I am unapologetic about having done small roles in masala movies - Priyanka Chopra

If Day 2 at FICCI FRAMES belonged to Arnab Goswami, Day 3 was only about Priyanka Chopra. From delegates to media personnel and even the crew at FICCI were all pretty excited at the prospect of seeing the beautiful actress speak live on the final day of FICCI. And Priyanka sure didn't disappoint all her fans and followers. Looking stunning in an all black formal outfit, Priyanka mesmerized one and all with her charming eloquence and deep and well structured thoughts on 'Women in Indian cinema.' Kick starting on a confident note, Priyanka proudly exclaimed that there is nothing demeaning about being a heroine in Bollywood and expressed happiness at being one rather than being a hero. "I am proud to be a Hindi film heroine. There sure is a disparity at the way heroines are treated vis-a-vis a hero. But then this disparity exists everywhere, in every other industry. But having said that things are changing in the film industry today." The actress lauded filmmakers for having the guts to make women-centric movies with a female in the lead role. "I have to admire the filmmakers who make such movies. These filmmakers today are spearheading a movement wherein roles are being written specifically for women." Priyanka also had a word of praise for actresses like Kangana and Madhuri for signing up women centric films. "It’s a risk when an actress takes that chance because the film is riding on her shoulders. But the fact that there are movies like Queen and Gulaab Gang releasing shows that it's a path breaking new time." Though times have changed and heroines are being offered lead women centric roles, pay packages have not simultaneously risen to match their male counterparts. Admitting that there is still a big difference in the compensation offered, Priyanka said," The gap still exist. We are not yet equal to heroes. But all that will change the day a female-centric movie makes 100 crore." While Priyanka has been part of some landmark movies, she has also received flak for choosing itsy bitsy roles in masala movies. But the feisty actress doesn't really see any role as inferior. "What is meaningful cinema? I love our cinema and I am unapologetic about doing small roles in masala movies. In fact, in my first two films, I was introduced after the interval and I die in the climax sequence. I remember what Amitabh Bachchan once said, 'The amount of scenes doesn't matter. What matters is the impact that you leave behind in the two minute scene that you do'." Turning nostalgic, Priyanka remembered her early Aitraaz when as a 20 year old she played the role of a seductress to the hilt. "The first big turning point in my life was Aitraaz. There was a scene which I had to do that actually made me cry. I was 20 then and I didn't knew what I was doing. Many people told me that I would be typecast as a villain. But I took the risk and have to thank Abbas Mastan for having faith in me. They were the ones who first told me that you can be more than a pretty face." For someone who has been in the industry for more than a decade now, Priyanka still considers herself a student. "When new actors come, we take just three seconds to say that he or she can't act. Trust me, it’s very tough to stand in front of the camera and act. From outside it looks fun but it is not. I am still learning acting." And perhaps that is why Priyanka still excels at whatever she does, be it acting, singing or anchoring. P.S - While Priyanka hates being called Piggy Chops, the actress revealed that the abbreviated form of her full name - PeeCee - is often confused with that of Union Minister P. Chidambaram who too is lovingly called P.C. "We have discussed this and have shared a laugh about it," said Priyanka.