Sana Thampi, who made her debut in Kiran Rao’s directorial within the Lust Stories 3 anthology, is glad that she hasn’t received any bad reviews about her role in the film. In Sana’s segment, she portrayed the character of Lisa, a nail artist who moved from Kerala to Mumbai. Part of this is also true in real life. Sana is from Kerala and has now shifted her base to Mumbai. Talking about being guided by Kiran Rao in her debut project, she says that the director “handheld” her through the project.

“I felt very guided through the process. When the team cast me, they were well aware that this was my first project ever. She had a very clear and precise understanding of who this character is. It was very much seen in the script, too, when I read it. There was no ambiguity that I felt in terms of who I was portraying,” she says.

The segment involved a lot of choreographed intimate scenes, and Thampi is appreciative to have intimacy coordinators on the set to guide her through it. “Their role was very significant to me... I felt a lot more confident and at ease with shooting these kinds of scenes. It is also a very necessary where the ask the actors what we are comfortable with. If at all you say, ‘I don’t have any boundaries’, they will be like, ‘it doesn’t work that way. Find your boundaries’. They very much work within the framework of what you are comfortable with.”

Sana was born and raised in Kochi, Kerala, in a very traditional household. An architecture graduate in life, she fought her battles at home to pursue her career in modelling and then slowly transitioned to acting.

“My parents were a little apprehensive about me pursuing modelling. It was a completely unknown world. Besides, there was this film Fashion (2008) that painted the worst picture of the industry. I don’t know if it was true or not for that generation, but by the time I came into modelling, social media was a very prominent player. I am glad to report that it wasn’t resembling much of that film,” she shares.

She adds that her parents’ idea of what the fashion industry was, was based on what the media and the films portrayed. “I fought those battles with my parents very early on in my career. By the time I had to make a transition into acting, I had no battles to be fought,” she admits.

Sana also mentions that with a name like Kiran Rao associated with the project gave her parents additional confidence. “I am sure that in their head, it helped that there were names like Kiran Rao attached to the project. They also felt like it is going to go well,” says Sana, who is also proud of the fact that her parents can see her dreams come true.

Ask her about what her parents’ reaction was after they saw their daughter become an actor, she says, “They are happy for me. To them, it’s just that I have been in front of the camera for so long; I don’t think it makes that much of a difference.”

After nearly 18 years, Arjan Bajwa has reunited with filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar for The Wives, which marks their first collaboration since Fashion (2008), a turning point in his career.

He says, “My association with Madhur sir has been beyond films. He treats me like a younger brother. We socialize, party and travel together. After Fashion, our professional relationship turned into a longstanding friendship. Being part of a successful film opposite Priyanka Chopra, with a National Award-winning director like him, was a defining experience. And here we are, collaborating again after many years because he believes in my talent, sincerity and ability to carry out his vision. I also have complete faith in his commitment to his craft as a filmmaker.”

Another filmmaker he holds in equally high regard is Mani Ratnam, with whom he worked in Guru early in his career, an experience that shaped his understanding of cinema.

Arjan shares, “I consider myself fortunate to have worked with Mani Ratnam sir on one of his most ambitious projects, Guru. At that stage, I had limited understanding of cinema beyond my role. These are things you learn over time, especially if you don’t come from a film background. I did not have that environment, so whatever I learnt came through the films I worked on. Having said that, it is always work in progress for any actor at any stage of their career. While Madhur sir keeps a very light-hearted approach on set, everyone used to be on their toes with Mani sir.”

Speaking about the challenges of navigating the industry without backing, he admits that the lack of guidance has had a direct impact on his journey. He says, “When you are an outsider without any support system, PR machinery or a mentor, opportunities are often missed or delayed. It affects your trajectory as an actor and can sometimes lead to signing the wrong films as well. I have been through all of that because there was no one to guide me about the workings of the film business.”

He adds, “While my filmography includes several landmark films and collaborations with big directors, there have been instances when I did not feel accomplished or content. It matters who is backing you and giving you multiple films even when things are not going your way. In spite of all the odds, I know I am here for the long run, having completed 29 films in different languages and made my international debut with the India-Taiwan collaboration Demon Hunters. I can only depend on my craft, sincerity, professionalism, and capability as an actor and hope for the best results. The rest is a matter of time.”

“I believe Fashion was one of the major culprits behind showstoppers getting more importance at fashion shows,” smiles Mugdha Godse, as we ask her about the ongoing discussion regarding celebrity showstoppers stealing the spotlight over models at fashion shows. The model-turned-actress, who was in Ahmedabad recently for an event, talks about the changing scenario in the fashion industry, her journey as a devotional artiste and more.

Talking about celebrity showstoppers, Mugdha elaborates, “I believe fashion shows need a dramatic ending nowadays, and celebrity showstoppers bring that. Our fashion shows are very different, as we need Bollywood for everything. And it is working—for us as employment, for brands with their sales, and for people who can see the latest designs as well as the showstopper. So, it’s a win-win for all. In the end, the clothes are the heroes.”

The Fashion actress, who has done web shows like Bloody Brothers and The Broken News, feels OTT has disrupted the definition of “a perfect character.” She says, “OTT has increased the scope for actors, and it shows more real characters too. There is never somebody so perfect, like we used to see in saas-bahu shows on TV. There is always a grey side to everyone in real life. OTT has shown it, and I want to do such characters.”

She adds, “Today, the best part is that there are stories for every artiste and every kind of audience. Whether you are in your 40s or even 60s, there are many stories to tell, which is a great opportunity for artistes of all age groups. OTT has come as a new beginning for us.”

Mugdha, who made her singing debut with Krsna Vandana (an original composition featuring 108 names and qualities of Lord Krishna) last year, says, “I wouldn’t call myself a singer, as it is too much of a responsibility. Our singers have worked so hard to reach where they are. I tell everyone that I am an artiste who has found a beautiful bhaav in singing. I get to explore my spirituality in a different manner.”

Is she keen on exploring more projects as a singer? She says, “I would like to keep it devotional. I won’t say no if I am offered any other song in playback, but I won’t be performing it at a concert. For Krsna Vandana, we do performances, more like baithaks, in different cities. That feeling is different. If I want to explore my journey as a singer, it will be in that (devotional) space.”

Talking about how the modelling industry has changed, Mugdha shares, “Modelling isn’t as distinguished as a platform as it was during my days. There are a lot of platforms available for models. Also, the harsh truth is that an influencer posting a reel is making more money than a model walking the ramp, which shows a massive shift in the industry.”

She adds, “Making reels isn’t easy either; both things require hard work. So, it all comes down to one’s choices. There are still people who love to walk the ramp just for that high we get. But modelling isn’t a separate career anymore.”

Sharing her love for the city, Mugdha who has often visited the city, says, "I love Ahmedabad and always enjoy coming here, as the city surprises me every time. This time, I saw a global coffee brand’s name written in Gujarati. It is there in Maharashtra too, but it has started happening here too, which is so good. From modern infrastructure to rooted culture, this city has everything for everyone."

On asking if she would like to work with Rahul Dev (her partner) in a project now, Mugdha shares, "Rahul and I have just wrapped up a show. As individuals, we have very strong personalities, which might be visible on the screen too. So, we usually get scripts where our characters are not involved romantically. We are offered characters which may or may not be related."

Priyanka has always championed the cause of gender equality in cinema, and at MAMI Mumbai film festival 2023, she made an interesting observation. Acknowledging that there has been a change in how people perceive female-led cinema today, she remembered how things were different in the 2000s.

Speaking about her much-acclaimed film Fashion (2008), she revealed, “I am glad the usage of the word ‘parallel cinema’ is slowly declining, and things have changed now. After Krrish (2006) and Aitraaz (2004) happened, which gave me a solid foundation, I started seeking work that could challenge me as an actor. Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion happened at that time.”

Sharing the kind of feedback that she got before agreeing to be a part of Fashion, for which she went on to win the National Award, PC said, “I remember I was told back then, ‘Ladkiya female-oriented films apne career ke end mein karti hai National Awards ke liye. You just did Aitraaz, tumhara career abhi shuru hua hai, why do you want to do Fashion?’ This was in early 2000. People were apprehensive about female-oriented cinema. I wanted to play interesting characters instead of just being a part of big films, and I loved the script of Fashion, so I went ahead with it. I have always loved the work of Sridevi ji and Madhuri Dixit ma’am. Girl crushes forever!”

She added, “When I was younger, I was called difficult and opinionated. I faced problems because I didn’t follow this, ‘iss line pe chalo’ rule. Main apni line banati hoon. I am not a trend-follower, I am a trendsetter. You learn to navigate eventually.”

Fashion (2008) is a film that won appreciation from critics and the audience alike, for the manner in which it unearthed the dark reality of the fashion world. Moreover, two of the lead actors — Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Kangana Ranaut — won National Film Awards for their performances. But, director Madhur Bhandarkar reveals people around him were apprehensive.

As the film clocks 15 years of release, Bhandarkar tells us, “After the film released, there was a lot of appreciation that came my way. But people from the fashion industry got upset with me because they felt I had exposed the reality. But all my stories are derived from real-life [incidents]… That’s what Madhur Bhandarkar films are about. The model taking drugs, having an affair with a married man... These [incidents] were all true.”

The scale of the film, too, made people apprehensive. “Before Fashion, most of my films, be it Chandni Bar (2001) to Traffic Signal (2007), were small-budget films. And in comparison, Fashion was a bigger project in terms of its scale. There were 11-12 sets for fashion shows. That’s why people were doubting this move of mine; many even conveyed that I wasn’t doing the right thing,” the India Lockdown (2022) director says, adding that he had clarity regarding the film and hence, went ahead with it.

Despite the subject being intense, the filmmaker recalls how he’d try and keep things as lively as possible on set. “I was always cracking jokes, mimicking people and having fun. Priyanka would sometimes request me to stop because she had to give a very emotional shot and she wanted to get the expressions right,” he says and goes on to recall a particular scene: “When she was about to shoot the part where her character cries while looking in the mirror, she shot at midnight in an apartment. Nobody would believe me, but she was laughing out loud just before the scene. But, she performed it really well.”

One can’t help but mention Ranaut, who was another highlight of the film. “I still can’t forget her walk. It was iconic,” he continues, “I asked her to focus on the strength of her character rather than the length as hers was a very complex, layered but beautiful role. And it was a game-changer for her as she won a National Award!”

The actor-model opens up on how she bagged the role of Janet Sequeira: “Madhur Bhandarkar and his team used to visit fashion shows and spend lot of time backstage. In one of our fashion weeks in Delhi, the team sat down to chat and I had the maximum insights to share. The next day, I was called to play a part in the film and I accepted it.”

While it was “a bit scary” for Godse as the “film’s story was very close to reality”, it was special nevertheless. “It was my first film and being appreciated right after my first scene by Madhur and others felt special,” shares the actor, on her debut film.

The actor played Rohit, an assistant to designer Vinay Khosla (played by Harsh Chhaya). “I saw that it (Rohit) was a great part and I wanted to work with Priyanka Chopra and Madhur Bhandarkar,” he tells us, adding that he was first offered Chhaya’s role.

Several supermodels were also part of the film and Mushran says working with them was a great learning experience as they were quite grounded. He says, “Everyone gives actors so much power that we think we are way more important than we really are!”

The actor, who played designer Rahul Arora, a gay character, recalls a scene where he had to kiss a guy in a car: “Earlier, gay characters were portrayed in a very stereotypical way. But I wanted to do it right, so that the audience does not feel awkward or uncomfortable. I sat in the car with the actor, who was very young at that time, and I saw him shaking. I asked, ‘Kya hua?’ and his response was, ‘Bhaiyya darr lag raha hai’ (laughs). There I was, trying to get into character, and this guy called me bhaiyya!”

Soni adds that the scene was tweaked later. “I had to just give him a peck on the cheek, but he was still scared. Before the shot, I sat him down and comforted him like an elder brother, saying, ‘Listen, don’t be scared. I will do it’,” he tells us.

She kicks, punches, shoots, slays, breaks bones and shatters glass — soaked in blood, sweat and revenge — Kangana Ranaut as Agent Agni in the just-released action spy thriller Dhaakad, delivers one deadly blow after another, like a true action star. The actress, who has skillfully flexed her muscles in various genres earlier, has now cracked the action space — with guts galore. In a conversation with us, she talks about her warrior spirit, how playing a hardcore action girl was cathartic and what we need to do to save our film industries. Read on...she is on fire...

I was not involved in it at all, because we had such a talented team, and Razy (director Razneesh 'Razy' Ghai) is so competent. Having directed about 400 ad films, he had such a clear and international vision. When I was approached for this film, I was wondering...will I be able to fit into this part at this age and stage? At the time when I started my career, I did not fit into the format of a Bollywood heroine, and I was always trying to find my ground and figure where I belong. I was quite jobless after Gangster. I would get offered those druggie, edgy or homeless kind of roles. When I did Fashion, also because of my body type, I was appreciated, and then I did Krrish 3. Back then, I felt that I would be offered more action roles, so maybe I could create a category for myself and be able to fit in. So, I actively trained in kickboxing and martial arts. Lekin aisa kuch hua hi nahi, things derailed for me, and I did films like Double Dhamaal. I was disoriented and stopped training. Then films like Queen happened, aur main acting mein bahut deep chali gayi, and with every character, I would try to learn accents, gain weight and lose weight. Cut to two years ago, I had put on 20 kilos, and personally, too, I have metamorphosed into an individual where there is a certain way I think and dress… (like I wear a lot of sarees now). I have come to be a certain person.

Yes! Razy was sitting in front of me and telling me about this role and I was thinking about those days when I wanted it so badly. And there I was, as far as I could’ve been from this character (Agent Agni). When he approached me, I was shooting for Thalaivii, and mentally and physically, I was in a different mind space. I was wondering whether I would be able to pull off all those looks, miniskirts and firing guns? It was not just the weight, there was a lot more resistance I had as a person. So, when I met him, in my mind, I was sure that I wouldn’t do it, but he didn’t give up on me. These different looks were a part of it, and my major concern was to be able to pull it off convincingly.

Florian Hurel was the make-up artiste and Sheetal Sharma designed the looks with the director, and to fit into their vision was my challenge. I tell this story to a lot of people. When I first met Salman Khan before Gangster, I showed him my portfolio. He advised me to meet Sanjay Leela Bhansali and said that you are someone who will fit into his films. I went to meet him with my portfolio, which showcased various looks. He went through my pictures, looked at me with great curiosity and said, “Are you a chameleon or what? You change with every look.” I asked him, “Sir, is it a good thing or a bad thing?” He said, “I don’t know, you will figure it out.” And it was such an appropriate answer because, yes, it was difficult to get a break in the industry. You don’t know what you are, and you could be anything. Once you are successful, I guess it is a boon. Razy wanted me for this part as he knew that as a spy on a mission, I could transform with every look. But for my first break in the industry, people could not slot me, and that became a challenge. So, it was good and bad. Over the years, I could not find my ground and say this is my space, which every actor has. At this stage, of course, it seems like a great thing.

I like action films, but the kind of grounded and raw action that you see in Dhaakad. The superhero kind of films and that kind of action is not my zone. I think Charlize Theron is somebody who looks tough and looks good doing action. You need that physicality, and you need to look convincing, and she pulls it off really well. Baaki toh thoda modelling type ho jaata hai.

Yes, the training was really tough. There is a 15-minute long action sequence, and it is something you have never seen before in our cinema. I trained in kickboxing and other martial arts, including Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga, to play this part. It is a draining role, and even to be angry, it takes a lot of your energy. We shot for 20-25 nights for that action sequence, and putting in that energy for days and days is exhausting. There are times your body is numb, you have no energy left, but you have to drag yourself on set. Having said that, for me, what works is that, by nature, I am a violent person. I mean in my ideologies. I have that thought process. If we were in different times, I would probably have been a warrior. My school of thought is not — tum ek thappad maaro, toh mein dusra gaal de doongi. I believe in, mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi doonga. So, my very core is right wing. Coming from that space, this part was a bit cathartic. So, it is not like it was imposed on me, I also enjoyed it. It is in my nature, only that my body was not ready for it. In KGF - Chapter 2, there is this dialogue that the lead actor Yash says, “Violence, Violence, Violence! I don’t like it. I avoid, but, violence likes me.” I would tweak that for myself and say, “I like violence and violence also likes me (laughs!).”

The evolution of Arjun as a creative force is tremendous. When we did Rascals, I didn’t understand him as an artiste. We became good friends, and we would party together. During Dhaakad, whenever we sat together, he would talk about the film, how he could add to my character and how we could do certain scenes. It became such an inspiring experience to see how much he is consumed by the entire process and the extent to which he has grown. He is writing scripts, he wants to direct and is producing films. Also, when he was offered the part, people around him were apprehensive about him working with me, but he was so nonchalant about it. He is his own person, and I have huge respect for such people. He doesn’t roam around in herds; he takes his own call.

It is high time… kyun ki uss chhote se budget mein aap kya karenge? Woh 20-30 crore mein social message wali films ban sakti hai. They will mostly be offbeat films, not mainstream. The budgets are not to show off that we have so much to spend, but so that we get more creative freedom. Today, if Razy has brought in an award-winning DOP, Tetsuo Nagata, for Dhaakad along with the kind of action crew that we had, it is because we could monetarily back that scale. This is the liberty that every artiste wants. We also need a good budget for a woman-led film, so that we can deliver.

Yes, of course. For me, it was important to feel that I am well paid, and not exploited. Don’t I go to a set and give my 100%? There are so many injuries that I have taken upon myself for these roles. So, just because I am a woman, not getting paid as much as my male counterpart is a very sad and unfortunate reality. Ab mere saath aisa nahin hota hai.

Yes, sure. The medium also gives you a global platform and being a creative person to have that is great. I would love to explore it more.

I had said this long ago, that we should bring India together with our movies. While growing up, I didn’t know much about people from the South and their culture, but today, when we see their films, we get to know so much about them — what they eat, what they wear. Movies expose us to that. I was more exposed to American culture through their movies, over South Indian films or, say films from the North East. Cinema only brings us together. It’s high time that we come together and save our screens rather than let Hollywood take over, like what happened with the German and French film industries. We need to save our industry, and for that, we need to come together as one force.

Hopefully!

In the last few years, Arjan Bajwa got a chance to explore the digital world with projects that allowed him to experiment with different kinds of roles. In his recent shows like State Of Siege: 26/11 and Bestseller he got an opportunity to essay author-backed roles. He shares, “Both these shows are adapted from books and I really enjoyed bringing the story on screen for the viewers. I am really looking forward to doing such author-backed roles in the future.”

While his performance in films like Guru, Fashion, Rustom and Kabir Singh where he played supporting roles, was noticed, it is the digital medium that catapulted him to the lead space. With that, does he hope to get similar opportunities in Bollywood?

“I don’t see it that way. It’s not the medium, but the story that matters. From a larger perspective, it isn’t just about your merit as an actor, but also your positioning and marketing as an artiste in the market. It is a combination of how you are being pushed, who is supporting you and writing scripts keeping you in mind. Like, there was an espionage series being written keeping me in mind, but then in the end they cast someone else,” he says.

That must have been quite a miss for an actor, who loves depicting men in uniform on screen. “It’s something I wanted to do in real life, but I am glad that I am getting to do it on the screen now. I will continue to look out for roles where I can play someone from the defence services. I am glad I got to play an NSG commando in State Of Siege: 26/11,” he says.

Talking about his journey so far, Arjan shares, “All the work I have done is on my own merit, but there are a few people I would be indebted to like Madhur Bhandarkar who gave me a film like Fashion, or Neeraj Pandey sir who cast me in Rustom with Akshay Kumar. There are a few well-wishers in the industry because of whom I am here.”

On the personal front, the actor says that he is planning to tie the knot soon. “Shaadi plans are in place, I will give the good news very soon. I have always been a little private about my personal life, but the moment I plan to get married, I will announce it in a grand manner. I will introduce the world to the girl of my dreams soon,” he signs off.

— With inputs from Unnati Joshi

BOMBAY TIMES (August 23, 2015)

Ruhi Singh (Miss Universal Peace and Humanity , 2014) was excited when director Madhur Bhandarkar asked her to read out Priyanka Chopra's dialogues from Fashion while auditioning for her debut film, Calendar Girls. Recalls Ruhi, “Priyanka was great in Fashion. So, when I was asked to read from the same script, I was quite happy. I tried to bring in my own individuality to the lines by way of modulation.“ The debutante adds, “When you enter the set of Madhur's film, you hear words like 'jalwa' and 'aag laga de' which was a driving force for us. I had to shoot a waterfall sequence in the night, and it was freezing cold. But, I could only do it because he makes sure everyone feels comfortable before filming.“

Priyanka Chopra, 32, already held the distinction of being one of the most beautiful women in India and the world when she was crowned Miss India and Miss World. She is now not just one of India's biggest stars, but is also the only Indian girl to have sung singles with will.i.am and Pitbull. She is also the first Indian girl to have bagged the central lead in an American television series titled Quantico that will not only be aired across the world but also interestingly, she is playing the part of an FBI agent, which is naturally expected to be given to an American white girl, certainly not to an Indian girl. Priyanka may not have had a mentor and some of her choices may have gone wrong, but she has been fearless in making them anyway. Even her worst critics cannot deny her her talent and hard work. Over an hourlong conversation in her Andheri home, ahead of her upcoming family entertainer Dil Dhadakne Do, she talks to Bombay Times about the brutally honest Zoya Akhtar, her commonality with Kangana Ranaut and why she needs to get married to the man she loves. Excerpts:

Given that so far Indian actors have only played marginal roles in Hollywood, the trailer of Quantico surprised everyone as no one expected your role to be so central and prominent.
I didn't expect it either. I always knew that I was the lead in the show as I had read the pilot. But when you see it, it was overwhelming. I have always wanted to travel the path untravelled. And I don't like failing, so even if you give me a small job, say clean this room, I will clean it in a way that you won't find a speck of dust here. I have been like this since I was a kid. I like doing things well, I like pushing myself. And I have had my share of failures and some of my choices have not worked out, but that's the way I am. So, when Kelly, the casting director of Quantico, met me in India in my van when I was shooting for Gunday, the only request I made to her was to please give me a role that did not stereotype Indians. I told her, 'I will not headline a show because I am Bollywood and where I will sing and dance.' Not that I don't like it. I am very happy wearing bindis and doing thumkas in India and will provide music for my show as well, but I don't want my show to see Indians as only that. I didn't want a part that had anything to with the fact that I am Indian and she said fine. After competing with other very big stars, I bagged the role of the FBI agent, a bad-assed super smart girl. Even when I lived in Newton with my mausie for a couple of years while going to school, I was always under pressure to not be Indian and had to dress and speak differently, just to fit in. Kids would ask me, 'In India, do you go to school on an elephant?' It used to irk me and upset me, so, in one of my school presentations on India, I took all the high-rises and the fancy cars and the rich people like the Ambanis and the Forbes list with the Indians in it as that was my defence mechanism. To play an FBI agent, it is assumed that they will choose a Caucasian girl. No one could have imagined that they would have an Indian girl play that part. So, in the show, they have made me half-Asian and half-Caucasian as my father is white, mother Indian.The ABC Network holds the annual 'Upfronts', where they announce all their new programmes with all their stars in attendance to the world. Can you imagine I closed the Upfronts and that is usually done by the biggest stars. I am just a newbie in the US but because of the power and popularity of Indian cinema, my trailer went viral and it got the excitement amongst international advertisers so much so that Quantico is being now released in 180 countries and that is only because of the backing of our huge population and love for Hindi cinema.

Talk about working with Zoya Akhtar in Dil Dhadakne Do?
Zoya is funny and honest. I too am honest whether it has worked for me or not. I am told that sometimes I talk a lot but that's because I have believed in it. I put my money where my mouth is and Zoya is also like that. She is blatantly honest, but not at the cost of being insensitive. She has one of the most incredible voices as a filmmaker. Women with voices are considered intimidating in the business. I don't know why but a woman with power is always looked at as a threat. Maybe because we are far and few in between, you either have to cheer her on because it is the right thing to do or you feel she is a threat. Men look at women with opinion and power very differently and that's true around the world. Dil Dhadakne Do is a family entertainer. It's about loving your family but a story told from Zoya's point of view. It brings up topics without being preachy. Like for instance, the son of a businessman is the obvious choice to run the business even though he doesn't want to do it, whereas me being the daughter, who is the business-oriented person, is supposed to get married and have children. And this even though it is the affluent, educated family. In a marriage, not getting along with your husband is not enough. I am asked in the film, 'Does he not let you shop?' But I don't need his money, it's just that I don't get along with him. The film is funny and quirky and you crack up watching it as the absurdity is so huge because of Zoya's smart writing. I admire Zoya as a filmmaker and woman. And I champion for women who I admire. I was pulled down a lot when I started as I didn't have a famous boyfriend or Godfather where I was told on my face that another girl had been recommended. I was ostracised because I didn't know the right people and I had to fight to survive and the only way I could do that was by shutting up and working. That's the reason that drove me. It broke me many times but the wins that I had, made me feel that it was all worth it.

Which were your biggest wins in life?
First to win Miss India and become a Miss World even though I was not a model and in fact, aspired to be an engineer. Then Aitraaz was a big turning point in life as I was told that a woman playing a negative part was a vamp and I would not get a heroine's role thereafter, but Rakesh Roshan saw the rushes and cast me in Krrish. Fashion was a big win as I remember being told that people do female-oriented roles only at the end of their careers. But I felt that it was a great part so why should I not do it and that when I am not the messiah for women empowerment, but I never like being denied because I am a woman. In one of my first few films, this filmmaker was talking to the fashion designer in front of me in crude Hindi and saying how people come to watch heroines only if they show their legs and bodies. I walked out of that film even though it was very unprofessional and I had already shot for two days. We come from the land of the Kamasutra and cannot deny that Indian women are sexy and beautiful, but stereotyping a woman and reducing me to just that is not okay with me.

You have tremendous energy to work 24x7 and very high multi tasking ability.
Yes, but I am tired. I have done this non-stop now since 2003. I love what I do and my work is the only thing that has stood with me like a rock along with my family and I enjoy the joy of creating and and it's amazing that I have so many different ways of doing it, but it's very tiring. Yesterday, I came home and wept as I was really tired. I had gone in a week to New York, LA once and shot for Bajirao Mastani for four days. But the great thing is that when you arrive on set, dress up in your costume, put on your make-up, go to give your shot and they say action, between that word action and cut, magic happens.

Do actors compete more with each or the actresses?
Why do we always say women have catfights and men bromance? I think both compete all the time. And I think artistes do, both male and female. But the boys have a lot more at stake. We all compete and should compete but in the last few years I have seen the girls supporting each other more. Actresses in my generation at least feel that it's better to support each other than fight with each other so that we can win the battle of being considered, if not even equal to the actors, at least relevant. Having said that, I want to come first in whatever I do. In fact, I compete with the boys and the girls

What makes you get along with Kangana Ranaut?
Kangana Ranaut and Vidya Balan are two actresses who take the bar and raise it higher. I am so proud of Kangana and admire her. Also today, it's kudos to the audience, who are rejecting rubbish and want to clearly see content-driven cinema, be it with an actor or actress. Both she and I have been denied for a very long time though in different ways. We strangely have this mutual love for each other as we both fight the odds and we both don't show it. Neither does she talk about it nor do I, and we just let our work speak for ourselves. We both know that you can't deny our talent.

Why did Madamji not happen? Was the reason the high budget or the similarity of the script with a recent film?
I love Madhur Bhandarkar. I still believe in the script of Madamji. But at that time the back and forth went on for way too long to make the film and it could not happen as both of us took up other work. It's a mind-blowing script and I still want to do it some day. I am not saying that it will never be made but it's just that I can't do it right now.

Does marriage figure in your life right now?
Marriage figured in my life since I was 12. I believe marriages are made in heaven. But to get married, I need to be in love with a person.

If you are in love with a person, is certification of marriage an important criteria for you?
To me, yes. I am a little old fashioned and believe in the institution and certification of marriage and believe in the respectability that comes with being married to the person you love.

So, if you loved someone, would you insist on marriage?
Yes.

Priyanka Chopra is a self-made girl. She has always lived life on her own terms and tried things that were different. While she is ambitious and positively competitive, she is not scared of failure and doesn't shy away from experimenting. She has stood tall and worked hard in the most difficult times. Ahead of her upcoming biopic Mary Kom, based on the life of the World Boxing Champion Mary Kom, the confident but shy PC was sporting to answer some difficult questions.Excerpts:

What is your key learning playing Mary Kom?
The one thing that I have learned while doing this film is 'Nothing is impossible.' People say it all the time, but imagine ek chawal ugane wale kisan ki beti to become a three-time world champion. I too come from a small town, from a middle-class family, did not know anything about the film industry, I did my wrong films, did my right films, I am controversy queen, I am a thinking woman, I have an opinion, so I lead my own way and it's hard to do that in this business where everyone is uncle, aunty and friends. Only my work speaks for myself and that is a really solitary thing. I am not doing it like other actresses do. I don't hang out with people. I just go to work and this film taught me that that is enough. No one spoke about Mary Kom till the poster came out. But my work spoke and suddenly after the poster, it became an awaited film. So, it reinforced my belief that if you are good at your job, no one can take that away from you.

Who is your emotional anchor at times when you need it?
My mom. Even though today I have become like her mother, she is much stronger than me and has dealt with my dad's passing away that I still have not. My friends like her company more than mine, which I feel very jealous of. We were shooting Dil Dhadakne Do and every one was like, 'PC, where is your mom? She is so cool.' I have a best friend in my mother. With my father, we always had that father-daughter sharam in the eyes, but he always felt me. But my mother, she is someone I have always been close to and I can talk to her about everything, right from my movies to my relationships.

Bombay Times is the only paper that does not give credit to female stars for the box office performance unless the film is riding on the actress such as a Kahaani, The Dirty Picture or Queen. Is it correct for actresses to take credit for box office performance in male superstar films?
I agree. Why should you credit heroines, who are riding on the back of a hero saying that they are 100 crore heroines? You can't give me credit for Don or Krrish 3.

Do you agree that Mary Kom will be a film where your box office power will be evaluated?
I think Fashion was, and despite being an adult film and having Golmaal Returns as competition, it took a good opening. And then, I did 7 Khoon Maaf and What's Your Raashee that did not do well. And now, I am doing Madamji. Box office is king. I don't understand the business of films and have never looked at numbers, but, yes, I will bear the brunt of this film. But also, I want to create a space, where I make at least one good film a year where you see the trailer and say, `I want to see this film.'

Despite you doing so many good films, why is it that the No.1 slot is always oscillating between Katrina Kaif or Deepika Padukone? Does it bother you?
So if a girl does a big film with heroes, only then she becomes a No. 1 heroine? To me, that is not the testament of it. A lot of the films that I have done in my career are not piggybacking on the heroes. I have done the Krrishs and the Dons, but that is not what my career is about. My career is about the work I do. I live life on my terms. When I came, my contemporaries were very different and now, my con temporaries are very different.

Do you feel challenged by the younger actresses today?
They are hugely talented. Alia, Shraddha and Parineeti to me are really stars to look out for. They are great kids, great girls and supremely talented. But I also know that there is no one who can do what I do. I don't know what it is, but whatever I do, I know that I add something to it, be it small or big, there is a quality about me that is very individual to me. I don't want to sound proud or arrogant, but given the gamut of things I do, including pop albums, and the range of films that I do, right from Mary Kom to a Ram-Leela to a Dil Dhadakne Do to a Bajirao Mastani to a Don. Tell me, who can do that? I don't restrict myself and like to push the limit. Sometimes you fail, but I am willing to take the failure.