Priyanka going an extra mile to make her first ever love story materialise into a quality product in a big way.

Priyanka finally takes a love story
Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 15:34 [IST]
By: Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Hungama


Priyanka Chopra has done around 30 films in her seven year long career so far. In this stint of hers, she has come up with several successful films. These could have belonged to drama or comedy genre with a couple of them even bringing the sensual side of her. However, an unspoken fact about her filmography is that she has never worked in a quintessential romantic musical ever where she would have played her age.

Says an industry observer, "It is tough to believe but if one actually goes through the list of films that she has done, it is actually a fact. Yes, she has worked in hit films but they have mostly been dramas (Fashion, Kaminey, Andaaz, Waqt, Aitraaz). A few of them have been rom-coms (Mujhse Shaadi Karogi) or action (Don, Krrish) but a young love story has always eluded her. Anjaana Anjaani is the first time ever when she is getting into a lovey-dovey mode.

Apparently, Priyanka too is aware about this fact and doesn't have any qualms admitting that. Says director Siddharth Anand who managed to introduce a new zone to Priyanka, "She actually knows that she has never done a love story over all these years. I guess for both of us it has turned out to be pretty good situation as now we can promise a different facet of her acting capabilities and personality to the audience."

In fact so attached was Priyanka to the film that she involved herself into the making of the film in a big way. Says a highly placed unit member who saw Priyanka's progress right through the making of Anjaana Anjaani, "Actors do come up with suggestions and carry a certain point of view, especially so when they are successful and have made a place for themselves in the industry. In fact it is appreciated as well because they have gathered good knowledge about the medium of cinema and hence their inputs are most welcome. However, the vigour with which Priyanka was making contributions to Anjaana Anjaani was amazing. It was clear that she wanted to participate in the capacity of much more than just an actor."

Siddharth's acknowledgement for his leading lady's efforts are understandable. After all when he announced the 'jodi' of Priyanka and Ranbir, there were murmurs around the untried pairing. However, he trusted his vision, went on to shoot Anjaana Anjaani and wrapped it up in quick time post which he designed a few striking promos that caught everyone's attention.

"It was a mini battle that I was fighting and though in my mind I knew that I had won it, I wanted audience to announce their verdict. For that, it was very important that the theatrical and song promos worked,” reflects Siddharth, "Fortunately for me, the response was stupendous all over which made me finally believe that I had won the battle. Now it's time to win the war with film closing in for release."

Though producer Sajid Nadiadwala wasn't present on the sets during day to day filming of Anjaana Anjaani, he is well aware about Priyanka going an extra mile to make her first ever love story materialise into a quality product in a big way.

"Yes, Siddharth has told me about the ways Priyanka was passionate about her role and the film", says Sajid, "I had a sense though that she was made for the big league when she worked for my Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. It was just her sixth film but she wasn't nervous at all despite a set up that comprised of Salman (Khan), Akshay (Kumar) and David (Dhawan). Today she has reached an enviable position and is an original rock star that we have. It was just right for her to be seen in a romantic musical after all."