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"I've turned down films with the Khans"
She has a habit of running away with the raves. Her short but sprightly career is full of hosannas from the critics. Even though Parineeti Chopra hasn't worked with big league heroes yet, she's firmly etched a place on the movie marquee. Her fans like to call her the hero of her films. Why not? She has a habit of getting the best out of her characters and stories. No wonder then the crme de la crme of B-town want a whiff of her magic. But Parineeti isn't jumping onto the proverbial bandwagon. She's hell bent on doing her own thing. š It's worked in her favour thus far. Movies like Shuddh Desi Romance and Hasee Toh Phasee have only added to her repertoire and reputation. Her next hatke endeavour will see her selling shoes in Hyderabad as Gullu in Habib Faisal's Daawat-e-Ishq with Aditya Roy Kapur. Like always, Parineeti doesn?t give two hoots about dieticians, fitness regimens and watch what you eat' diktats. Untamed and unapologetic she waxes eloquent about Lucknowi food much before she talks showbiz and gossip. This leading lady does have a totally different vibe...
Q. Did you have a gastronomic adventure in Lucknow?
I'd been to Lucknow when we shot Ishaqzaade, so I knew the best places where one could eat. Anupam (Kher) sir has lived in Lucknow for many years. So he knew all about the food there as well. Anupam sir and I used to order food for Aditya (Roy Kapur) from a new place every day. We would eat Tunde ke kebab every day. We also had a lot of Nalli-Kulcha. And let's not talk about the desserts. Daawat-e-Ishq was a fun film to make.
Q. Daawat-e-Ishq is your second film with Habib Faisal. Is he a comfortable director to work with?
I've done two films with two directors - Manish Sharma (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl and Shuddh Desi Romance) and Habib sir (Ishaqzaade and ). My rapport with them has grown. During the first film it takes 10-15 days to understand a director's method. But now that we're familiar I can understand what they mean on the first go. I'm close to both directors personally too and that helps. When you're not in a formal sort of relationship, you can work with ease.
Q. This is the first time you're working with Aditya Roy Kapur. Did you hit it off instantly?
I had already met Aditya at parties. I became a fan after Aashiqui 2. When I met him for the film I told him, "I'm a huge fan of yours," and pat came his reply, "I too am a huge fan of yours". (Laughs) We became friends in five minutes.
Q. So what are the chances of the newspapers alleging a link-up between Aditya and you?
I never had a link-up with any of my heroes. Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput, Sidharth Malhotra and now Aditya...
Q. Why?
You guys have a problem when there's a link-up. You guys still have a problem when there is none. It's not my fault that I don't have an affair with anyone. I'm just friends with all my co-stars.
Q. Isn't it normal for a girl your age to have a boyfriend?
Yes. But most of them have girlfriends and my friendship with them is thick. I can't think that way about any of them.
Q. What about the never-ending rumours about you and director Maneesh Sharma?
The link-up with Maneesh Sharma is the one and only rumour about me. I want it to end. I'm bored. (Laughs) I need to think up of a new name. What do I do? I am trying my best.
Q. It is said that you were snowed with South film offers during the schedule of Daawat-e-Ishq in Hyderabad.
I got three-four offers for Tamil and Telugu films. I won't be able to do them because I don't have the dates. I can't name those films because someone else will be doing them.
Q. It's believed that you can't reach the top until you've worked with the Khans - Shah Rukh, Salman or Aamir. Do you agree?
I don't. I've turned down many films with the Khans. I didn't do those films because I had nothing to do in them. They were the hero's films. Had I done them, I would've been in the big league. But right now, I want to work in films where I have enough to do and show how well I can act.
Q. Do offers with A-list heroes dry up when an actress becomes the hero of her films?
There's no such thing. Our industry has so many great actresses. Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Vidya Balan and Deepika Padukone are top performers. Vidya has worked with Amitabh Bachchan (Paa) and she's just worked with Farhan Akhtar (Shaadi Ke Side Effects).
Q. Which of the current heroines are doing the kind of work you'd want to do?
Deepika was good in Cocktail. I like all her films. Priyanka (Chopra) was good in Barfi! I also liked Vidya Balan in Kahaani. I love all of Kareena Kapoor Khan's films. Katrina Kaif has done Dhoom and Ek Tha Tiger. Every actress has done different work. But there's no actress I'd like to follow.
Q. Between Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor and Ileana D'Cruz, who do you consider your fiercest competitor?
All of them. All of us are considered for the same type of films. We're all competing with each other.
Q. Who do you think is on top?
If you look at the successes of last year, then it has to be Deepika. But then a new person gets to the top every Friday. You have no hesitation praising another actress! Actresses may not praise each other but I say it in the open. Why not? I'm not insecure. šš¼
Q. Do you enjoy being a star?
I'm enjoying the financial independence. I don't come from a rich family. I always wanted to earn a lot so I could be comfortable. I like that now I can buy what I want. I can do so much more for my parents and siblings. I like it when people recognise me when I travel out of the city and the country. I get to meet successful and powerful people. I can talk to them over the phone.
Q. You kissed in Shuddh Desi Romance and Ishaqzaade. Did your family object?
Parents will feel awkward when they see their daughter kissing. But the story of Ishaqzaade was such that I'm being raped and so it was necessary to show it. Shuddh Desi Romance was about hormonal love " what happens when people get attracted. So it was necessary to show kissing in the film. But I won't do it if a director tries to sell me a kissing scene to increase his business.
Q. Who manages your finances?
I'm a banker. I have a degree and I know where money should be invested. But I have asked my dad to help me with my finances just to keep him busy. I don't invest in stocks because that's risky. I invest in bonds, policies and properties.
Q. What's the flipside of life under the spotlight?
You need to be careful of what you wear because anyone can click your picture any time. I wouldn't want a dirty picture to be circulated in the media. Also, you have to be careful about how you behave in public because everyone is watching you.
Q. Maneesh Sharma is making Fan with Shah Rukh Khan. Are you friends enough with him to coax him into giving you a part?
(Laughs) If he's making a film with Shah Rukh, then I can at least ask him for an audition. Maneesh is my best friend. If I he has a part for me he'll call me.
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