Parineeti and I are very close: Mannara aka Barbie

Reshma Kelkar Dabholkar

Nov 9

After Parineeti Chopra and Meera Chopra, yet another cousin of Priyanka Chopra is set to make her Bollywood debut. Mannara ( formerly known as Barbie Handa) is all set for the release of her Bollywood debut film Zid.

Mannara reveals that she is very close to her cousins and doesn't mind seeking advice from them. " It helps to have someone in the industry in terms of seeking guidance or advice. Apart from that, I think you are an individual and have your own journey. You have to get auditioned and get films on your own caliber. I started my career in the South. It was good for me to shift here in Mumbai and have someone here," Mannara says.

" Priyanka told me to follow my heart and chose scripts that I find challenging as an actor. I always get advice from her. Parineeti and I are very close. We used to play together at my nani's house. Parineeti recently gave me a beautiful compliment. She said, My sister is looking sexy and I only have love for my sister there's no comparison between them.' Parineeti is very supportive," Mannara adds.

Mannara is in news with her first film itself since she posed topless for one of the posters of Zid. Speaking about being bold with her first film itself Mannara says, " Bold persona on the cover has nothing to do with me in real life. The character is supposed to be bold, which doesn't really mean there's lot skin show. We had some thought process in mind when we did this poster. Maya my character is flirtatious and sensuous. There's also a dangerous side to her. You see the evil side of the character in the poster. This is a one kind of a poster I would say that there was a thin line becoming a sleazy. But we have managed to shoot aesthetically and made it look classy." Mannara further reveals that she spoke to Priyanka before shooting topless for the poster. " When I got to know about this I spoke to Priyanka and she just said that I have to ensure that it needs to be shot aesthetically and look beautiful.

I would like to compliment Subi Samuel for capturing it so aesthetically. Priyanka was very happy to see the poster. She even said, I am proud of you that it has been done aesthetically and you are not looking sleazy and cheap.' We are not trying to say that it's an intimate film, but there's a story behind it that is very interesting," Mannara says. Was she comfortable shooting bold scenes? " I am not in the industry to do bold things. I go by my character who is girl next door and becomes bold. There are so many shades to my character.

This is something most girls would not do it in their first film, but I decided to do it. It's a difficult role and I am bold enough to take up this role as a challenge," Mannara says.