LUCKNOW IS LUCKY FOR ME: PARINEETI

Actor Parineeti Chopra feels ‘third time lucky’ to be in Lucknow for the shoot of Jabariya Jodi that she is filming along with Siddharth Malhotra these days.

“My most important film as solo lead Ishaqzaade was shot here. I don’t know how this has happened but I have done 10 films and out of them three were shot here,” says the actor during a chat with HT City.

Besides Ishaqzaade and ongoing Jabariya Jodi, she has shot Daawat-e-Ishq here. A major portion of her debut film Ladies vs Ricky Bahl was also shot in the Old City here but she was not part of that schedule.

So, you have a special bond with the city now?

I feel connected with the city as I shot Ishaqzaade when I was nobody. When we were shooting here, my debut film (LVRB) had not released then. I used to visit Hazratganj for shopping and savour chat and no one used to recognize me. Today, that is not possible and I feel odd that the same location has become so different for me. I have very fond memories of my first film as a lead heroine, my most important and toughest film.

What’s Jabariya Jodi all about?

I can’t talk about the film as we

have just started shooting of the film. All I can say is that Sid and I’m back together after Hansee Toh Phasee. In the previous film we had a sweet young chemistry and in this we have a grown up chemistry.

We are told you had to learn the local dialect for the film?

For us it was very important to observe the language people speak here. In the film, the girl is from Patna so we are also shooting parts of other cities too in Lucknow. My home part is being shot in Malihabad. We have coaches from here who teach us diction but the lingo has been kept very casual and colloquial (mix of Lucknow and Patna) like young people speak. I hope we are able to embrace the local culture and do just justice to it.

What’s next lined up?

Namastey England will release in Dusshera. So, when I go back I will start promoting it with Arjun. I will be shooting Kesri (Akshay Kumar) in NovemberDecember and Sandeep Aur Pinki Faraar (with Arjun) will be released in March.

After Ishaqzaade, two more films with Arjun?

Arjun is one of my closest friends and we have the most amazing relationship because both of us started off together. I genuinely have a great and honest friendship with him and because of that we have no insecurity or stress against each other. I bring out the best in him and he brings out the best in me. Due to our love and fight relationship people in industry call us Tom and Jerry.

And, working with Akshay Kumar?

Obviously, the amount of respect and comfort will be completely different. I have shot for 2 days with him. As we both are Punjabi so we have a special connection. Akshay sir is one person who makes his costar very comfortable. He also visited the sets of Namaste England as he is the original guy from the prequel.

What are you singing next after ‘Maana Ki Hum Yaar Nahi’?

I have already announced my next single but then I am not finding time to shoot the video. I have done a scratch recording. I have not sung for any of my films. Maybe, I will be recording a promotional song for Namaste or Jabariya.

What about English songs as it’s a route to arrive in international market and Western films?

Yes, sure why not but that will be much later! I want to do Hindi songs and movies right now. I am just five-year old in the industry right now and want to consolidate my work as initial years are very important.

DawateIshq was set on the backdrop of Awadhi food. How much do you connect with food?

I don’t eat much nonvegetarian food now so I am not able to gorge on the kebabs and other items Lucknow is known for. I think the amount of food we had during that film my quota for life is completed. I am very emotionally connected to food but I have to take care of my health. I have to remain fit so I ensure that I don’t overeat. I do cheating at times but then it’s in moderation.