Parineeti Chopra's excitement is in fectious. She returned to the big screen after three years last May. “I wanted to take a break and take care of my health and fitness, and concentrate on doing up my house. So, I took a 10 month break from films but I was doing everything else ­ - ads, endorsements, events and whatever else I needed to do.“

In addition to acting, she has also sung a song, Maana ke hum yaar nahin, which has become quite a hit! “Anybody I know is aware that I love singing, and have the utmost passion for music. I'm a Hindustani classical-trained singer, hold a BA Honours in music, and I learned it for many, many years. So I am actually qualified, I would say. I've done shows all my life (from the age of 3), been in competitions, but that stopped when I went to study in England,“ she says, continuing, “When I returned to India, I began working, then got into acting, so I wasn't singing professionally at the time. Meri Pyaari Bindu gave me the opportunity to perform that perfect song; one that suited me and one that I thought was the right song for me to sing. I'm so glad it's been received the way it has.“

Along with her fans, Chopra has also received praise from the film fraternity, who can be “ruthless when you do it wrong and the most loving, accepting and welcoming when you get it right!“ With all the attention and hoopla that comes with the territory of being an actress, one wonders how she handles it all, without letting it get to her head. “With humility. People confuse their success with something only they alone have achieved. Their success is actually because people all over the world have accepted them, so that should teach one to be humble. That people love you, are spending money to see your performances, crying for you, emulating you and are inspired by you, should give you humility instead of arrogance.“

TALKING BODY
Facing the wrath of body shamers is tough. And tougher still if your face is recognized all over the country. When Parineeti was subjected to it a few years ago, she decided to take it in her stride instead of falling apart. “People don't believe me when I say this, but I'm a very objective person ­ especially about myself. Whenever I was body shamed or got negative reviews for my body and fashion sense or just for the way I looked, I was always on their side! I would agree because I would see my picture and say, 'Okay, this is a girl who's not looking her best',“ she shares.

The now svelte actress explains, “It was my body as is with all the imperfections. I've been inspired by some of the greatest hip-hop dancers in the world who are big built, to a point where they would be labelled 'unfit'. And heaven forbid they become actors in Bollywood... they would definitely be body shamed.“

She goes on to say that sometimes you can't achieve being thin simply because it's not your body type, but you can still be fit. “I may not be the skinniest woman... but I am fit. I can work 21-hour days for three days straight.“

DOES SIZE TRULY MATTER?
“I do feel an actress needs to be a certain size as she has to carry off clothes on screen and look the part. I cannot be playing Mary Kom if I'm overweight and I can't be playing a supermodel like my sister (Priyanka Chopra) did in Fashion, if I'm overweight. There are roles that require a certain body type and for that, and to inspire all the girls out there, you need to be fit.“

LOVE, LIFE
“Love to me means friendship. I know it sounds very filmi (I am an actress, after all), but after a couple of relationships, I've realized that friendship and equality are the most important things,“ says Chopra. We ease into the topic of love and outright ask if she's been in love? “Yes I have. I've been in love for a very long time and also been through heartbreak. I look for a friend in a partner... he needs to be someone I can totally be myself with, and accepts me for who I am.“ Naturally, our next question to the star is about marriage and instead of being cryptic, the vivacious actress surprises us yet again by telling us marriage is on the cards for sure, “in maybe three or four years, if I find the right person“.

Coaxing her to talk about the toughest time in her life so far, she says, “It was from mid 2015 to mid 2016, because I went through a big low in my personal life which affected me emotionally. I wasn't working every single day at the time so it was a difficult thing to come out of. That taught me to live each day as it comes and not plan for the future. Do the things that make you happy today.“