There is no doubt that Priyanka Chopra is the new Indian sensation in the West. From a hit television series, Quantico, to the lead villain in an iconic movie, Baywatch, the actress is riding quite the wave. Yet, it did not come easy, and definitely not all by herself. In Anupama Chopra's new show, Beneath the Surface, the actress spoke about a vast range of subjects from her character, Alex Parrish, to the Indian directors who shaped her as an actor. No surprise that Vishal Bhardwaj and Sanjay Leela Bhansali lead the list.
Asked about what excites her as an actor, Chopra replied, "I usually am prepared when I come into the scene...where I come from, where I am going, what my character would be feeling, but if a director surprises me also, I get very very excited."
The actress named Bhardwaj and Bhansali as the two directors who gel perfectly with her. She said,"Vishal Sir for sure. We work like poetry together. It's amazing to watch. He'll say something, then I'll add something to it.. which eventually leads to something completely new. We never come in prepped."
The actor has a similar relationship with her other big director, Bhansali. Bhansali helmed Chopra's Bajirao Mastani (2015). Chopra went into cricket mode speaking about Bhansali. She said, "I'll do a scene, then he'll maaro a googly, and I'll have to think about it. Then I will maaro a chakka. So we make each other better."
Chopra added, "Anurag Basu is another director who opened my eyes to a whole new dimension."
Seeing how Chopra has found a new dialect to add to her cinematic language, it feels like these mentors have done a phenomenal job.