Priyanka Chopra's 7- Year Itch
Unlike her character from 7 Khoon Maaf, Priyanka Chopra, popularly known as PC or Piggy Chops, came all set to answer any query thrown at her. "You ask and I shall deny them all," she laughed. But answer she did. The actress even forgot to sip on her favourite coffee as she got involved with the Q and A session.
The sultry actress, who arrived bang on time for the session, was in her element when she was asked about killing seven men in the film. While she felt sympathetic towards men, saying that they did deserve a chance, killing the husband is every wife's dream, she stated with a broad grin. The full of life and bubbly Priyanka, besides answering queries, even threw some questions of her own at the gathering and even posed for pictures with her fans in our office.
She said that she has no qualms about accepting vampish roles in today's competitive scenario. The actress agreed that the audiences have become open to any kind of cinema, be it parallel, art or mainstream and recounted a few childhood experiences, revealing that she is a workaholic who puts in '21 hours' of work each day.
Her seven years in the industry have been quite eventful and now with this Vishal Bhardwaj film, she is looking forward to gaining some accolades as well.
With a kitty full of some good projects, Priyanka is optimistic about the future.
How was it killing seven husbands in 7 Khoon Maaf?
Trust me, it was a lot of fun! Killing the husband is every wife's dream! 7 Khoon Maaf is laced with humour. It's about a woman who is only looking for love but the tragedy of her life is that love is the only thing that evades her. She meets a lot of men, marries them and when they break her heart, she kills them. That doesn't mean that I am playing a negative character. In fact, in the end you will feel pity for her. You will feel that the husbands just had to die.
Did you read the book from which the film has been made?
Director Vishal Bhardwaj gave me the short story of Susanna's Seven Husbands by Ruskin Bond to read. Vishal even asked Mr Bond to turn it into a novel. They then turned it into a script.
What was it that inspired you to take up this film?
I loved the concept of the film, it was intriguing. I am playing this character with gray shades and believe me, it is so much fun to be bad than to be good. 7 Khoon Maaf was Vishal's first female protagonist film after Makdee, and that fact that he thought of casting me and that I was capable of pulling it off completely flattered me.
So what is that one message you would like to give to all the wives who feel like killing their husbands?
I would say that give them a chance, don't kill them unless they deserve to be killed! (Laughs)
What do you think about the new tag which you have got '' Shero (the she-hero)?
I am totally happy with it. They may be calling me that because I am getting to do the kind of roles that only guys get to do. Thus, I compete not only with the actresses but also with actors. A hero has six-pack abs to flaunt, but I have curves!
Will the male audience enjoy 7 Khoon Maaf?
They will enjoy the film, for sure. It is not a feminist film where there is male-bashing and they call all men bad. The film is entertaining and it will transport you to a new world.
Why do you think people will pity you in the film, since you are a criminal who kills seven husbands?
I think everybody has a little bit of bad in them. We don't have to be serial killers to be bad, we can be housewives who deny their husbands dinner when they are put off. What people do because of reasons of the heart are inexplicable, the heart makes you do strangest of things. Susanna, the character, is constantly in love, looking for love and love makes her do crazy, stupid things.
Which of the husbands is the most exasperating and who is the most loved one by Susanna?
I think the most exasperating husband was Keemat Lal, the character played by Annu Kapoor. But he is one of the funniest characters in the movie too. And the most attractive would be'well, she was in love with every one, so I can't say which one she loved the most.
So, who's your Valentine this season?
Well I think I would end up being with Vishal-sir, this Valentine (Laughs) as we would be busy promoting the film on February 14.
How was it working with Vishal Bhardwaj. This is your second film with him after Kaminey.
We share an amazing actor-director understanding. There were various instances wherein he called out 'Cut', stopped a particular scene in between and did not have to explain to me why he had done it. Yet I understood and gave a better shot. If he learns that I have not understood something, he knows exactly how to explain the scene to me. We have a very unspoken kind of an understanding. Therefore it was very easy to work with each other.
Initially, you were very sceptical about doing Kaminey. Then how did you agree to an experimental film a second time?
I was sceptical of Kaminey not because of the kind of cinema it was but because I had only eight scenes in it. And anyway, I don't believe in dividing cinema in different genres or choose and pick this kind of cinema or that kind of cinema. What I believe in is that a good story transcends any form of cinema. A story that is well told works! Audiences are now open to any kind of cinema. It is a shift from a formula film to a movie that tells a good story.
You have completed seven years in the industry...how have you evolved over the years?
When I started my career in 2003, I was 19. I had just cracked my Board exams, when I became Miss World. I didn't know anything. When I did formula films, I didn't know what was acting.
Initially I used to take acting as a fun thing but after few years I understood that it is a profession. Later, as years passed, I understood that I could hone my craft and as an actor there is so much more that I can do. Thus, slowly and steadily my crush over this profession turned into a full-fledged love affair.
Can we say that the divide between the parallel, art and mainstream cinema has been dissolved?
Absolutely. With actors taking up gray or negative roles and with the audiences accepting such films, the line between them has been dissolved or rather it has merged.
7 Khoon Maaf has no hero in the lead. Do you think it's a risk?
If I am part of the film, then there has to be no risk. I just have to feel a film and do it from my heart. Be it a small film or a movie wherein I have only three scenes, if I put all my dedication in it, which I always do, then it has to do good. If you want me to be a mushroom, I want to be the best mushroom, if you want me to be a gold-fish, I want to be the best gold-fish.
I believe in what Mr. Bachchan said to me - "Even if you get one scene in the film, it should be so good that people should remember you for that." And also what SRK had once said in a interview - "Failure is not an option."
Tell us about the aging process in 7 Khoon Maaf.
Susanna ages from 20 to 65. Being somebody in my 20s in real life, it was very difficult to play someone older. My biggest challenge was to be convincing, in terms of body-language. Of course, make-up supported that.
The make-up men who came from Los Angeles have done The Lord Of The Rings and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. They asked me to get pictures of my mom, naani, daadi, maasi'they wanted to see how my family looked when they aged. It is interesting to know that compared to women in the West, Indian women don't get too many wrinkles. Women in the West get a lot of lines, we don't.
I had to work on my body-language. They fashioned Susanna so much on my mother, not that my mom is a killer (laughs) but because Susanna has this amazing quiet dignity about her. She is a woman of few words, very enigmatic and mysterious. My mom is like that, very dignified and classy.
Which phase did you like the most in the film?
Hmmm, I liked the late 30's look. It is shot in Kashmir. That is the time when Susanna converts into a Muslim and wears beautiful Indian clothes. It is a chapter with Irrfan, who is a poet named Vasirulla Khan.
Amongst your co-stars, you had Russian actor Alexander Dyachenko. How well did he speak his dialogues in Hindi?
He has lots of Hindi dialogues in the film. He had a coach and he used to learn his lines by-heart. And then we used to confuse him saying arre that is not what you have to say and add some bad words in-between. So when he would deliver the dialogues, everyone would have a good laugh. I was very mean to him. But he was lots of fun, I think he was the funniest of the people who came on board. He was always laughing and joking.
People watch the adapted versions of films with pre-conceived notions. As an actor how do you deal with it?
People should look forward to see how the director is going to present the story which the audiences have already seen and loved. A remake or an adaptation is a director's vision of crafting a movie into what he wants to portray.
For example, Don is Farhan Akhtar's vision of the yesteryears Don and Shah Rukh Khan's vision of how he wants to play the character. Besides, our Don was different than the earlier Don, the bad guy gets away in our version. Agneepath, which I am now doing, is Karan Malhotra's vision of what the old Agneepath was. The plot of the film and Vijay remains the same, but in my character, the love-track has been changed completely.
You hosted Khatron Ke Khiladi last year. Are we going to see you taking up TV projects this year too?
There is no time for television at all as I am doing five films this year.
There were a lot of reports of you being unwell. Why do you pressure yourself so much?
I love what I do. I will pop some pills and be okay. My parents are anyway doctors! Kya faida doctors hone ka! (Laughs) Well, I am a very greedy actor. I prepared for Susanna when I was doing Anjaana Anjaani. I was preparing for Kaminey when I was doing Fashion. I had a Marathi teacher to help me with Marathi diction. I am good at multi-tasking. I hate to let go of films that I like. I believe in making time for films.
Talking about multi-tasking, you have the highest number of followers on Twitter, but you are not as active on Twitter as you were earlier.
I was never obligated to doing Twitter. I don't do promotions of my films on Twitter, I just write what I feel whenever and may be that is the reason I have the highest number of followers. When I get excited about something, I tweet. I don't push myself to do it. Maybe I will go back and Tweet.
When you came up with your website, you were very active, you had uploaded a lot of pictures and then suddenly it all stopped'
Blame it on team PC. (Laughs)
The Darling song is rocking the charts. Tell us something about it.
The song is derived from the Russian folk song called Kalinka from the 18th century. Susanna is 44 at this time and she is enjoying herself at a party. Vishal-sir was very clear that he wanted the song to look real, rather than with 50 dancers dancing in the background. He gave us a few sporadic steps and we did them.
Do you think Susanna will make the box-office happy?
I hope so. I never do a film for critical acclaim. I think it's very important for a film to make money. I have done everything I can. So, now I am relying on God and destiny..
What are your future projects?
I am shooting for Don 2 right now. Then there is Agneepath, after which I will start shooting for Barfee with Anurag Basu. I am in talks with Kunal Kohli for a film and then there is Krrish 2. Incidentally I am doing all the sequels to my films: Don - Don 2, Krrish - Krrish 2 (laughs). I couldn't do Dostana 2 as Bobby (Deol) and I get married and the film ends there!
Are you doing Dhoom 3?
I was never approached for Dhoom 3, but if they approach me, why not?
You say that you are very competitive. What about competition from other heroines?
Frankly, I am not in competition with any heroine because I am very content with my life and my work. I have so much happening in my life that I don't have time for all that. Whatever happened on Koffee With Karan is not rivalry. Many a times, we say things in jest. The other actress says something and I may reply. And then things backfire. Karan's show is just like that; you are being smart, witty and funny'that's not rivalry, it's all said in jest, nothing serious.
Who is your favourite actress?
Vidya Balan is one of my favourite actresses. I respect her because she pushes the envelope a lot. I like the work she does. Kareena Kapoor is super-talented. Katrina Kaif is stunningly beautiful and hugely popular. Deepika Padukone has got an amazing body, she is a beautiful dancer and Sonakshi Sinha has an absolutely beautiful face, amazing eyes and she looks very Indian.
And your favourite male co-stars?
Shah Rukh Khan has always been my favourite. He is a good human being. Every actor I have worked with has taught me a lot. Aamir Khan, as an actor, has the ability to make each character touch you. Salman Khan is someone who is larger than life. Hrithik Roshan has taught me what focus is all about. Abhishek Bachchan is very light-hearted and fun to work with. John Abraham is very focussed. Shahid Kapoor is a hugely-talented actor. Ranbir Kapoor is completely spontaneous and from Akshay Kumar, I have learnt about discipline and punctuality.
How was it working with Naseeruddin Shah?
As a kid, I saw his film Chamatkar, and became his fan. I appreciate his work. So for 7 Khoon Maaf, I did a workshop with him as I wanted him to give me an insight into Susanna's character because she was too complicated for me to comprehend. We did a 10-day workshop before we started to work on the film. He was very encouraging. Earlier I was apprehensive about working with such a talented actor. But as an actor, once you start the scene, you have to become strong. You need to feel that you are as good as your co-star or else you are going to spoil your performance.
Is it clothes or books that help you unwind after a busy day at work?
I am always wound up to unwind (Laughs). I just lie down on my mom's lap while she feeds me, as sometimes I forget to eat my food and then go off to sleep. Though I hate shopping for clothes, I love shoes. I am more of a jeans and T-shirt person and yes, I read books. Presently, I am reading I Am A Special Girl and Home Boy. Both are by Indian authors.
Now the most common question... are you seeing Shahid Kapoor?
Shahid is my neighbour, I see him all the time (Laughs). Well, frankly, until something substantial happens, I don't want to announce anything. I hate being part of a dinner-table conversation, which I always am. That's just a speculation. I think I am an open book but there is one chapter that I am keeping closed and that is'my personal life.
Compiled by Namita Nivas and Onkar Kulkarni
Sports
0