‘I DON’T MAKE FLOW CHARTS ABOUT MY CAREER’

Priyanka Chopra says that she’d rather not mess with ‘God’s plans for her’ and prefers to let her career run its natural course

With a flourishing career in the West, an equally illustrious career in Bollywood, a Padmashree and a National Award in her kitty, there is no stopping Priyanka Chopra. The 34-year-old actor is currently shooting in New York for her second Hollywood film, A Kid Like Jake, that also stars Big Bang Theory actor, Jim Parsons, and would go on to shoot the third season of her US TV series Quantico after that.

What keeps her going, we ask? “Being an achiever. I don’t want to ever not be an achiever. I have never had a plan. I have never had a trajectory of plans in my life and I don’t sit and make flow charts about my career. I have never had set-targets. They say man proposes, God disposes, so I swear by that. Destiny has been so serendipitous to me. I don’t want to mess up a good thing by making my own plans. I just make choices that I feel are right for me. Sometimes they’re right and sometimes, they’re wrong. I guess what works for me is that I am very driven by nature. If I am given a task, I like to ace it. Even if I have to make the bed, the corners will be perfect. I am that person,” she says.

While a lot of Bollywood actors chose films to make that big splash, she chose to make her debut in the West with an American television show. But, she says it’s not like she has done anything conventionally in India too.

“I have just enjoyed being able to make my journey in my career. My career hasn’t been a replica of someone else’s. Every step I have tried to take has been different including the choices that I have made with my films. I have always been a little different.” The actor goes on to emphasise that she has been a pioneer in a manner, where choosing roles and characters is concerned.

“I want to do things first. I don’t like doing things that are done before. But it’s not like I am thinking that now all this has been ticked off my list. I instinctively react to content. If I like a character, I do it. Even if that means I have just eight scenes, like I did in Kaminey (2009). I don’t need to be a title part or do lead roles. I feel that being a part of a great film is very important. I choose characters more than the medium,” Priyanka explains.

I guess what works for me is that I am very driven by nature. If I am given a task, I like to ace it. Even if I have to make the bed, the corners will be perfect. I am that person PRIYANKA CHOPRA, ACTOR

PHOTO: GREG ALLEN/INVISION/AP