Actress Priyanka Chopra speaks on Mary Kom, the 100-crore club, surviving in the industry and being a game changer. Excerpts:
Your comment that female actors should not be credited as ?100 crore heroines? when they are riding on the back of a hero has started a controversy. Can you elaborate?
Priyanka Chopra: Firstly, I was talking about myself. I?ve been a part of many ‘100 crore successes’ such as Krrish, Don 2, Krrish 3, Agneepath and Barfi. I cannot say that Krrish 3 or Don 2 is a Priyanka Chopra film even though nobody can play a better junglee billi than me. I?m a part of these films but you can?t give me complete credit. Yes, I will take credit for Barfi because it was my film as much as it was Ranbir?s. Just like with Katrina in Rajneeti, Deepika in Chennai Express and Alia in Two States ? these films were as much about the girls as about the boys.
Undoubtedly this has been the year of ?girls in films?. Do you think a change is coming?
Priyanka Chopra: Of course. With Alia in Highway, Rani in Mardaani, Kangna in Queen, definitely we are on the threshold of change. The girls have proved that if they get substantial parts people want to watch them. But this change of ?female driven films? has a lot to do with what is happening in society.
In what way?
Priyanka Chopra: There is a metamorphosis taking place in our country. With so many atrocities happening against women, they have understood that they have to take care of themselves. Today?s girls are not willing to sit at home with their head bowed in shame. This societal change is being mirrored in films.
You are a decade old in the industry. What has been your biggest lesson?
Priyanka Chopra: That there is no time for anything. We are a very small community of people who have that privilege when so many people love us. We should use this privilege to do something important. One day, the curtain will fall but that doesn?t mean that your story ends. It will be the beginning of something else.
What are your dreams for the next decade?
Priyanka Chopra: I just want to evolve. For me, it?s not about being No 1, 2, 10 or 20. I want to walk my own path. I want to be relevant. I want to change the game a little bit.
