I play this wannabe, item girl: Priyanka

Jan 4, 2007 Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, Jan 5 (IANS) Those who have seen her playing a smouldering diva in "Aitraaz" and "Don" would be pretty surprised by Priyanka Chopra's funny act as a wannabe desperately chasing success in "Salaam-e-Ishq".

"I play this wannabe, an item girl, who just wants to become successful so desperately. My character is a funny, sassy, saucy screwball. And yes, I had loads of fun doing the role. It's an ensemble cast. But I'd like to believe my track with Salman Khan is special," Priyanka told IANS.

Ohter than Priyanka-Salman, five more couples -- John Abraham-Vidya Balan, Anil Kapoor-Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna-Ayesha Takia, Sohail Khan-Esha Deol and Govinda-Shannon Esrechowitz -- feature in Nikhil Advani's second film.

Priyanka teams up with Salman once again in her other early 2007 release "God, Tussi Great Ho".

"It is another comedy. And yes, Amitabh Bachchan plays god! I guess it's time for me to let my hair down and enjoy myself. It's writer Rumi Jaffrey's debut film as a director."

Two forthcoming films with Salman, and rumours of a serious rift between the two persist. The grapevine is abuzz that Salman insisted on Katrina Kaif instead of Priyanka for Raj Kumar Santoshi's "London Dreams".

"What bunk!" Priyanka howls. "I couldn't do 'London Dreams' only because of date problem. Salman and I get along well enough. You've to see our on-screen chemistry in 'Salaam-e-Ishq' and 'God, Tussi Great Ho'."

People are whispering about her off-screen chemistry with the new kid on the block, Harman Baweja, especially, since she stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Kareena Kapoor in his debut film "Love Story 2050".

"The only reason I did 'Love Story 2050' was my role. I get to do my first double role. And the two characters, specially the second one will make people sit up and notice.

"If styling is essential to the characterisations, then 'Love Story 2050' has got the formula right. As for stepping into the film so late, I'd always stand by a friend. Why only Harman, I'd bail out any of my friends on a crisis. Just try me."

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Salaam-E-Ishq: A Tribute to Love