“What I do not appreciate from co-stars is solo performances. I have known actors like that. They don’t wait for you to finish your line. They are just waiting to say theirs. An actor can’t tell me what to do, a director can. I don't like to get bullied. Don’t allow your co-stars to tell you that they are better than you.”

Priyanka Chopra’s masterclass at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 in Bhumi Pednekar’s words, “felt like therapy.” The latter graciously moderated the session, where Priyanka spoke about ambition, pride, persistence, what she stands for and what she won’t absolutely put up with.

The session opened with Bhumi sharing a personal story and her admiration for PC. She revealed, “Priyanka’s brother Siddharth and I studied in the same school. It was our annual day (2008-2009), and I was told that Priyanka Chopra was our Chief Guest. We were supposed to perform but as soon as I got on the stage, all I did was stare at PC for 10 minutes! I was this gawky teenager who had just seen her idol. The beauty of this is that I met Priyanka many years later, after my debut and she remembered.”

One of the most inspirational lines of the evening came when Priyanka spoke about her pursuit of good work and ambition. She shared, “There was a particular film that I really wanted to be a part of. I got my agents to call the filmmakers and offer to audition for the movie. I had to do 3 auditions for it, and I got the part. I am not afraid to pursue my dreams and my pride doesn't get in the way of my dreams ever. If you want something, don't let your pride get in the way of your ambition. Ego is the end of everything. Hard work, humility and persistence is all you need to be successful in any field. Come from a place of no pride and empathy. You only pull others down when you are insecure. Try to be a leader in your field and for that, you don't have to be on top of your game."

Stressing on the need for a work culture that is collaborative and based on respect for each other, Priyanka stating her views, says, “Cinema is a teamwork. Actors stand on the shoulders of 200 people. We get way too much importance. What I do not appreciate from co-stars is solo performances. I have known actors like that. They don’t wait for you to finish your line. They are just waiting to say theirs and the camera catches that. I have also known actors who tell you how to do a certain scene. If he/she is senior and makes sense, I will hear it out, but not from someone who just wants to bully. I won’t stand bullying. An actor can’t tell me what to do, a director can. Don’t allow co-stars to tell you that they are better than you. In these situations, I confront gently. Main gently ladhai karti hu. You must be respected as an individual. I don’t believe in hierarchy.

In the digital age, social media can consume you and that’s not healthy according to PC. She said, “My job is a job. It’s not who I am. It’s not my existence. Social media is tough. You can’t get consumed by public opinion. It’s easy to troll but what’s viral is not true. You need to shut down the noise. If someone’s calling you useless, does that make you useless? It doesn’t. Let the naysayer say whatever they want to. Just be true to yourself, God, and your family. Just do the best you can and that takes away all the pressure. If you can stand up for what you believe in, you must. There are times when I can, and I have and there have been times when I can’t, and I haven’t. As a public person you are expected to have an opinion on everything and it's tough. You may or may not know enough about a particular subject to comment. It’s important to discern a moment, and that’s something I learnt in my 40’s. You learn to navigate your path. When it gets overwhelming, I shut down.”

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Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ unwavering ambition to push boundaries outweighs her inner fears.PC will be seen in a significant role in the upcoming Matrix movie — The Matrix Resurrections, starring Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, which hits the theatres this week. In a chat with us from the US, the actress speaks about her big Hollywood release, crushing on Keanu, lack of opportunities in Hollywood and why she decided to drop her surname on social media.

Every ’90s kid had a crush on Keanu Reeves! Come on. Speed, Matrix, the works. However, when I was playing the character that I do in the film, you didn’t think about those things. I was very intimidated just being there. I had all my scenes in one night. All those scenes have lots of words and I had to say them all in one night. I had 45 minutes to say them, so I was totally focussed on my job. I went in well-rehearsed, yet was very nervous to say all those words in front of the whole cast and Lana (director Lana Wachowski). I told myself, ‘I’ve done this for 21 years. I got this,’ and I did. When you are batting in the big league, you’ve got to pull your socks up. After we finished the movie and started promoting it, I allowed myself to get a little giddy! (smiles).

Keanu is considerate, gentle and a kind person. He is socially aware and has the ability to read the room. That’s what makes him kind and compassionate. He is just very aware of everyone around him.

I don’t think that’s accurate. I feel people need to be conscientious about creating opportunities for people of colour. As South Asian actors, we definitely don’t have enough opportunities in Hollywood. We have to fight much harder to get lead parts or prominent roles in big commercial movies. It takes a lot of work. I have been working in Hollywood for almost 10 years, and just about now, I am finally doing the work that I was looking forward to. It takes a lot of work to educate the world about the talent and recognition that South Asian entertainers deserve. We are one-fifth of the world population, but you don’t see that represented in English language entertainment. I hope that I can shoulder the responsibility to get more opportunities. It took a lot of pounding the pavement to be able to even create that for myself.

I don’t know! I wanted the username to match my Twitter, I guess. I just find it really amusing that everything becomes such a huge deal to people! It’s social media, guys. Just chill out!

“This is magic. How did they do this?” That was Priyanka Chopra’s first thought as she, a teenager then, watched The Matrix (1999) in a theatre with her friends. Over two decades later, she has the answer. The actor has joined the cast of The Matrix Resurrections, the fourth instalment in the successful franchise. “I was in India when I got a call that Lana [Wachowski, director] wanted to meet me. I was on the next flight to San Francisco. That’s how excited I was. To be a part of the legacy of The Matrix franchise is an honour,” says the actor, the excitement palpable in her voice.

The Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss starrer was shrouded in secrecy at the beginning. Was Chopra told at the first meeting that she was being considered for a role in the iconic sci-fi actioner? “Initially, it was called Project Ice Cream [its code name]. I was only told about my character. Eventually, Lana gave me the script after I met her. [We were] in her office and she was like, ‘Just grab the script’. It was fresh off the presses,” she laughs.

Chopra steps into the role of Sati, whom she describes as “a woman with a purpose”. “There’s something powerful about a woman who is intentional. She knew [all along] that she will cross paths with Neo [Reeves’ character].” The latest in the series is the first to be helmed solely by Lana without her co-director and sister Lilly. “She’s one of the few people in the world who knows what the Matrix is. So, it was important to follow her leadership.”

Shooting with Reeves, Jada Pinkett Smith, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jessica Henwick was a cherished experience for the actor, who gleefully says, “The first time I saw the entire cast standing together, I had a bit of a fangirl moment.”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is happy to see the industry come a long way from the time when male actors enjoyed an unhealthy clout
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 16, 2020)

She has always taken the road less travelled in a career spanning 17 years. From starring in a film that exposed the behind-the-scenes controversies of the fashion world (Fashion; 2008) to playing a character with grey shades in 7 Khoon Maaf (2011) or stepping into the shoes of boxer Mary Kom (2014) in her biopic, Priyanka Chopra Jonas has always earned applause for her acting chops.

Currently, Bollywood is focussing firmly on films with female protagonists, and Priyanka feels the industry has come a long way from the time she started off in films. “When I first started working, we were told, ‘Heroes will decide who the heroine is going to be.’ This was 2002 or 2003; it was on the beck and call of main actors. I’m sure it still happens with a lot of films, but what has changed is the audience, and the acceptance of watching films with content instead of the gender of the lead actor. That’s one big change we’ve seen,” says the 37-year-old, who was last seen in The Sky is Pink (2019).

Priyanka’s all set to star with Richard Madden in an international event series Citadel, developed by Russo Brothers, who are known for directing Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and End Game (2019).

She also adds that there were a lot of naysayers who dissuaded her from taking up roles that eventually turned out to be her career milestones. “When I did Fashion, everyone told me, ‘Women do female-oriented films — I hate that word — when they want to win awards at the end of their careers.’ And, when I did Aitraaz (2004), I was told, ‘People will consider me a ‘vamp’, and my ‘pure’ image will get tarnished.’ I didn’t know any better, so I ended up doing them. There was no one to teach me. Now, we’ve actors like Deepika (Padukone), Alia (Bhatt), Kangana (Ranaut), Vidya (Balan) come out there and say, ‘These are the stories we want to tell, and we will do it so well we will compel you to come in and watch them.’ When I started doing it, very few people were doing it.”

Not just acting, female actors are even producing films that narrate stories that they want to share. “Yes! You start producing films when you want to tell stories no one else is making,” Priyanka continues, “You think, ‘If you’re not going to give me the kind of films I want to do, I’ll just make it myself.’ In America, that’s what I’m doing. It’s a testament not just to the actor but also the audience who are becoming gender blind. My life’s dream is that we stop referring to films as ‘female centric’, actors as ‘female actors’, directors as ‘female directors’, or athletes as ‘female athletes’. It’s just athlete, director, actor!”

Married to singer Nick Jonas, one can’t miss how much the two adore each other as it’s evident from their regular social media posts. Does Nick watch her films? “He loved Mary Kom,” she smiles, “and started asking me boxing-related questions. He cried through The Sky Is Pink, and video called Shonali (Bose), the director.” She says, “These are the kind of films artistes look for. He was invested in that film because we met during the shoot of this film, started dating and got married. He was on the sets while we were filming it!”

Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas says it’s her dream to see Indian cinema take over the West
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 27, 2019)

To say that Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a household name across India, would be an understatement. She is perhaps our biggest name working abroad too, singing, acting and doing what not! After carving out a music career in the West with songs such as Exotic and In My City, she went on to star in films such as Baywatch (2017) and Isn’t It Romantic? The show Quantico, in which she played the lead role, remains her biggest achievement there.

However, it wasn’t easy for PeeCee. She tells us that it was all too new for her when she first went to try her luck in Hollywood. “When I went to America,” she begins, “there wasn’t a precedence. I didn’t have a road map to follow because there was no one who had done it before. I had to figure it out, walk into rooms, introduce myself, say ‘I am an Indian actor, my name is Priyanka Chopra, these are the kind of films I want to do’. I demanded playing leading roles, instead of settling for parts which were the stereotype of what a Bollywood actor would usually get. Those also came to me, but I was very clear about what I wanted to do.”

The 37-year-old adds that such was the perception then, that Bollywood was reduced to a ‘genre’ on streaming platforms. Says Priyanka, “I dug my feet in, persevered and did what I needed to do. It’s my dream that Indian cinema becomes global. We are one of the biggest movie industries in the world, and we have been reduced to a genre. If you look at streaming services, you will see genres such as ‘horror’, ‘comedy’, ‘drama’ and ‘Bollywood’. Bollywood is not a genre, it’s an entire industry! It’s my life’s dream to see Indian cinema and artistes take over the West.”

Many Indian actors such as Ali Fazal and Radhika Apte have been getting work abroad lately. Does Priyanka see a positive shift?

She agrees. “Somewhere, people don’t see Bollywood with the lens that they saw it with when I started working in America. I got a lot of ‘So you must be a good dancer?’ and I used to be like ‘Ya, I can sing, dance and act, I am a triple threat!’ So, you have to stop people in tracks and say ‘I am not just one thing’... It took a lot of work, I am so glad. I hope beyond what we are seeing, I want to see Indian actors and movies become mainstream global entertainers. That’s what I have done with Quantico, Baywatch and the movies I am doing like The White Tiger and We Can Be Heroes. We need to see more Indian talent,” says Priyanka, who was recently seen in the Hindi film The Sky is Pink after a break of three years from Bollywood.

And that is what exactly happened when Priyanka and actor Mindy Kaling got themselves the chance of a lifetime. Priyanka tells us, “To me, it was a massive achievement when Mindy and I walked into Universal Studios, came out with a deal for an all-Indian starcast in a Hollywood movie, in a romantic comedy! That’s never happened in a mainstream rom-com! I remember, we came out, held our hands, and we couldn’t believe it. It took us fighting the fight. I am hoping to be able to create so many more opportunities for Indian actors in my small way. I am obviously not saying I can change everything. But in my small way… that’s my quest.”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas on marriage, ambition, and what it means to be a woman in charge
Deebashree Mohanty (BOMBAY TIMES; November 24, 2019)

You’ve said your mother played a crucial role in forming your views about life...
Both my parents have sacrificed so much of their lives for me. My mom was at the peak of her practice — she’s a doctor — and she quit that and moved to Mumbai because of my aspirations. I became Miss India at 17, and my dad was like, “She’s too young. She can’t be alone.” And my mom was like, “Alright, my daughter’s ambitions matter to me, and I’ll do whatever is required for her dream to be realised.” When I wanted to go to America at 13, my mom and dad made that happen. My family has always been an incredible support system for my ambitions and my dreams.

Has marriage made you see life in a new way? Also, what attracted you to Nick Jonas?
I feel marriage has made me calmer, and far more content. What attracted me to Nick was that we have similar values – we’re both equally dedicated to our families and our careers. So, marriage has only made me grounded and happy.

You are a woman in charge in a world, where gender equations are being talked about; but a lot of people still aren’t comfortable dealing with powerful women. How do you navigate your way without getting worked up?
I grew up in a family that encouraged me to have a voice of my own. My parents have always taught me to be my own person, and have an opinion about the world around me. So, I am who I am. While I do make an effort to accommodate everyone’s views, I will not change for anyone.

Tell us about your journey as an entrepreneur...
When it comes to work, I am a beast, and on that level, I connect with a lot of people around the world because ambition has no colour, it has no language, it has no border or country. Ambition is pure ambition. I have it and I wish for the women of the world to not be afraid to have it, because we have been told for such a long time that ambition is a bad word for a girl. This ambition drives my entrepreneurial pursuits. And I think that has taken me from strength to strength.

How important is it to love yourself?
How can I do and achieve whatever I have, without loving myself? I need to be able to live with my decisions, even be happy with them if I’m to succeed in my endeavours.

Being a global icon, you have to juggle multiple decisions within a stipulated time. How do you manage to stay ahead of the curve?
I think when you are wearing as many hats as I do, decisiveness comes with the territory. There’s no free lunch in the world. It takes dedication, hard work, perseverance and a really good team.

You’ve spent your life in the limelight for almost two decades. How difficult was it to manage?
I’ve been in this industry since I was a teenager, so I’m very used to it… it’s a part and parcel of my life now. So, you just accept it and take everything that comes your way in your stride.

There is a lot of negativity all around, especially on social media. How do you deal with it?
I take it with a pinch of salt. I understand that social media is a platform to express positive and negative emotions, and yes, I do wish that people tried to be nicer, kinder, and better versions of themselves. But this isn’t an ideal world, and I can’t really control what people say about me, but I can control how I perceive it and if I choose to let it affect me or not.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas tied the knot in December 2018 PHOTOS: RAAJESSH KASHYAP/ HT

Priyanka Chopra Jonas says that she is happy to be married to someone who has the ‘ability to calm’ her
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 31, 2019)

If there’s one Bollywood celebrity who has truly showed the world what talent Indian actors possess, it has to be Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Be it Hindi films, Hollywood projects or her singing career, she has managed to strike that perfect balance. But this has obviously made her life hectic.

Ask Priyanka how tough managing everything along with her personal life gets, and she exclaims, “It’s tough, but I’m glad I’m married to someone who understands my ambition and drive,” referring to her husband, singer Nick Jonas. The couple got married on December 1 last year. Priyanka continues, “He says this is why he fell in love with me. For both of us, our professional lives are very,very important. We both come from a non-entitled background; our careers were not given to us. We both have worked hard to be where we are, and have had a two-decade long career each. We know what it takes to do what we do, and support each other.”

For a couple, spending time with each other is integral to the relationship, more so when the people belong to two different parts of the world. How are Nick and Priyanka managing so far? “We have a rule,” Priyanka spills the beans, “Nick and I don’t go beyond two-three weeks without seeing each other. Wherever in the world we are, we keep in touch, and video call all the time! It’s important to make the effort to have the other person involved in your life. We do that.”

The actor asserts that “having a work life-personal life balance is very important” for both men and women. “You see more and more working couples today. We put too much pressure on ourselves and our relationships. (People tend to think) ‘It won’t work out if I take on too much work’ — and that’s unfair. It will work out if you want to make it work.”

The 37-year old has her hands full currently. Priyanka will be seen next with Rajkummar Rao in the adaptation of the novel The White Tiger, and We Can Be Heroes. She was also seen recently in the critically-acclaimed The Sky Is Pink with Farhan Akhtar, a Bollywood film she did after a gap of three years. People called it her ‘comeback’. Ask Priyanka whether it bothers her that her Hindi projects are called a ‘comeback’ just because she was busy with other projects, and she says, “I don’t care what people say. ‘Comeback’ ‘Go back’ ‘Here’ ‘There ’, people’s opinions don’t matter. I don’t even think about that. To some people it might be a ‘comeback’, to some it might not!”

Clearly, nothing bothers Priyanka. So, then how’s married life treating her? Her face lights up as she says, “Damn, it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me! We complete a year this December. I wish I knew it was so amazing, I would have done it before (laughs). It’s great to be married to someone who’s my rock, and has the ability to calm me. It’s given me wings in such a beautiful way!”

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 8, 2019)

Yes, she’s an international actor, she hobnobs with crème de la crème in the West, sashays on the red carpets of Hollywood with the glitterati and all that jazz, but deep down, she’s every bit the cool desi girl. Someone who dared to dream big, while unnerving a few, and inspiring most. And behind all that success and glory is years of sweat and toil. Priyanka Chopra Jonas — always high on confidence, spunk and unbeatable willpower — tells us, “I have never been a sharer of my life. I share a lot of trivial things, but the other side of it, I have never spoken about it”. In a conversation with BT, the actress talks about how her upcoming film, The Sky Is Pink, helped her heal, the lessons she learnt from her dad, living in two homes (across continents) and her dream life with hubby, Nick Jonas. Read on...

You are constantly shuttling back and forth between the US and India. While Mumbai will always be your home ground, does America also feel like home now?
Well, my apartment in New York feels like home, as I have been living there for over two-and-a-half years. I love going back there. Now, Nick and I are looking for a place in Los Angeles, and that will be the first home that we will build together, so I am really excited about it.

What is the first thing you do as soon as you land in Mumbai?
There are two flights that I usually take. One, where I land at around 3 am, and the other, at 1 pm. When I take the latter, the first thing I do is have an elaborate lunch at home. My mom gives instructions to the staff at home to start readying the food as soon as I head out of the airport. I miss my comfort food and ghar ka khana in the US. We get Indian food almost everywhere in America, and even my chef in New York knows how to make some Indian dishes, but my home food in Mumbai tastes different. Yahan ke ghee mein hi farak hai.

Coming from Bareilly to Mumbai and winning the Miss India and Miss World titles, then following your Bollywood dreams, stardom, fame, et al. Then, gradually making a transition to the West with American shows and Hollywood movies, and of course, marrying a pop star. Your life seems to be what dreams are made of, at least from the outside...
I can’t begin telling you what all it took to get there. As a person, I have never been a sharer of my life. I share a lot of trivial things, as I like doing that, but the other side of it, which is all about my trials, tribulations and strife, and things that emotionally hurt or affect me… I have never spoken about it. I don’t want to play victim, I don’t need sympathy and I don’t want people to say, ‘Hai, kitni mushkil life thi, dekho achha hua ki acchi cheezein mil gayi usko’. You don’t need that. Everyone’s life is tough, and everyone has their own struggle. I am really glad that my life looks like a fairy tale, as that was the intention (smiles). I am really blessed, and even though the journey has been arduous, and tough at every step, the end game has always been good and positive. I feel that someone is looking out for me.

After your 2016 release Jai Gangaajal, this week, we will be seeing you in Shonali Bose’s The Sky Is Pink. We believe that your journey with her started long ago, even before you met Nick, and the two of you developed a great bond...
Shonali came to my New York home early last year and finalised the film. At that point, Nick was nowhere in the scene. Cut to June, we start dating and by August, we were engaged, and that is when we began filming. By then, Shonali knew that we would be getting married at some point during the year. It (marriage) was right in the middle of the schedule of a massively difficult movie. In retrospect, it was quite ironic; it was such a joyous moment in my life, and here we were, shooting this film where we are talking about difficult things like death.

Shonali said that nothing distracts you from what you are doing. So, you could be shooting a tough scene, and cut to a few hours later, you could be pouring over wedding details….
This will be a slightly long-winded answer… when I first started acting in movies back in 2003, I didn’t know what acting was all about. I thought that it was a glamorous profession where you wear lovely clothes, dance and look beautiful. In the course of the next few years, I realised that it was such an amazing craft and what I bring to it, is what it will be. Whatever happens between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is my job and that space is my playing field. The moment I realised that, I had to figure out how to do it. I also realised that if I stay in my character, I get bored. It works for other actors and I tried that, too, but it does not work for me. I prep before I come on set, I do workshops and I know my lines pat. But on set, I do chichorapan, laugh and enjoy myself. When the camera and lights turn on, I switch to my character. It is also because I know my character really well before I start the movie, so much that my character becomes my best friend. If you ask me how my character will react in a particular situation, I can exactly tell you that. I prefer it this way, as it keeps my performance spontaneous and alive.

Is there any character that was hard to come out of after the shoot ended?
This one (The Sky Is Pink). Not the role, really, but it’s about the way you get attached to a film. This movie has impacted me a lot in a positive way. It helped me deal with emotions, which I hadn’t dealt with before. I had a lot of dark emotions regarding my father’s death and for a long time I didn’t know how to process it. I always looked up to my dad and he was my friend. We used to call each other twins as we were the same people. I didn’t process that loss after he passed away, I was angry, and I took it out on myself. I was self-destructive in a way and I emotionally went through all that. But through the course of this movie, that changed. The whole thought behind the story is, why not celebrate the life that a person lived, instead of living through the sorrow attached to him or her not being there. There was such a lightness to that thought, that I think I healed with this film. I had to open up my heart and go to deep places for this movie. It is special, as it is inspired by real-life people who thrive in extraordinary circumstances.

In the past, you have spoken a lot about confidence being that one key element, which has helped you get this far. Does all that willpower and confidence stem from the fact that you didn’t have it easy, and you had to have that fighting spirit to sail through and survive — in two different entertainment industries across the globe?
I taught myself to be confident, you are not born with it. It is an exercise that we all can teach ourselves. I learnt it when I went to boarding school in Class III. I was this brat, as I was my parents’ only child for a while, and then my brother came along, and I got brattier as he was getting all the attention. I was sent to boarding school and the environment was so different there. My dad sat me down and told me that the beauty of going to a new place is that you can be whoever you choose to be and no one else will know the difference. Every time I entered a new environment, I told myself… who do I want to be now, I can be that person. That’s why I say that confidence is important; that is the easiest thing you can teach yourself and the best thing you can learn.

Would you say that you are fiercely ambitious? And did you ever have people around tell you, ‘Oh, she is too ambitious’?
Yes, I am fiercely ambitious, though I think that the word ambition has a really bad connotation, when it comes to women. When it comes to men, it is considered sexy and hot, and people say, ‘Wow, he’s so ambitious’. But while referring to ambitious women, they will say, ‘Badi ambitious hai!’ You get the difference? I chose to defy that. I have always chosen to defy that. I am fiercely ambitious, and I am proudly ambitious. I will always be! I feel girls have been denied opportunities for such a long time that if you allow ambition to become a bad word, women will not get or seek opportunities. Today, we are in an environment where we are surrounded by some amazing men who stand by us and want us to thrive. They are listening to us. Yes, all of them out there are not like that, but I choose to focus on the positive. So, at this stage, you can’t let social norms or stereotypes dictate your behaviour, because then, we will never evolve.

You are part of two massive movie industries, and you have also featured on Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women List (in 2017 and 2018). What are your thoughts on the pay parity issue, which has been a raging discussion in the West, too? In India, do you see a significant change?
Look at how amazing it is that the conversation has started, and it is so loud. Pehle koi sochta bhi nahi tha. I was told by a filmmaker many years ago that if I don’t settle for the price I was being paid, which was about two per cent of my male co-actor’s remuneration, I would be replaced by another actress. I was also relatively established by that time. It affected me and at that point, I told myself that I will be irreplaceable, and that there will be a day when you will only want a Priyanka Chopra in your film. I strove to work towards that. The pay parity debate reflects how women have been devalued in society in every aspect. A woman has to work twice as hard to make the same amount of money as a man, in most cases. This conversation must turn into action, and it will take people to get woke and the industry to get woke. It is happening slowly. Pay parity is still looked upon as… zaroorat kya hai? Today, in our industry, we have so many female actors and filmmakers whose films open well, and the audience go to watch them because they are good. With this change, even the remuneration for women needs to change. We have also worked just as hard. I believe that we are going in the right direction, but yes, a lot of work still needs to be done.

On another note, it will be a year of being married. So, is Nick catching up on Bollywood movies? Which are his PeeCee favourites?
Hmnn…not really. He watched Mary Kom by himself one day. I was traveling and he called me and said, ‘Babe, I am missing you, so I am watching your movie’. I thought that was really sweet. Right now, we are both discovering each other’s professional lives. Before I met him, I didn’t know much about the Jonas brothers and their music. He is discovering my work, too. We share things like…. this is my first video, this is the movie I am embarrassed about and stuff like that.

We believe you have said that having a baby is your priority right now...
Well, it is not like it is priority; what I said has been misconstrued, as usual. I said that I hope we are blessed with it, whenever it happens. Yes, it is something I would want for us as the next step… like making a family and building a home together.

Priyanka Chopra on her comeback Hindi film, The Sky Is Pink, her production plans and making her long-distance marriage with Nick Jonas work
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 6, 2019)

From becoming the face for desi talent in the US by headlining the ABC show, Quantico, to her marriage to pop star Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is evidently in a content space. And yet, for anyone who knows her well enough, she is always hungry for more.

We catch up with her at Mehboob Studios, Bandra, and chat about why film sets need to go plastic-free given the alarming state of the environment, but soon enough, we nosedive into a conversation about what made her choose a fairly non-commercial filmmaker Shonali Bose's The Sky Is Pink even when industry bigwigs were lining up at her doorstep.

"I have never picked up conventional or mainstream films. To me, a good story matters the most. I am a movie buff and this was a story that sucked me in. Be it a Bajirao Mastani or a Mary Kom or Barfi! they aren't conventional. Of course, I do tentpole films but that's not the only thing I depend on. Now, the audience is different. A few years ago, when we were marketing our films we would say, 'leave your brains at home and watch the movie'. People don't want to leave their brains behind at home anymore. I understand that people want to shaken, stirred and moved while watching a film," starts off Chopra.

She admits that she has not watched Bose's films. "She keeps telling me, 'How did you say yes to me without seeing my work?'" Chopra says that the story moved her to bits. The Sky Is Pink, in Shonali's words, is the love story of Niren and Aditi Chaudhury, the parents of Aisha, an author and motivational speaker who died of pulmonary fibrosis.

"This story is profound and funny. It hits your heart. I have been acting for 16 years. I have worked with many new filmmakers. When I talk to a filmmaker, I can sense how much they know a subject. The script spoke to me. When I met her in New York, I knew instinctively that I wanted to be directed by her. There are filmmakers I have worked with and have not been able to trust. I wanted an immersive experience and Shonali had clarity. She told me how she lost her child. There is a certain lightness about death. She told me that people go when their work on Earth is done. You shouldn't mourn their death but celebrate their life. I hadn't dealt with my father's death as well. But she made me realise that I didn't need to mourn him. People who love us don't want us to grieve. This film discusses a heavy subject but is told by Aisha who is light-hearted. Her parents decided to give her every kind of adventure and love that they could think of. I was amazed that these real-life people who created an extraordinary life for their daughter. It was incredibly inspiring for me as an actor. I went through a roller-coaster of emotions, laughing my guts out and crying a little through it. The film made me call up those I love and tell them how much I cherish them."

Chopra was attracted to the story of enduring love of Niren and Aditi who met as high school sweethearts. Now, at 55 they still hold hands, give each other a peck and survived the loss of two children. "Their chemistry is overpowering, 70 per cent of couples separate after the death of their children. To be happy and have compassion is hard in such scenarios. Life is not a pursuit of rage but happiness. When my dad was suffering, I remember the toll it took on mom [Madhu]."

She derived the character from her mother as much as she did from Aditi and Shonali. "My mother is similar to Aditi, fiercely protective and her own person. We are taught as girls to have that kind of independence, have opinions and have a voice. I want the world to see that a free-spirited family can be well-knit and doesn't take away from sanskars."

Though Chopra is back with a Bollywood film after a gap, she says, "I always had films coming my way. But during Quantico, I had to give 11 months of my year to them. This is why I did Baywatch, A Kid Like Jake and Isn't It Romantic because one month is not enough to finish a feature. Post-Quantico, I knew what kind of film I was looking for. I knew Alex Parish so well that I needed a role to scare me. I wanted to be on my toes, get sleepless nights. I knew I wanted to be fed as an artiste. It's a responsibility to play a real-life person. I had to play a mother which I am not yet. I remember a scene required me to go so deep into me that once cameras stopped, I held Shonali and cried. I was getting married when I was shooting, so there was no time to plan the wedding in between the film."

With The Sky Is Pink, Chopra also turns a Hindi film producer too. "I want to do web series and features across languages. I am an EP on the Netflix film, The White Tiger. I am producing the Mindy Kaling film as well as web shows. I like taking chance on new talent because I never had that."

'We Inform Each Other Of Every Tiny Detail'
Priyanka Chopra Jonas and husband Nick Jonas lead hectic lives thanks to their professional commitments. PeeCee says, "We have rules. We don't go two weeks without meeting each other, no matter where we are in the world. We have to stay in touch. We have to inform each other of every tiny detail. Our schedules are opposite when we are in different time zones, but we FaceTime our way through this. It's a modern-day long distance relationship, which is hinged on how much we want to make it work. We love each other's company and we are each other's best friends. Sometimes, I wake him in the middle of the night and shriek out something that happened with me and he's there. We get how important our work is to us. We are ambitious and driven and in love in equal parts."