Priyanka Chopra Was Uncomfortable Wearing Bikini: When It Comes To My Body...

Priyanka Chopra’s life has undergone big changes since she first started her career in Filmistan. Back then in 2002-2003, she was shy about doing scenes in meagre clothes. In an early interview with Zoom, we recalled our conversation with Mrs Jonas while she was excited about her first hit. She said, “The best thing about Andaaz is, it’s made an impact in the so-called interiors of the country. I’m especially glad it’s getting record collections in Bihar because that’s where I was born. Suddenly major filmmakers seem interested in signing me. I’m so grateful to them. It’s very very flattering. You know neither Lara Dutt nor I was here in Mumbai when Andaaz was released. But on the eve of the release, we spoke and did that little secret prayer that we do whenever we plunge into something at the same time.” ALSO READ: Priyanka denies there’s any sense of rivalry with Lara. “We competed with each other for the Miss India contest and we went on two different international titles. And we both won. Our first stage show was together and the first film we signed was together. So far it’s all gone phenomenally well. I think we’re lucky for each other. I hope there’ll never be any sense of one-upmanship between us. I really like her. I’ve known her from the time I started modelling. She helped me find my bearings, and I’ll never forget that," she added. Though she shocked purists with her uninhibited performance with the critics and audiences likening her to Mumtaz and Sushmita Sen, Priyanka was far from uninhibited. “When it comes to my body I have to be within my comfort zone. I know exactly what I can and want to do. While signing a film I want the producer or director to lay all the cards on the table. If there’s a hot scene I better not be conned into doing it. During Andaaz, the director Raj Kanwar clearly told me I needed to wear a bikini. I told him I wouldn’t be comfortable in just a bikini. So I wore something on top of it. I think leaving something to the imagination makes one sexier.”ALSO READ: While the audience was surprised by Priyanka's bold physical performance, she dismissed the focus on her appearance as unimportant. “I don’t think I was doing anything especially bold. I don’t agree with people who think Indian cinema is undergoing a sexual revolution. There’s a change. A couple on screen can express their feelings a lot more openly than two flowers touching one another. But directors still have to draw a line because it’s finally the family audiences looking at us. Fortunately, they’ve liked Andaaz.” Priyanka at 21 had told us, “I know God has a game plan for me. Honestly, I never planned anything. Even now I sign a film on instinct. Even though I mustn’t sign films for money. I'm very particular about the set-up and banner. I want to make sure that every time I sign a film it will reach completion and I, will be projected well.”