Kangana:: I'm not scared of Priyanka!!

By Subhash K Jha

Kangana is nervous but confident about being pitched against Priyanka Chopra in Fashion.

"Barring Anurag Basu's Metro most of my films so far have been solo-heroine films revolving around my character. This is the first film where I'm co-starring with another actress. I'm not insecure about it. Why should I be? Priyanka and I have distinct personalities and that's why Madhur has signed us to play the two very different characters."

But whenever Priyanka has been pitched against another actress—for example against Kareena in Aitraaz and Lara in Andaaz—she has emerged trumps. "Good!" ripostes Kangana. "It'd be healthy competition. We'll both do our best. A film shouldn't be like a kabaddi competition. It's not about iss actor ne uss actor ko kha liya. Every actor should work towards the betterment of the film."

Apparently Priyanka and Kangana will play the two main characters.The male characters would come later.

Madhur Bhandarkar must be the only filmmaker in India who casts for the women's parts before getting the guys in place.

For Fashion he first trotted to Priyanka, waited until she approved of the final draft before going to Kangana to play the other lead.

Says Kangana who's wrapping up a Tamil film in Pondicherry, "The narration happened just a few days ago. Madhur and I had been in talks for some time.

When I heard the story I jumped at it. Though Priyanka is in the film I've my own space in the narration. We start shooting in December."

Any trepidations about being pitched against Priyanka?

"None at all! She's not one of those actresses who has cat fights on the sets or walks off because….bhalaa usski kameez meri kameez se zyada safed kyon hai.

Priyanka is very secure in her space as I am in mine. Fashion is the first film I' ve signed in the last six months.

I choose my roles according to what suits me personality," says Kangana just back from a holiday back home in Manali,feeling ultra-rejuvenated.

There's a danger of Kangana being typecast as the neurotic on-the-edge parapet creature.

"No parapets this time, only the ramp," Kangana chuckles. " I admit it is a role about a woman on the edge, on the lines of Gitanjali Nagpal 's character, though Madhur's script was written long before Geetu Ki Gatha.

In any case such stories of wasted dreams are common in the entertainment industry. But Geetanjali and I do look similar, frizzy hair and all. Even my secretary Jai has curly hair and can pass off as my twin."

As for playing one more character on the edge, Kangana shrugs, "What's wrong with playing suicidal characters? Someone has got to play them

. And if I can play such uncertain characters with confidence I might as well do that than be a decorative piece in a four-star comedy where I look completely out of place."