Page 24 - April 2021

STARS REVEAL

Priyanka Chopra Jonas Abhay Deol

In a career spanning over two decades in the film industry, Underrated — this one tag refuses to leave Abhay Deol, who
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has pretty much done it all-- a model, turned 45. Ever since he made his debut in Bollywood with
an actor, a philanthropist, a singer, a film producer, a global Socha Na Tha, he has always taken the less trodden path,
icon, and now an author. giving us films such as Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Dev.D (2009),
But Priyanka, who now happily shuttles between cities all Manorama Six Feet Under, and more.
around the world because of her work commitments, says Talking about tags he is given time and again, Deol’s stance
there is still a lot to be desired. towards them remains that he doesn’t mind them. His journey
“I guess I will always be Unfinished…,” she says, referring to as an actor started with directors who were all pretty new.
the title of her memoir. She quickly adds, “But I see that as a “I had to create opportunities, they weren’t coming in the
good thing. It means that are so many more opportunities for early part of my career because people wouldn’t put money
me to explore.” And by exploring Priyanka means both as an behind those films. When I used to narrate the story of Dev.D
actor and as a producer. to people, they would say, ‘It is an art film, no one is going
The 38-year-old is already keeping quite busy, she is a part of to watch it’. I got the producer and finance together for
The Matrix 4, a romantic comedy, Text For You, and several my director for Manorama… Dibakar (Banerjee, director
OTT projects. She is also collaborating with many content of Oye! Lucky!...) was one film old… my first five films had
creators in the west on various projects. debut directors back to back. I had to really create that,” he
“In the near future, I want to take on more roles that make recalls.
me nervous and uncomfortable. I want to check in with my Deol continues and reiterates that as far as ‘underrated’
artistic self and lean in as a producer and tell the stories I or ‘overrated’ is concerned, “I guess it’s better to be called
want to see — female stories, South Asian stories. I want underrated than overrated for sure (laughs)... I don’t know
to extend my entrepreneurial ambitions. I want to have a what to say. I am thankful for where I am today. I know that
family... there’s so much still left to do. I feel like it’s been 20 the reason I can do what I want to do, have the freedom to
years that I’ve been doing this, but there’s so much that, God go where I want to go, and be who I want to be is because I
willing, given the opportunity, I still want to do,” she explains. didn’t play the star game.”
In the process of attaining the success that she has, both And that entailed not focusing on anything other than his
in India and in the west, Priyanka has become quite a role craft itself for Deol, who was recently seen in the web show
model to many. And her only advice to all young women, 1962: The War in the Hills.
who look up to her, is to take their life into their own hands. He says, “I didn’t invest a lot of money in marketing myself, or
“Your dreams and aspirations matter. Being ambitious is PR, or become a part of a clique, that I would catapult myself
not wrong... essentially don’t let anyone tell you how to live off the backs of my co-stars, directors or producers. I stood
your life, especially if they are putting you in a box of how on my own. I am sure they stopped bigger opportunities to
a woman should be and what she can and cannot do. Stop come my way. It gave people the opportunity to say ‘oh your
persecuting yourself, first of all, and stop trying to carry the stuff doesn’t work’ or has a limited audience.”
weight and the burdens of insecurities that you have made However, none of that affected the actor. “It doesn’t matter, at
up in your heads. I think what is important is to be humble least I am happy doing what I do. That matters to me more.
and to understand that you might not know everything. So, I have grown up around fame.,, I have seen it in my family
forgive yourself for not knowing everything, and start learning (Abhay is Dharmendra’s nephew). I was never enamored by
from the beginning. As soon as people have that kind of an it. Just because you are successful doesn’t necessarily mean
attitude, it really takes you a long way,” she concludes. you are happy,” he quips.

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