To Catch a Star: Priyanka Chopra

She is a leading Bollywood star who has rapidly climbed popularity charts. On screen she has seduced a married man, dodged bullets and even romanced a superhero. There is never a dull moment in the life of Priyanka Chopra.

Rajeev Masand: Welcome to the show Priyanka. You have done some exciting things in your on-screen life, haven’t you?

Priyanka Chopra: What a lovely introduction, thank you Rajeev. Yes, I have.

Rajeev Masand: It’s towards the end of June and it is raining outside but you are still busy shooting. What a horrible life!

Priyanka Chopra: I don’t think so, I love the rains in Mumbai. Especially when you are in the car or when you get home and just sit by the window with a hot cup of soup. It’s lovely.

Rajeev Masand: What are your childhood memories like as far as the rains are concerned? I am guessing that it was the time when you could just run out in the open and enjoy the rains.

Priyanka Chopra: No, I still do that like going for a long drive and sitting on top of the bonnet. It’s good fun (giggles).

Rajeev Masand: Do the rains make you feel romantic?

Priyanka Chopra: Very romantic. That’s why I love London because it’s always raining.

Rajeev Masand: So, what are your romantic memories?

Priyanka Chopra: Primarily it has to do with cars and long drives. Like I said, sitting on the bonnet with loud music. I love getting wet in the rain so I just randomly stop the car and get out and get wet.

Rajeev Masand: Isn’t it a bit dirty?

Priyanka Chopra: Not at all, Mumbai looks the best when it’s raining. In fact, it’s all cleaned up after the rains.

Rajeev Masand: You are shooting for a film called Love Story 2050, which is a futuristic film and it’s set 45-46 years in the future. Tell me, what would you like to be doing in 2050?

Priyanka Chopra: I would like to age with lots of grandchildren and lead a nice retired life in a house with a huge garden surrounded with a white picket fence.

Rajeev Masand: A family-oriented, domestic life, is that what you yearn for?

Priyanka Chopra: Yes, I look forward to a life like that.

Rajeev Masand: Do you try to find out the future? Do you believe in horoscopes, astrology?

Priyanka Chopra: Not really, I am not into horoscopes and astrology. I have always been destiny’s child and destiny has played out the good cards for me so far. Destiny has helped me find a vocation I never imagined I would be in.

Rajeev Masand: Another movie that you are shooting for is called Drona, which is a superhero film. Abhishek Bachchan plays the title character and you play his bodyguard incidentally. That’s odd, isn’t it?

Priyanka Chopra: I don’t think it’s odd, it’s just different. And that is what is exciting about it because Abhishek plays a character in which he does not know that he has the potential to be a superhero. That will be thrust upon him. In the film I am brought up ever since childhood to protect him. My entire life is around him and he is a nerd. So, I get disgusted that this is the guy I actually have to protect. I have to constantly save his life when it should be the other way round.

Rajeev Masand: So, is he a bit of a sissy or are you a tough chick?

Priyanka Chopra: It’s a bit of both I think. But the film ends up in a very nice way. It’s a different kind of fantasy film so it has a lot of magic, mythology and yet it is set in the present times. So, it’s quite interesting.

Rajeev Masand: You apparently learnt some traditional form of martial arts for this film.

Priyanka Chopra: Yes, it is called Gatka. It is a Sikh form of martial art, which is fought with swords. The defence mechanism of this form is very rooted. Though I can’t talk about it much at this point of time. But it looks quite spectacular.

Rajeev Masand: It’s not the first time that you are doing an action oriented film. You did for Don as well. You like to get your hands dirty?

Priyanka Chopra: Yes, I think what I like is to be very sure of what I am getting into. It should not be that I reach on the sets and realise that I can’t do that. I want to be prepared for every character and that what makes filmmaking so much fun and real.