It’s a scorching summer time afternoon in Mumbai and a protracted day of press for Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The actress was welcomed again dwelling in India with a lot fanfare, along with her musician husband Nick Jonas and daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas in tow. “It is so strange when someone says, ‘Welcome Home’ here,” she muses as I ask her what it’s like being again within the metropolis. The actress is as chirpy as ever, keen to speak about all the things she has been as much as. And she has been as much as quite a bit. She featured within the Oscar-nominated The White Tiger and Keanu Reeves-led The Matrix: Resurrections in the identical 12 months; she wrote a sprawling memoir; opened a restaurant in New York; welcomed her first youngster through surrogacy. And now, she’s headlining a big-budget spy thriller sequence, Citadel. The Russo Brothers-backed present sees her carry out mind-boggling stunts in high-octane motion sequences alongside Richard Madden. The Hollywood manufacturing has worldwide instalments, together with an Indian model. In a microcosm, it’s telling of Priyanka’s world stardom. Yes, she is an Indian. But she’s not simply the token Indian forged member. She’s made positive of that. And when the desi woman talks about it, eyes glowing with conviction, it’s inconceivable to look away.
What went into creating that crackling chemistry with Richard Madden in Citadel?
It’s an excellent factor Richard and I get alongside, initially. That actually went a great distance. We each care deeply in regards to the present, so we each got here into the shoot with a variety of preparation. I’m a prep-oriented woman. I do a variety of homework earlier than I get right into a present. So I’ll ask 1,000,000 questions. I actually wish to find out about my character. I take into consideration what I’m doing, and I’m very intentional about it. When we had been doing these desk readings and I realised that he’s additionally an actor who did his preparation and cared, it clicked. He didn’t come out and simply did his strains. That’s once I knew that we might deal with one another. We had one another’s backs. That helped quite a bit.
The present unleashes a barrage of motion. What goes into all these stunts?
I’m somebody who has been doing motion for a really very long time. I’ve carried out varied characteristic movies and TV reveals. So I belief my physique. It’s one thing that I do know to do now. But I needed to have the ability to elevate what I accomplish that that it’s totally different from what folks have seen me doing. And working with the Russo Brothers gave me that chance as a result of they’re unbelievable at it. They’ve clearly carried out Marvel films like Extraction and The Grey Man, the place they do these slick, cool motion sequences. So I actually leaned on them for stunts.
Speaking of the Russo Brothers, are there any superheroes you wish to play?
I don’t know. I really feel like the best way we’ve got our Bollywood blockbuster films, the Americans have superheroes. Humari masala films, unki superhero films hain. So positive, now that I’m working in Hollywood, I wish to be part of a film universe. It could be cool if I received the chance to try this. But I additionally received the chance to create my very own multiverse with Citadel, which goes to be really worldwide and various as a result of we’re going to go to so many various international locations with it. We have the Indian instalment and the Italian instalment. And we’ve got the power to take action far more. All these tales are going to be related. It’s cool. I’m not somebody who covets a lot. I don’t assume that I need that particular character. I’m not a coveter. I search for alternatives and I hunt down what I get. I’ll benefit from it.
Since your transfer to Hollywood, how various has the trade turn into?
They have to do much more. If you concentrate on main women, what number of Indian main roles have you ever seen? There are so few we’ve got seen coming into Hollywood. In the final 5 years, there was a giant demand from actors who say, “I don’t want to be a sidekick anymore.” I do know I did. I didn’t wish to be one of many checks within the field that claims we’ve made our forged various—that we’ve got an Indian, an Asian, and so forth. I didn’t wish to have that. And I do know a variety of my colleagues don’t wish to try this. So I’ve taken many conferences the place I’ve clearly instructed producers, “Don’t put me in stereotypical parts.” I don’t wish to do it. I’m going to work arduous for you as a result of I do know my rattling job. I’ll come onto the set and do 10 % greater than what you requested for, or perhaps even 20 %. I will likely be higher than anybody you’ve forged as a result of I’m not afraid of working arduous. It requires promoting your self. And I hope that perhaps by seeing me and different feminine South Asian abilities on the forefront, for instance, Simone Ashley in Bridgerton, Mindy Kaling in The Mindy Project and all the things else she’s doing, or Deepika Padukone, by seeing much more of us, Hollywood will get used to the truth that that is regular. It isn’t particular or uncommon. I’m hoping that’s what the subsequent era of actresses inherits from my era of actresses.
What are a number of the joys and challenges hooked up to representing India on a world scale?
I first represented India once I was 17 years outdated, once I went to Miss World. It was a terrifying feeling at the moment, as a result of what? I’m representing a nation of a billion folks. That’s loopy! At that point, I didn’t perceive the gravity of the scenario. But as my profession progressed slowly, I began understanding that what I began with had turn into a lot larger than me. It’s not simply, “Priyanka Chopra is an actress who does movies,” it’s turn into bigger. All of that isn’t misplaced on me. It’s made me cautious in regards to the decisions I make. I’ve made deliberate decisions and methods. Like the Pre-Oscars South Asian Excellence Party was a deliberate transfer to indicate Hollywood that we’ve got energy in numbers. We aren’t simply two or three individuals who you see on posters. We’re filmmakers and writers. We come from one of many largest movie industries on the earth and we’ve got the potential of standing toe to toe with any worldwide filmmaker. So I’m attempting to make it possible for I take that duty significantly. But on the similar time, I’m nonetheless a lady who’s an actor who’s attempting to construct a profession for myself.
Between one thing like Citadel and Love Again, what’s your means of embodying these wildly totally different characters?
I search totally different roles and I’ve at all times sought totally different roles. If you have a look at my filmography – I did an Aitraaz, then I did a Fashion and a Barfi! I at all times search for these characters as a result of I don’t wish to play myself. I wish to be an actor who’s instructed that “Oh my gosh! You have a wild filmography”. I had the wonderful probability to try this in India. I haven’t but carried out that in Hollywood and that’s one thing I’m seeking to do within the subsequent decade of my life. It’s searching for a significant selection. I’m glad you introduced up Love Again as a result of that movie is in a very totally different course than Citadel. Meera, my character, is totally different from Nadia. That was intentional. It offers me the vary and skill to make myself nervous and excited and construct on these attention-grabbing characters.
If you may give one be aware to your previous self, what wouldn’t it be?
I might say sit back. It’s not that unhealthy. I used to take the smallest issues very significantly. I’m a Cancerian and I’m delicate so I might go into my shell. I used to get damage emotionally. It made it arduous for me to stand up and go to work as a result of I used to really feel such a burden after any failure or any misplaced alternative. Especially, in my early 20s once I was first beginning out within the movie trade. I didn’t know anybody. I used to be a scared woman who got here in and labored with a number of the largest stars, who I grew up watching on TV. But I believe that the one be aware I might give that woman is that you just’re going to be okay. Smile a bit of extra and benefit from the course of.