Priyanka Learns GATKA =D

By Subhash K Jha

Priyanka was in freezing cold of Prague. "We were shooting at minus 12. I was there for only five days. But it was a picnic. The entire crew and some of their family were there. The director Goldie Behl was there with his wife. My mom came down. I just loved that family feel in the foreign land."

She throws a surprise by revealing that she plays Abhishek's bodyguard in Goldie Behl's Drona. "Don't be surprised. I'm a very strong girl. And yes I play Abhishek's bodyguard in the film."

This is an interesting reversal of gender roles in films.

Says Priyanka, "Conventional roles are changing in real life. And cinema needs to respect that. I learnt a Sikh form of martial arts, the Gatka to play Abhishek's protector. It's a very fascinating form of self- defence."

Priyanka had four Sikh men training her in the ancient art of the Gatka. "I definitely feel this kind of preparation makes you a better actor.

It's very interesting for me as an actor and for the audience to look at the character instead of the star. What's the fun of doing films if you don't cover new ground. I enjoy the whole process of making a film, specially when I'm working with friends."

She's very excited about her styling in Harry Baweja's Love Story 2050. "I play two characters. The second role is very different from anything audiences have seen me doing so far. Styling is very important. After Don, in Drona I sport a totally different look. So yes, styling is very important for me."

Priyanka played a mad mad Karan Johar fan in Salaam-e-Ishq. She's a fan of his work in real life too. "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is one of my favourite films. So's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. And when I saw Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna I fell in love with all the performances."

Priyanka had a great year. "I had two superb hits. Yeah Krissh and Don were the heroes' films, And of course Abhishek plays Drona. Now I want to go forward this year. I've one more film with Salman coming up after Salaam-e-Ishq called God, Tussi Great Ho. I love Salman. No one has the balls to do what he does."