Bajirao Mastani is like our Game of Thrones - Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra has been literally living out of the suitcase. The exotic babe has been juggling between the shoot and promotions of Quantico and Bajirao Mastani apart from the shoot of Jai Gangaajaal. As the pretty lady flew down to the country just for few hours, we caught hold of her for a quick chat on Bajirao Mastani, Quantico, her LA boyfriend, Don 3 and more! Read on...

You had just one song in Ram Leela and you wanted to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. How was it working with him?

Then I did Mary Kom with him. He might not have directed the film but he was very involved with the movie. Literally, every single day I was in his office. This is when he came to me with Bajirao Mastani, before it was even cast. That time they were still figuring out who Bajirao and Mastani are going to be. I remember, my picture would be there and others would keep changing because for 4-5 months this kept on happening. It was really funny so I used to keep on asking him take out Kashi, suppose I was also an option and I wasn't doing the film so who would have been the option, I want to know'. But I never got an answer to that. I'm a huge Sanjay Leela Bhansali fan, always. I did the song in Ram-Leela because of that, Mary Kom I did because I'm selfish, but even this film (Bajirao Mastani), I blindly went into it. He asked me first when I was shooting Mary Kom in Manali, he and Prakash bhai (Prakash Kapadi, writer) came to narrate the film to me and I was just greedy to work with him. I think his vision is something that if you do a Sanjay Leela Bhansali character right, it will go down in your legacy. If you don't do it well, it will be very bad.

You're playing a Marathi Mulgi for the third time...

This is very different because it's a 500 year old dialect and 500 year old character. Nobody has seen her picture, you don't know who, how and what she was. People talk about Bajirao-Mastani's love story. For me the biggest reason for playing Kashi was to play a character history has never spoken about. I've never played such a soft and vulnerable character. See Gangajaal, Quantico, I play very tough characters. When I do a Jhilmil (Barfi!) or when I do a Kashi, it's very hard for me to play a girl who can't protect herself because I'm a modern girl of today, I can beat up people, but that's the challenge for me to convince you to watch and your heart hearts for her. She is a wonderful sweet character.

Deepika Padukone and you are great friends and in the film you two have a conflict, how difficult was that?

I think it was more difficult for Sanjay sir because he used to get very irritated that we used to walk in together. We've always got along somehow. Actors are so busy that you don't end up becoming best friend. I get along with most of my female co-actors. I don't think I have issues with any of them because I'm supremely content in my career. My career is never dependent on other people. I've always tried to outdo my own work which is a bigger issue. Maybe if my career wasn't doing well, then I would have been insecure. I've consistently had an extremely warm welcome from people who watch my work. So it's been easy for me to be friends with most people. Deepika and I get along really well, we have fun together whenever we meet so Sanjay sir used to hate it. We had only one song and two scenes together because they (Kashi and Mastani) never really come together. Even through history, I don't think they ever really came together, but yet their stories were intertwined.

You're a self made woman and it must have been tough for you.

Life is only difficult. I think it's only tough when you say it's tough and you make it tough. Grace under fire is the true strength of a woman. So no, it wasn't tough.

Ranveer Singh told at the event...

(interrupts) That I cried and wanted to quit the film. Rubbish, he talks anything.

How was it shooting Pinga' with Deepika?

It was such a difficult song that was difficult, not together. In fact that was easier. I couldn't have asked for a better person to do this song with because we encouraged each other, we rehearsed together; we took care of each other. Our legs were bruised because sir (Sanjay) does long shots like you do an entire antra an entire mukhda together.

What was the best compliment you've got for Quatico till now?

It was actually really funny, She's Indian?' that was the best compliment. Not Indians obviously, people who didn't know. The fact that people questioned if I was Indian was the greatest compliment. People don't expect Indian people to look and do such roles. We're always the computer geek or the doctor. I've still made Alex first in class, teacher's pet- it is in our blood to come first.

Have Alex Parrish's (Priyanka's Quantico character) colleagues seen the promos and Pinga'?

Of course, they've seen the promos and the songs and they think that Hindi films are this. Then I've to explain that this is a period film. This is like our Game Of Thrones, that's how I explain it. They ask, people don't dress like this?' and go like nooo'.

There were reports that the way Marathi folk culture is portrayed in Pinga' is incorrect.

Pinga' is a folk dance and not lavani. Actually one maushi came and taught the Pinga' step to us. It was Sanjay sir's maushi and she is the inspiration behind the step. According to me it is very authentic.

But people are saying that the females of the royal family don't dance like this.

Whatever you see in this or any other film, it is dramatised. You see Mary Kom and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, those things don't really happen. You make biopics and there is a dramatization that happened. Bajirao Mastani is based on the book Rau' and Prakash bhai said it very clearly. Go and ask that author why they didn't do their homework. Eventually it's a Hindi film, a Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie, go watch it for that. Nobody is out there to insult anyone. This is a love story that was forbidden and this is being told. I think this is amazing.

Do you see yourself as a triple threat in Bollywood?

No, I'm a triple threat anywhere. I'm just a triple threat period. It has nothing to do with Hollywood or Bollywood. Take me to Australia, Canada everywhere I'll be a threat.

As an artist you've always stood by the fact that creativity has its own space. How do you see the entire intolerance issue as an artist?

First of all I don't think intolerance is about me as an artist or you as a journalist or anybody else but I think as a world. Look at what is happening all around. Look at the wars happening around. I am going to name Paris, Syria, Lebanon, Mumbai and everything. Just for one second sit down and look around the world we are living in, isn't everything intolerant? Are we not the globe? Are we not saying that this person is wrong because his religion is wrong, or this person is wrong because he is going to a concert? What is happening? It's not a country or a particular type of people. We as a people as human beings just have to sit down and think for one second. So don't go out on social media and use your anonymity and blast out at people because you can. Sit down in your homes and think about your opinion. Our forefathers fought for democracy in the country, they fought years and years of British Raj so that we could have a democracy, we could have freedom of speech, language and opinion and so did so many other countries. Even in America right now in an interview somebody said that, women of color are doing really well, with coming in. I said, I don't want to be called a woman of color, I am a woman. If you want to divide me, say man and woman,we look different what is brown, black, blue, yellow... what is wrong with us? I'm not a woman of colour and I don't want to be seen as that. I am not even going to comment on one particular thing right now because, to me, I am travelling the world right now and I am seeing it everywhere and not just in India.

How different was it working in a foreign setup?

The difference for me was television and feature. Like in films, we do one scenes for two days, it is relaxed. My friends didn't tell me that in television, we've to do ten scenes in a day. Who does that? I have so many television producer friends and I fired them all saying, couldn't you all tell me about that television is like this?' I've never done TV, so that was the only big difference for me. Otherwise it's only the language, they speak only English, actually French now because we're soothing in Montreal, and we speak in Hindi. I think Indian cinema is so caught up to the world; the way we make films, run our sets, I don't see much of a difference. I'm such a professional and I can deal with everything that is thrown at me because I've got the best training ground in the most prolific film industry in the world.

You've done a sports film like Mary Kom...

I will never do a sports film again. I salute sports people. They sacrifice a lot. I am an actress and I don't have that much courage. After doing that film, I've new found respect for sports people.

After Mary Kom and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a lot of sports films are being made like Brother, Sultan, Dangal. What do you have to say about this trend?

I think you all only look for trends. Try to look for out of the box na. Now it is the trend of biopics, item numbers, intolerance and all. Leave all that. Look outside, what the news is, what are people doing. Trends are boring, don't follow them.

Now that you've started working abroad also, what opinions have they formed about India look at you?

That you will have to ask him but I hope I'm a good representation. As you all know, I'm very opinionated. I do not stay quiet and say whatever I have to. Most people get shocked that I'm Indian. Most people get very shocked by the way I speak English. I think it's about educating people. Everyone says that the world is so ignorant about anywhere else in the world. That's because they've not been educated. I am someone who likes to think about peace rather than negative things; I'm a glass is half full kind of a person. If somebody said that there are snake charmers in your country, I will educate them saying that they are there but we use it for entertainment. People ask me those questions that India is known for its rapes'. I get asked that in every interview. It's so difficult to defend it.

What is the most bizarre question you've been asked there?

India is known for its rape'- that is the most bizarre question. Can you imagine, standing there and defending that. It is very difficult, but it is about educating the world. It is about educating the fact that the light has come upon this and yes, it is an awful thing, but it is happening to women around the world and why are we not talking about that? Just because three people have come and talked about my country, come and attack it. I will give you five other countries but it is not about that. Why are we making the fight about where rapes are more and where rapes are less, we should fight about the fact that there are rapes. Let's get our perspectives right a little bit.

There were rumours about you dating a guy from US.

I think it's very entertaining and I've been waiting for someone to ask me this. You all have become too boring, at least somebody should link me with someone. Great, LA he is supposed to be from na? Last four months, I've not left Montreal. And it was also reported that he is some media shy guy. I will never meet such a person who is media shy. Please know that if I'm ever with someone, I'll be with a showman- my dad was one and I think, whoever I'll be with.

Do we get to see you in Quantico Season 2?

I hope so. For now, we are one of the most successful shows. Everyone is saying that it looks like we'll get a season 2. If we do, it'll be great.

Will your choice of films depend on Quantico Season 2?

I am under contract with this show, so not my choice, but how many I'll get to do, yes.

Have you got Hollywood offers?

Yes I have but nothing up to my standards.

Have you been approached for Don 3?

Don 3 is not being made guys, not yet. The consideration for Don 3 has happened every year, all the time by you people only and by the fans who want to see the film but it's not happening right now and I'm sure when it does, they'll make an announcement. Trust me, it's not. Can I once and for all say this.