, getting the hair right was a task – Sanjay sir didn’t want any curling iron or any electronic equipment to be used. So my hairstylist had to curl my hair everyday, my make-up artist had to make my bindi and sindoor everyday. Besides, I had to work on my accent too. While we were speaking in Hindi, it was important to have that Marathi lilt. Plus, Kashi’s scenes were such that they were emotionally heart-breaking for me (pauses).
Go on...
What happened to me in the film has been happening with women since time immemorial. Sirf aaj itna hai that we have a voice. Today, we can tell the guy that if you have fallen in love with somebody else, you are free to walk out of this relationship. At least, that’s what I would say. If I am in love with someone and he falls in love with someone else, I’ll set him free. I think it’s wrong to hold someone back. So here, I had to play a character who accepts that her man has fallen in love with someone else (Mastani)- and at the same time, I had to bring dignity to the character. It wasn't easy for me- neither in letter nor in spirit.
Your dance with Deepika (Padukone) drew a lot of comparisons on social media...
Trust me, there was no competition on the sets. Deepika and I are very good friends. Whenever two heroines come together, comparisons always happen.
Your show Quantico is picking up on ratings...
I have been told that it’s the leading English speaking TV show in India. So I am thrilled to know that an English show has got so much acceptance in India. I fought a lot and made sure that it airs almost simultaneously in India as in America. I remember telling ABC (Quantico producers) that it has to air as close as possible – usually, shows come here 6 months after they have aired in the US.
Did ABC agree easily?
Yeah, it released only one week apart. I had laid down many rules and regulations with ABC but they very sweetly accepted all of them. I was very clear about the kind of role that I wanted. I told them that I have always been leads in my movies, so I didn’t want to play a role that wasn’t as important. I also told them that I didn’t want to play a character that furthers the Indian stereotype. So they agreed to all my conditions and I am very happy about that. The show has been dubbed in 44 languages, it goes to 120 territories around the world, and now it has been extended to 22 episodes instead of the original 13 – so I am very happy about the success. Yes, it takes a lot of my time and it is exhausting- but I am very happy.
How much have you sacrificed for this? You must have turned down many Bollywood films in order to accommodate the shuttling between India and America...
I used to do 4 films a year earlier, which is anyway a lot. Now, I do 2 films a year because I have to give half of my time to America. But I am a Bollywood actress first. So, it breaks my heart to say 'No' to Bollywood films. I will do Hindi movies as long as the audience wants to see me. Bollywood is my first love. I love the films we make, the dances, the stories – all of it. So as an artiste, I want to break the boundaries and do as much as I can. I try to balance both the worlds, and I think I have sacrificed my sleep the most.
The talking point in the industry is gender equality. Many of your colleagues have come out in the open and said that it’s time that actresses got paid on par with the actors. What’s your take on it?
You can’t take away from the credit of the heroes also who stand there and bring in that kind of money. The industry is flourishing because these actors are there on the posters and people flock in hordes to watch them.
But yes, the disparity is huge – I have always said that. This is not just an Indian issue, it’s a global issue. Jennifer Lawrence recently spoke about it. Women have been treated like second-class citizens for eons now. I am a very vocal feminist and I do believe in equality. But I think this will take time.
Producers feel that when a female-led film will make Rs 300 crore, then actresses will get paid as much as actors. I think so far, only one female-led film has made Rs 100 crore – Tanu Weds Manu Returns. We are doing more films like Piku, Mary Kom, Kahaani, Queen – which are female-led successful films. So, there is a change. The gap is bridging. We are taking baby steps.
You have surpassed many of your male counterparts as far as Hollywood is concerned. You’ve made it big there...
(Laughs) I was never competing with either the heroes or heroines. I have never competed with anybody. My career path has been solitary. I always set benchmarks for myself and tried to outdo myself. My career can’t be affected by someone else’s success or failure.
Many of them go there to prove a point and can't establish themselves...
But I didn’t go there to prove a point. I was making my music and doing my Bollywood films--- and this opportunity (Quantico) came my way from nowhere.
Have you got film offers in Hollywood that you turned down in the last one year?
Yes, many, since the past 4 years. But I am not interested unless it’s on my terms.
What is happening to your production house which you announced with fanfare?
I am travelling so much up and down. I have spread myself so thin that I am finding it difficult. But my team is developing scripts. I want to produce Hindi films and regional films, both.
Any chance that you revive your co-production with Madhur Bhandarkar, Madamji?
I don’t think so because I don’t have the time yet. But it’s a film that is very close to my heart.
So, why didn’t it work out?
Madamji needs at least 70 days at a stretch. But I can only shoot like this now – thoda idhar, thoda udhar. So Madhur and I decided to make it only when we both can spare time together.
Your bold shower scene in Quantico is a talking point. Was it easy to do that?
Bold scenes are never easy, they are uncomfortable and awkward. You feel uncomfortable because you have 300 people standing there and watching you. You feel awkward because you don’t know your co-actor. But have you seen Hindi films of late? Toh maine aisa koi teer nahi mara hai (laughs). It’s not very different from what we do in Hindi films these days is it?
When are you shifting to your new house in Juhu?
My house has been ready for 9 months
but I haven’t spent a single night there. My mother insists that I should spend
some time in my new place before I head back to Montreal (in the first week of
January). So, my bag and baggage is being moved. Jaldi ho jayega I hope.
Thumbnail Image Source: Eonline & twitter/priyankachopra