“Ranbir is far more experienced than I am” – Priyanka Chopra

By Devansh Patel -

September 30, 2010 - 4:41 PM IST

She has eclipsed many Bollywood actresses as the Indian Film Industry's most bankable face. But a good four years back in London, when I met her for the first time, she said, "Look up insecurity in the dictionary. You'll see my picture." She was raw, vulnerable, edgy, telling me that she was worried about the way she looked, not being a good enough actor, and all the 'not good' things. Admitting to all these things made her seem more real, less glossy have-it-all Bollywood actor. To understand Priyanka Chopra better, you need to meet her. More often, she's often hard on herself. I had tried to tell her how great she was in Kaminey and that she seemed to resonate the same skills as the young Meryl Streep did, bringing something new and fresh and unpredictable. All this and she just blinked away the compliment. And it's the very same reason that today; Priyanka Chopra is the best we have in the 'B' town brigade. She won't elaborate on how much she's giving or getting in her role. She just does it right. PC, as I'd love to call her, is an amazing example for every young actress in this business because she is not afraid to show her dark and her bright side. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent chats with, India's favourite actress because with each new role, she continues to push the boundaries of what's possible. Passion, vulnerability and an extra ordinary depth defines her completely in Anjaana Anjaani because it's her character that moves through time, love and the direst of circumstances. Presenting you my favourite... I'm sure she's yours too. Priyanka Chopra.

“Ranbir is far more experienced than I am” – Priyanka Chopra

It's a simple love story, nothing complicated

Love makes the World go round

Love is the most amazing thing in the world. It's good to fall in love again (laughs). And to fall in love with a stranger is not strange at all. I mean, the first time you fall in love, the guy comes across as a stranger anyway. It's so nice when two people fall in love and don't know each other at all. That's when you experience the real love.

'D' day

It's a simple love story, nothing complicated. We've been hearing so much about suicides, people killing themselves, etc. Anjaana Anjaani has a social message. Imagine you know that you're going to die or want to die and start fulfilling every wish of yours before 'D' day. What is amazing is the moral of the story - celebrating life. If they would've been successful in killing themselves, they would've never got this moment. I found that fascinating.

Ranbir Kapoor's acting genes

Ranbir was a brilliant actor right from his first film Saawariya. He is a very good actor. When he comes on screen, he is not pretentious. He brings this charm of his on the sets and performs any given scene with such ease that you go speechless. That's Ranbir Kapoor. He is fun, he is serious and he does what he does best - acting. It's in him right from the day he was born I guess.

Different schools of acting

It's not about being someone's senior or junior on the sets. I personally feel that Ranbir is far more experienced than me. He knew he wanted to become an actor when he was fourteen. He is born in actor's family. And the day he was born, he was surely going to become the crowned prince in acting in years to come. Ranbir has studied filmmaking; he has gone to the sets as a kid and has done all the things before he took over acting professionally. I've learnt everything on my own. I've never had a teacher, tried and tasted, failed, fallen and got up on my own. So according to me, Ranbir has got the correct methods when it comes to acting. Mine is self taught. We come from different schools of acting.

According to me, Ranbir has got the correct methods when it comes to acting. Mine is self taught

PC to Kiara

I subconsciously become my characters very often. It's very spooky but people around me can tell. It's actually very scary. I feel like I am Priyanka Chopra but my friends and family might say that I am Kiara from Anjaana Anjaani and tell me to come out of that character.

Magic happens

I don't say that every director or producer wants to work with Priyanka Chopra or Ranbir Kapoor. If this happens in my sixth year as an acting professional, then what'll happen later on (laughs)? I just love what I do and try and be good at it. I don't think about how I'll make my given shot the best. I just think of how I can be glued to my character that I'm playing so that the world is believable and the person who is playing that looks believable. I never get conscious about the shades I am wearing, or the angle of the shot, my clothes. If my dupatta doesn't match the dress I am wearing, I never think of how I will look. Rather, I'd look at how it would be at that given moment in that emotion, in that scene when that character is at that point. That's when magic in acting happens.

I went to shoot at a time when I was very sure I wanted to re-discover myself. It was perfect to go far away to America

Self discovery

Anjaana Anjaani was a discovery of myself I should say. I went to shoot at a time when I was very sure I wanted to re-discover myself. It was perfect to go far away to America to shoot and I didn't know anybody from the crew too. And somewhere I discovered myself and it was one of the most amazing experiences in the United States I've ever had. Just walking on the streets of New York in freezing cold, all alone, felt so right.

Love is tough

To be doing a Saat Khoon Maaf and Kaminey and then to be doing an Anjaana Anjaani are two different cinemas. In fact, it's even tougher to shoot for a love story because you are not given any lines and characters which are too defined or written for you especially. You need to entertain your audiences and that's tough than to just act.

Siddharth Anand

I have seen Siddharth Anand's films and believe you me, this is Siddharth's most different film because it's not a rom-com. Anjaana Anjaani is a love story. It's the journey of these two characters which makes the film different, not that I want to say that there is no comedy in the film. Of course there is but only in bits and pieces.

Music and silence

'Hairat' has become the new Lucky Ali masterpiece. Composed brilliantly by Vishal and Shekhar, it's a song that you'd want to listen when you are going on a long drive. Honestly, I personally like 'Tujhe Bhula Diya'. The remix of that is even better. I even love 'Aas Paas Khuda'. Music motivates me a lot. Music is always in my ears. I have a problem with silence. Music makes me see whatever I want to see at that point. Music completes me.