In tinsel town, all eyes are on Priyanka Chopra. After the super success of Waqt, Aitraaz, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Bluffmaster and Krrish, PC is on a good wicket. The year has already opened on a successful note with Krrish and now with Aap Ki Khatir, Don and Salaam-e-Ishq slated for release, this might just turn out to be her year. So then it's just the right time to get to know her better, right?

Aap Ki Khatir is your first attempt at romcom. Does it come natural to you?
Well, I enjoyed it. But if you think that since it's a light, breezy film, it didn't require performance then you are wrong. I had the option to just be myself in this role but then that's not a performance. I think the coolest thing about acting is that you can truly create different identities. I think only actors or psychotics like manic-depressive people can do that. That's why I love my job so much.

But romcoms hardly require great histrionic skills so in that sense it must be easy acting in one?
See, all roles are difficult to do. Because you have to be someone you are not. Personally, drama and emotional scenes come naturally to me. I'm quite a drama queen maybe that's why. But in this film, I enjoyed the funny scenes also.

Are you a romantic at heart?
Oh, I'm a complete mush ball. It's really sad but I see the romance in every thing. If it's raining then the raindrops are romantic, if it's autumn then the fallen leaves are romantic, if it's summer then the sweat is romantic. Though it's great to see everything with a soft focus lens, sometimes it also becomes painful because you tend to expect a lot. But I'm not complaining. It works for me.

The most romantic thing you've done for someone?
(Pondering) Well, my idea of romance is to clean his closet if he's not around. I think that's the best way to show someone you miss them in an everyday situation. But if I have to think of something outlandish that I've done then it was the time when I invited my boyfriend to my building. Then I took him up to the terrace, which I had lit up. There was food, wine, music and starlight. It was quite a setting. I also wrote a card for him. You know, the entire work!

Wow. That's impressive. What's the most romantic thing someone has done for you?
It was a gift I got. This guy that I was seeing gifted me a CD in which he had compiled all my favourite songs. Before every song, he spoke about how that song reminded him of me. It was a thoughtful gesture and I was really touched. It took him a week to do it. I was very impressed.

Tell me what are all these tales of you and your Aap Ki Khatir co-star Akshaye Khanna not getting along?
You know this has just been blown out of proportion. There is nothing like that. See what happened is that before working with Akshaye, I had heard so many stories about how he's very moody and likes to keep to himself etc. so I thought that I'll give him his space. When we started working, he was very reserved and even I'm very shy. It takes me a while to open up to a person. Once I got to know him a little we got along just fine. I really admire Akshaye as an actor.

Well, it must have taken quite a while for the ice to break since you stayed in another hotel during the outdoor of Aap Ki Khatir?
Yeah well, I know even Akshaye teases me about it. It wasn't that I didn't want to interact with the rest of the cast but at that time I was training for Don. The hotel that I was previously given didn't have a gym so I had to opt for another hotel. And before you ask me why didn't I party with the crew it was because after shooting for over 10 hours and training for Don, I had no energy left to party.

OK. Talking about Don, you're soon turning into quite a stunt queen. What's with that?
I like doing these psycho things. When I was 12 years old, I decided that I would attempt skydiving before I turn 21. And I accomplished that when I was 20. I just jumped from an airplane. I've even enjoyed bungee jumping. I enjoy the rush of adrenalin that these activities give me. In Don also, I've refrained from using a body double. I insisted on doing all the stunts myself. Hopefully, the audience should enjoy it.

What's your comment on all the flak that you received for your costumes in Krrish?
Yeah, I did receive flak for my make-up and costumes in Krrish. I don't want to get into this but would like to mention that I'm getting more particular about my look now. Thankfully, I wasn't panned for my performance. See, you can't be great every time but in my next film I'll make sure that I look good.

What's the status of Rajkumar Santoshi's London Dreams? Are you doing the film, or has Katrina Kaif replaced you as reported in certain sections of the media?
Rajji did speak to me about it. But I haven't signed it yet. They haven't got back to me.

Do you regret missing out on Umrao Jaan?
No. Aishwarya Rai is a trained classical dancer and she has a beautiful face. I'm sure she'll make a great Umrao. The role is one of my dream roles but what to do? I just didn't have the dates. Funnily enough, Don and Umrao Jaan are releasing on the same day.

How is your dad now?
He's in the hospital in America. But the doctors are happy with his recovery. The best thing is that my parents, my masi and mama are doctors so I know that he's in the best hands. I was there for his first surgery but couldn't make it for this one since my dad didn't want me travelling around the Independence Day that's when he got operated. Dad was worried about all this Heathrow terror business so I stayed put. Hopefully, he should be home soon.

Your professional as well as personal life is turning into quite a roller coaster, how do you beat the stress?
Work keeps me sane. If I didn't work, I'd go mad. Last time when my dad was admitted to Leelavati, I almost went mad. Thankfully, Bluffmaster and Krrish saved me.

Have you made friends in the industry?
I have a close group of five to six friends who are all from outside the industry. Of course, I do hang out with some colleagues from my profession also but it's usually at a function or a birthday party. Close friends are the ones who have known me since I was a young kid.

Who according to you is the Number One actress in Bollywood?
For me, it'll always be Madhuri Dixit.

What is a good day's work for you?
When I come home so tired that I don't have the energy to even take off my make up. I just crash the moment I see my bed.

What's the worst thing about acting?
The lack of privacy and the fact that the higher you go, the lonelier it gets. There comes a time when you don't know whom to trust. I think that's very sad.

When are you releasing your music album?
No clue. Let me record it first.

And you ever want to publish your musings and poems?
Never. They are too private to share with the world. Actually, never say never. I don't know. Maybe.

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