By Radhika Bhirani
New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS): She enjoys star status in filmdom, but Priyanka Chopra says she missed having a guiding light in her journey. Now as a producer the former beauty queen plans to promote fresh talent.
She calls herself a "baby producer", but the 32-year-old wants to launch new talent in the film world with small, but good projects.
Talking about a producer's role, Priyanka told IANS: "I didn't know I was going to produce films. I want to do make small movies and introduce new talent."
Priyanka, who made a successful transition from a beauty queen to an actress and is among the most formidable names in the Hindi film industry today, says the encouragement to venture into production came from her own experience.
"When I came into the film industry, I had no one to hold my finger and show me the way and say, 'This is the right direction'. I never had a mentor and I never even had friends who knew anything about films.
"So for me, it was a very lonely and scary journey, and somewhere I wanted to make a production house which is a place to introduce new talent - writers, directors, musicians and actors through maybe small, but good films," she said.
It is at this juncture that "Madamji" came knocking at her door.
"Madamji", her maiden production venture, will be directed by Madhur Bhandarkar and it'd star the National Award winning actress herself in the lead role. The shooting of the film is likely to begin towards the end of November.
"It so happened that Madhur came up to me with 'Madamji'. Then I felt that if I do a film with Madhur, with whom I have a great working relationship (thanks to 'Fashion'), and if I produce it, it will give me a good foothold in film production.
"I'm just a baby producer - nothing compared to the big films (producers) out there. So, it was a spontaneous decision to produce 'Madamji'," added Priyanka, who has further strengthened her mark as an actress via "Mary Kom" this year.
Spontaneity is something that comes naturally to this beauty, who has gone beyond the realm of acting to establish herself in the international music scene, apart from making her presence felt on forums for girl child rights and the need for a green environment.
Priyanka says she never plans her moves.
"I'm extremely instinctive and spontaneous. So whatever comes my way, I just give it my best. I didn't know I would become a musician, I didn't even know I wanted to become an actress. I wanted to be an engineer! So, whenever I propose, god disposes.
"I've decided to let him only make my plans. The only thing I do is work really hard at every opportunity that's given to me, and to whatever instinctively I feel like doing," said the multi-talented star, who will next be seen in Zoya Akhtar's "Dil Dhadakne Do" and "Bajirao Mastani".
One is an urbane multi-starrer and the other a period drama. An interesting variety - especially after a sports-based film like "Mary Kom"!
"I always pick interesting projects! It's a very conscious decision for me because I don't like to repeat myself. I get bored doing the same thing. As a person, I like variety and I like things to keep moving.
"As a professional, I love my job. I have spent my entire career learning it. I didn't go to film school or advisors. So, my career has been my film school. There's so much to learn and so much to do. There's just no end to it in this business. And maintaining variety is the key," she said.