‘ACTING IS AN EMOTIONALLY DRAINING JOB’

Parineeti Chopra says nothing is more important than her films, but admits, as an actor, it can be stressful to be constantly masking your actual emotions

Parineeti Chopra is a powerhouse of energy, and so she was at her candid best and didn’t let her energy come down even for a moment throughout the promotions of her recent release, Namaste England. The actor, who is currently shooting for her upcoming films, Kesari and Jabariya Jodi, simultaneously, is also geared up for her next, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. In a freewheeling chat, Parineeti, who turns 30 today, tells us the secret of her energy, and waiting out the bad times. Excerpts:

How do you manage to stay so pumped up all the time?

I feed off the energy of whoever I am with. Until a few days back, it was Arjun [Kapoor; her Namaste England co-star]. And when people love you so much, there is no day off. Also, I’m not someone who wants to sit and think ki maine shayad kuch kam kiya, after the release of my film.

Does juggling films get tiring?

Yes. Honestly, acting is a very emotionally draining profession. As an actor, you are constantly fighting your actual emotions, or the stresses of your life. But there’s nothing more important than our films.

You often go for solo trips in between work. Is that your mantra to stay rejuvenated?

One hundred per cent! For me, there is no other way. Before I took that first break, I worked for 400 days straight without a break — no birthday, no New Year, no Diwali. I collapsed at the end of it. It was during a shot when I fainted. That’s when I realised that I’m not built to be this person. I may not have been at my fittest best, also. But now, I know that travelling is my biggest passion. I need to be out of the city, once a month for at least three-four days, for me to feel recharged. Or else, I don’t know what I am working for. I don’t have kids or a husband to take care of, so I like to pamper myself with holidays.

Golmaal Again released exactly a year before Namaste England. Are you signing fewer films now?

Actually, I did go on a signing spree and signed four films, which will all release next year. I hope that the audiences accept me in those. But Dibakar’s [Banerjee] film got pushed to next year otherwise I would have had two releases this year, too.

You’ve had a successful debut (Ishaqzaade, 2012) followed by hits and misses, and a ₹200crore film. Does it create any pressure?

I started my career and had four hits followed by three films that didn’t do well, and then Golmaal made ₹230 crore. So, I feel life has a weird way of balancing itself out. When I started, I didn’t know what failure was until I saw my first loss in Daawat-e-Ishq (2014) and everything felt negative. But, everyone used to say ‘Don’t worry, the tide turns for every actor’. And then, Golmaal came and made enough money [to compensate] for four of my films (laughs). So, you have to be patient.

PHOTO: SHAKTI YADAV /HT Parineeti Chopra