Priyanka Chopra, who was in London last week, took out some time from recording songs for her album to meet the UK press at Eros International’s headquarters in the city.
The 29-year-old actress attended a press conference to promote her next release Teri Meri Kahaani, directed by Kunal Kohli also starring Shahid Kapoor, Prachi Desai and Neha Sharma.
Chopra, who made her acting debut ten years ago, is excited about the film that was extensively shot in the UK last year. While Priyanka filmed scenes in Stratford upon Avon and Nottingham, Shahid Kapoor and Neha Sharma also shot scenes in Yorkshire.
Read excerpts from the Press Conference here:
The Story
The film is a story about of how in Indian mythology, we believe that ‘janam janam ka saath hota hai’, we believe in soul mates, we believe that people are made for each other in many, many different lives. ‘Teri Meri Kahaani’ is a story of two people who meet in many different lives as different people and have different love stories. It has three different love stories, one in 1910, one in 1960 and one in 2012. It is about the same two people who are born as different people and have different lives and completely different personalities and their love stories. We have just kept it to three and we will keep three more for later (laughs).
The three characters; 1910, 1960 and 2012
I identify with the 2012 character, Radha the most because it is the most like me. I also enjoyed playing the 1910 character. My character’s name is Aradhna and she is a full Punjabi ‘phatakri’, she says anything and is feisty and she is really fun. In 1960 I play a girl called Rukhsar who is a Lucknow bred, very well-brought up and very well-spoken movie actress. The three characters are very different from each other. I think, what I enjoyed more in each character was creating the disparities between the three. I enjoyed that more.
Experience of shooting in the UK (Stratford upon Avon and Nottingham)
It was a lovely, especially Nottingham because it has such a campus atmosphere and all we did really was hung out, wrap up at 6pm and go out every evening. It was really fun because the atmosphere was really young and even Stratford upon Avon was actually fun. The film is about University, about two people who are at University and they meet. It was fun to be in a real atmosphere.
Teri Meri Kahaani – The Title
We had a bunch of ideas and we kept asking people and we could not think of an apt title for the film for the longest time. But Teri Meri Kahaani was something we loved from the beginning but we thought that maybe, we could come up with something more innovative. We loved Teri Meri Kahaani the whole time because it encapsulates the film completely because it’s their story in every lifetime. We could not come up with anything better and think that this is the best title.
Inspiration for the characters
I did not watch any films for inspiration. I am playing a real character in 1960 and there are no films, I could watch for 1910 anyway (laughs), but it does not make sense because when you watch movies of that time, they are acting and we want to show what their real lives would be. We wanted to show what the backstage life of a movie actress from 1960 was. I could not watch anything for reference. It was all imagination and being an actor, I guess and Kunal (the director).
Shahid Kapoor
Shahid is a really good co-actor and more than that, I think he is a really good actor. You can give him any part and he plays that really well. I am hoping as it’s a love story and as we have not done one before, that people will like us in the movie.
Music influences for her album
I am working with some amazing people. I am trying to create pop music but it will have some Indian influences as well. I want every Indian person or everyone who loves India, to be able to relate to the music I am making, even though it is in English and even though it’s Pop music for the world.
Hanging out with Katy Perry
I took Katy out for a Rickshaw ride. We were having lunch and she said that she wanted to do something Indian. I could not think of anything more fun. I have not been in a Rickshaw in a long time so basically, I did it for myself (laughs). It was fun and she is a really cool girl.
Working with RedOne and Will.I.Am
I have been in the studios for the last five to six days now and we have come up with some really fun stuff. RedOne really gets what I am trying to do, especially because he is Moroccan and understands the worldly influences. That is what I really want in my music, for it to be global. I have worked with so many different kinds of producers and even Will.I.Am for that matter, is someone who understands exactly what we are trying to do.
The Final Album
I can’t actually confirm if any of these people will be on the album because I am working with so many and by the end of it, the label will decide which the best songs are. I don’t know whose song will stay and whose won’t. I am just making as much music as I can. When we are really happy, we will see which ones will stay.
Being in London
I have just been in the studio and kicking back, meeting people I know, meeting you guys and being comfortable. I did not have any time yet. I get up in the morning and go to the studio and come back really late at night. I was hoping to go to Hamleys, it is my favourite thing to do, whenever I come to London.
Produced by Sunil Lulla, Vicky Bahri and Kunal Kohli, Teri Meri Kahaani starring Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra will release on 22nd June 2012 in the UK through Eros International.
httpvh://youtu.be/-i7llrHxpRs
