Priyanka Chopra is charged!

With a National Award in her kitty, Priyanka Chopra continues to revel in “Fashion”

“I have found out that I am one of the youngest actresses to win the National Award. To me it's cool,” says Priyanka Chopra, on the eve of the National Award ceremony.

Priyanka, who has won the award for playing a complex character in Fashion, is right for Bollywood actresses generally turn to award winning directors and scripts when they are towards the end of their career. “I have never planned my career. I don't come from a film background, have taken baby steps to this stage, but one thing I had clear in my head that acting is about versatility. I didn't say no to a negative role in Aitraaz and was not unduly perturbed because Meghna Mathur (the character she played in Fashion) had shades, which are not expected of a typical Hindi film heroine.

And even now I am doing Anjana Anjani, an out and out romantic film but at the same time I am preparing myself for what could be the role of the lifetime in Vishal Bhardwaj's Saat Khoon Maaf, where I am playing a lady who has had seven men in her life. And by the end of the year I would be doing some high-class action in the sequel of Don.”

Interestingly, in an industry where after a few hits, actresses become loyal to certain banners, Priyanka has been in demand across the banners. She is as popular with Bhardwaj and Bhandarkar as she is with Roshans, Chopras and Johars. “I am not here to make friends. Yes, you tend to get close while shooting but at the end of the day it is all professional. People say I am diplomatic. I say I am Gandhian in my thought. I expect directors to cast me only if I suit a character they have in mind. Also, my family has never put me in a do or die kind of situation. To me acting is like any another job and like any other industry there are good and not so good people here.”

She agrees it is easier said than done. “I don't believe in the theory that the actor should relate with the character somewhere. I feel the challenge lies in playing a character which I don't identify with. I tell myself how I would react, if I am put in such a situation. Like the one in Saat Khoon Maaf. Here the challenge is to play a complex biographical role at a young age.”

Director's actor

In the last few months we have seen her giving authentic performances in some not-so-good films. The latest being Pyaar Impossible, where she makes the film at least watchable. Has she moved beyond the tag of director's actor? “I am improving but I still depend a lot on my directors. I still can't judge the meat in a script. I was circumspect about my ability to do justice to Fashion before Madhur convinced me and initially, I refused Kaminey as I thought it is a male film with barely half-a-dozen scenes for me. Vishal followed me to Miami and convinced me. He proved right as Sweety turned out to be a strong character, which I believe stayed with the audience.”

Priyanka Chopra wins best actress National Award

Besides Tamil film-maker Bala winning the Best Director Award for his 'Naan Kadavul' and South filmdom bagging several key awards, it was Bollywood that made it this time at the 56th National Film Awards.

Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra has bagged her first National Award for her performance in Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Fashion”.

The winners of the 56th National Film Award for 2008 were announced here on Saturday.

The award for the best popular film went to Dibakar Banerjee’s “Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!”, a satire on people’s obsession with wealth.

The Rahul Bose-starrer Bengali film “Antaheen,” directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury was named the best film. 'Antaheen', starring Sharmila Tagore, Rahul Bose, Aparna Sen and Radhika Apte, is a relationship drama.

Tamil filmmaker Bala won the honour of Best Director for his film 'Naan Kadavul.'

The award for Best Actor went to Upendra Limaye for Marathi film 'Jogwa', which also fetched the trophy for the Best film on social issues.

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra bagged the Best Actress award for her role of an aspiring model in Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Fashion' which also bagged the Best Supporting Actress Award for Kangana Ranaut who played the role of a troubled model.

Actor Arjun Rampal won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role of a failed rocker in 'Rock On'.

Shreya Ghoshal won the Best Female Playback award for 'Antaheen' and 'Jogwa', which also brought the Best Male Playback Singer award to Hariharan.

Kannada film 'Gubbachigalu' was adjudged the Best Children's film. The award for Best Special Effects went to 'Mumbai Meri Jaan'.

Malayalam film 'Bioscope' won the Best Jury Award while the trophy for Best Child Actor went to Shams Patel for Hindi film 'Thanks Maa'.

Actor-turned-director Nandita Das' film 'Firaaq' is selected for best editing and best art direction categories.

'Little Zizou' (English, Gujarati) was adjudged the best film on family values.

Neeta Lulla was selected for best costume designer for 'Jodha Akbar'. The film Jodha Akbar was also selected in the best choreography category.

'AFSPA 1958’ was adjudged the best non-feature film for the courageous depiction of the non-violent resistance of the people of Manipur.

Films Division produced ‘The Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi — A Reconstruction’ has been selected under the category ‘Best Biographical/Historical Reconstruction/Compilation film.’

President Pratibha Patil shall confer the Awards on the winners in March.