My Offer Did Not Come To Me Because I Was Priyanka Chopra’s sister – Parineeti Chopra On 9th May, Wednesday at 8:30 PM on ETC

Parineeti Chopra

Mumbai, 8thth May: Parineeta Chopra bagged the certificate as a brilliant actor in her first film itself. Among the recent bunch of newcomers, Parineeti is surely the brightest and most talented of the lot with an infectious amount of energy. Her debut film Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl (LVRB) didn’t click at the B.O. yet Parineeti sweeped all the Best Debutant awards last year. Now the feisty actress is looking forward to the release of her first big solo film- Ishaqzaade where she is paired opposite one of the most promising debutants Arjun Kapoor. Both shared a candid conversation with film analyst Komal Nahta on the show ETC Bollywood Business on ETC.

Already being considered as the next big thing to happen in Bollywood, talking about his break, Arjun said, “I met Shanoo Sharma, who was the casting director at YRF, in a very strange way. She saw my pictures on Facebook. She had met me long before when I was overweight ,weighing around 140 Kg. At that point, no one including me thought that I would become an actor one day. When Shanoo saw my pictures on Facebook, she thought I am a random person who’s got an interesting look. Shanoo messaged me on Facebook and then she asked me to meet her and then she realized whose son I was. She ask me to give an audition. I had never given an audition before, I was merely talking to dad but I never knew that anyone can give me so much confidence to me so soon. One day I got a call from Aditya Chopra and he asked me to come and meet him at YRF office. I had met almost all the stalwarts in Bollywood industry because of my family background but I never met him. So, I was pretty nervous to meet him. But when I met him, I found him pretty normal, he gave me the confidence to become an actor. Eventually I got lucky…I got the movie in my first audition itself and I signed a three movie contract with YRF. Every Bollywood actor dreams of working in Yash Raj film one day. I was lucky to start my career with Yash Raj Films.”

Talking about her sister Priyanka Chopra, Parineeti said, “My offer did not come to me because I was Priyanka Chopra’s sister, I had to go through an audition. She is like any other elder sister, who scolds me, takes care of me. If I have doubts about anything on films..she is the first one I call. I know if I ever fail or fall, she is always going to be there for me. She gave me only two advise; firstly be yourself no matter what and secondly work really very hard. ”

Parineeti made her way through the tinsel town. Narrating her story she said, “I have always grown up thinking. I want to be a banker rather than an actor. I was studying in England and then moved to London to hunt for a job in a bank. I wanted to become an investment banker. Due to recession, even after being a good student, I wasn’t getting a job. So I came to Mumbai to stay with my sister thinking I will do an internship and then go back to London after six months. In YRF, I met Rafique..later my six month internship got converted into a job..till then I kept flowing with the flow and had stop thinking about going back to London…and started thinking that I want to become an actor..that is something I want to do. Later I met Manish Sharma during band Baja Baraat and one day I told him…‘Main soch rahi thi ki main actor banu.’ Toh wo hasa and said..good plan!!…After around 20 days, Manish told me, why don’t you meet Shanoo, casting Director..she will train you…I met Shanoo..she shot me in the camera..I had no clue what was happening….Shanoo showed the same clips to Adi the same night and told him there is this girl you should really check out and he found me good enough. After this entire episode, Manish told me that three months ago before i met Shanoo, Adi had told to Manish that ‘ye jo marketing me ladki hai na Parineeti..she would be the best Dimple(Character name of Parineeti in Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl)either you ask her to quit or I will..she has to be in the film..’ and I had no clue that all this is happening in YRF..and finally I gave my resignation after Band Baja Baraat, and thought of joining a Film school. Few days later Manish called up, asking me to come to YRF office..and there Adi offered me a three movie contract with YRF. Adi said, it is not a typical solo actor launch movie..but if you do well in this movie we can work out the later in due course and that’s what exactly happened.”

This is just a glimpse of the spicy conversation. To get your hands on the entire gossip tune in to ETC Bollywood Business on ETC on 9th May, Wednesday at 8:30 PM.