Priyanka’s affinity with special effects films
From Noreen Aslam

MUMBAI—Priyanka seems to share a strange affinity with F-X films in Bollywood. First “Krrish”, which introduced a new spectrum of special effects in Hindi films, and now “Don” where the F-X according to her is “top of the line”.
Priyanka told IANS in an interview: “I got lots of offers. But I haven’t signed anything except Goldie Behl’s ‘Drona’ with Abhishek Bachchan. Like ‘Krrish’, ‘Don’ and ‘Love Story 2050’, this one too will have loads of special effects.
“I’m very excited about it. It’s going to be like a comic book on screen.
And after ‘Bluffmaster’, I get to work with Abhishek again. He’s quite mad.”
In “Love Story 2050” Rs.600 million is being reportedly set aside for a special effects spectacle.
Priyanka, who has just returned from Adelaide after shooting for Harry Baweja’s “Love Story 2050”, is tired but as spirited as ever.
“The Australian premier and his wife had come to wish us luck and they both made an appearance in the film just like that. We shot for a month-and-a-half there.
“I didn’t miss home that much - my parents were in the US for dad’s surgery. My brother was the only one in Mumbai. I panicked when he had to be hospitalised for viral fever. I wanted to fly back home. There was just no time to do so.”
She brightened up at the memory of the Australian sojourn.
“I really enjoyed myself. The first-half, which is based in Australia, is done. Now, we move to the second-half in November. I’m very excited about this because a futuristic sci-fi film, and that too on this scale, has never been done in our cinema.”
She cuts down all comparisons with “Krrish”.
“They’re two entirely different films. ‘Krrish’ was about a superhero in the present. ‘Love Story 2050’ is about a normal guy going into the future. This has never been done before. It gives a lot of performing scope to Harman, and even to me. It’s his baby. And I’m doing my first double role. I move into two time spectrums.”
Priyanka’s styling is a special treat in “Love Story 2050”.
“Styling is important. Earlier, I wasn’t so finicky about styling, though I was never careless. But I realise looking good is all-important for a leading lady.”
She’s all praise for her co-star Harman Baweja’s professionalism.
“I’m his senior career-wise. But he knows much more about cinema than I do. Don’t forget, he has been assisting his dad for some years. He became a producer at 21. He’s far more knowledgeable about cinema than I am. In fact, I took a lot of technical advice and learnt about camera angles from Harman.”
Right now Priyanka is nervous hell about “Don”.
“It’s a very different character. To try and step into Zeenat Aman’s shoes is scary. I didn’t even try to fit into her shoes. I instead made my own shoes. I play a tough chick. Doing all my stunts was fun and challenging. We tried to give a very different look to my character Roma.”
She’s all praise for Shah Rukh Khan and her director Farhan Akhtar.
“Farhan knew exactly what he wanted, and how to get it. He’d let me say and do what I wanted to. But at the same time he kept a tight check on proceedings. As for Shah Rukh - I’ve been his fan forever.
“So, you can imagine what it was like working with him. He’s one of the most unselfish co-stars I’ve ever worked with. He makes you so comfortable. He puts the film above everything else. Just watching him at work is a treat. Some of your co-stars can be very selfish on the sets. And that’s sad. Shah Rukh realises that the film needs to work before a performance can.”