'I'm not into married men' Priyanka

Winning the Miss World crown was just the stepping-stone into Bollywood for Priyanka Chopra. The road there on was anything but rosy. From being thrown out of several films to being called unlucky as a couple of her earlier films were stalled, Priyanka has surely come a long way. To say that things are hunky dory for her today would be an understatement. But it will always be questioned whether her status today is all thanks to her easy chemistry with the hunk brigade. If earlier it was Akshay Kumar, with whom she sizzled on screen, it's Hrithik now whom she steams up the screen with.

Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka share a healthy chemistry while Shah Rukh Khan is impressed after working with her in Don and she's firmly entrenched into the SRK camp. Will Priyanka get her due credit, we attempt to find out? "See, I don't care what people have to say. I know it has not been easy for me to get where I am. I don't think there are any free meals here or people recommend your name for a film just because you are friendly with them. I am proud of myself, and at the same time I don't let it get to my head."

So how does she explain her being the constant source of linkups, from Akshay Kumar to Hrithik to SRK to Abhishek? "It's funny, isn't it?" she laughs. "You draw a connection? Even Abhishek is married now. Why is it that people think I have a thing for married men? I don't. Or is there a serious dearth of eligible men to link me up with?," she says in a tongue-in-cheek manner. What about the seriously flirtatious vibes with Hrithik on a TV chat show recently? "See, Hrithik is a dear friend, we get along well and that showed on the show. There is nothing more to it.

I am not interested in anything more with him. Why can't people just accept that and let it be?" she asks agitatedly. And SRK? How has she managed to find a foothold into his close-knit circle of friends? She's one of the few actresses seen at all his house parties? "Well, now you are telling me that's a crime?" she laughs. "As it is I attend very few parties, you wont see me socialising much. I usually like being in the company of friends and going to their places or having them over at mine. Shah Rukh is an amazing person, there is so much to learn from him. I don't see any problem with that. If people do, it's their problem."

So what's the status quo on her man, Harman Baweja? "Is it necessary that this interview has to be about men and not me?" she quips evading the question. So we get to her work front. How smart is it to openly proclaim that she's without work after Drona and God Tussi Great Ho. "Well, I was just being honest while saying that," she accepts. "I haven't ever planned my career. I don't believe in saying things for effect or calculating my moves. I am happy to sit at home till I get the work I want to do. There is no compromise as far as work is concerned." And given her current position, there's no need to either!

Deccan Chronicle