INTERVIEW! Priyanka Chopra On Citadel, Her Bollywood Journey And Struggle In Hollywood

"I like challenges, being simple bores me", says actress Priyanka Chopra, who was in India to promote her upcoming show Citadel. Priyanka is playing the role of a spy in the much-awaited show. This science fiction action thriller series directed by Russo Brothers will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video from April 28, 2023.

In an exclusive conversation with Filmibeat, Priyanka Chopra talks in length about her film journey from the Hindi film industry to Hollywood. And also talks about women empowerment.

Excerpts from the interview.

Q. In the West, there is a lot of prejudice about Hindi cinema and its content. Have there been any changes in it? Have the filmmakers' perspective towards you changed?

A. It's been almost 10 years since I started to work in Hollywood and then a show like this came on my shoulders. So yes, I think the attitude of filmmakers has changed towards me, towards Indian cinema, towards Indian artists and I think a big reason for that is OTT. I think streaming has made the world very small. We are watching all kinds of content with subtitles. Entertainment has changed a lot in the last few years, so unless filmmakers join that change, they will be left behind.

Q. You mentioned global content. Where does Indian content fit in? Do you watch Indian content and have you admired someone's work recently?

A. I do watch movies. I watch Indian content. I see every movie of Rajkummar Rao. I am a big fan of his. I think Indian cinema has come a long way and we have also become international. The world knows about our industry, our films and is familiar with our content. When I started working in the West, there were very few Indian or South Asian people. Now when I go to parties, I meet a lot of people. Recently I have also started hosting Oscar parties, only for South Asian talent. And I can't tell you how emotional this moment is. I met so many actors and filmmakers who have been working in Hollywood for years, playing small roles or trying to make a career there. Now, we are 200- 300 people here and we have made our place. So it takes time to reach anywhere.

I also saw a lot of struggle after going there, that's why I understand the responsibility for the position I am in today. Be it young talent, young writers especially women, be it technical workers or directors, I want to take everyone forward. Today, I have a production company, under which I am doing a lot of shows and films, and it is very important for me to tell South Asian stories in a global way. So that our stories also get equal space. People should not just watch thinking that they have to watch Indian content today. I want to normalize it. For now, it will take time, but I have started.

Q. Your dreams and desires would be different when you started your career. Today, you are the role model of many. What are your dreams and your desires now?

A. I think perseverance is very important. I was 17-18 when I started. At that time, I had dreams that I would get a good film, get a good co-actor, get a chance to dance to a good song and get a good costume. In the beginning, your dreams and ambitions are very small, but gradually it becomes bigger and bigger. In today's time, my ambitions are very big. It is my ambition to change the way Indian talent is perceived around the world. I have big ambitions of showcasing and presenting more global stories from South Asia and the diaspora of our nation. I want more Indian filmmakers making global stories and working on international shows. I would love to see producers and big studios make Hindi language entertainment that travels across borders. So I have always had bigger ambitions than where I am. I will say one line in Hindi- Mere pair hamesha chadar se bahar hote hain. I think if you aim high, even if you fall short, you will still be high. So I have big ambitions and I am hopeful that I will be able to achieve at least a few of them.

Q. You always talk about women empowerment and you have done a lot in this direction. What else would you like to do further?

A. Every day you wake and think about how I can create another opportunity and I am trying to do the best I can in that. I really believe in sisterhood. I feel very happy when girls are successful. It gives me so much inspiration because I am a small-town girl and I have seen many of my friends and family and girls that I have known, whose wings were cut off at a very young age, who didn't have the opportunity or choices that my family gave me. So I always say that when a woman takes a step forward, you should always pass your hand and bring another woman forward. And that's always been my quest.

I am working with a lot of female writers, producers, and filmmakers. I always think that how lucky I am or we are; that we had families that gave us this opportunity. There are many girls who are as talented as us, as beautiful as us, their desires may be as deep as ours but they are born under different circumstances. A woman is someone who holds the whole family together. So if you give your daughter the opportunity to stand on her own feet, she will make sure not just her family, but the community thrives. So it's very important for us to teach our daughters and our sons that it's really important to push women forward and give them opportunities.

Q. We have seen you doing action and stunts in Bollywood movies and you are looking fantastic in Citadel. Do you enjoy doing action sequences and stunts or do you take it up as a challenge?

A. Talking about Citadel, it was very difficult because we shot it in a year and a half. A film takes maximum of 60 to 90 days. Therefore, it is important that you have to be physically fit as well. When we were doing the stunt sequence, we were shooting it for 12-12 hours a day. In such a situation, it is very important to take care of fitness, how you keep yourself warm, or how you do not hurt yourself, as well as how you remember your choreography. I am not a real spy or fighter, I have never been trained, I have learned this for my job. I enjoy doing action now because I have done it in many Bollywood films and I am very confident in myself. It's kind of my wheelhouse, it's what I'm comfortable doing, I'm good at it. So when I go on set, I am not intimidated by it. I can train, I'm sure. (Laughs) After that, I'm looking for projects that scare me. I love challenges. I enjoy looking for work that intimidates me a little bit.

Q. At this point in your career, what is that one motivational or driving force which keeps you going all the time?

A. I have worked with the best people here in Bollywood, be it filmmakers or actors. I got a chance to play all kinds of characters. But I haven't had the opportunity to do that in Hollywood yet. I want to build my credibility there as an artiste as well. I hope to be able to do the same there in the next 10 years.

Q. Russo Brothers have admitted that James Bond is a huge influence behind Citadel, but this is not the first time a thriller is being made which is inspired by Bond. Do comparisons worry you? What sets Citadel apart?

A. There are so many spy-verses like the Bond series, Mission Impossible, and many others. I think we as human beings love the idea of spy, espionage and intelligence, lie and deceit; that's just a really interesting world for people who like to watch TV and that's why those series have really well. If people want to draw comparisons, sure you can, but I think Citadel is a very different show because it is truly global. All the movies I am talking about go to different countries, but here the concept of the show is that the world has decided to share its intelligence. So, Citadel has no allegiance to any country. It exists in every part of the world, so we can tell stories in every part of the world. Hence, there is an Indian franchise, there is Italian franchise and there is possibility of many more. So, it's never been attempted before. It's not about one spy, it's a world of spies, it's a world of espionage.

Q. Citadel is a global series and it showcases a different world. How difficult and challenging was it for you to act in such a vast landscape?

A. It was difficult but I find difficulties interesting. I think I have been doing this for such a long time that if it gets simple, I will be bored. And don't like to be bored. I like to be inspired when I go to work. When I wake up in the morning and have my coffee, I want to be excited. I want to think about what I am doing. This show is very challenging physically, emotionally, and in every way.

Q. You mentioned you struggled in Hollywood for 10 years and you have miles to go. How do you see your struggle and what do you have to say about them?

A. I think, everybody has ups and downs. You are some of your failures, you are some of your decisions. What you do after failure, defines a person. Everyone fails, but then what you are going to do? If you decide to sit back and say I failed that no one can help you. But you have to find the bandwidth, the strength in yourself to say I will take one step forward. So, I think struggles are what make people stronger.

Q. How does it feel to be part of such a huge global franchise that will represent India on such a high level, especially with Varun Dhawan having his own installment?

A. I am so excited. I can't wait for the Indian installment. I don't know very much about it. I just know a little bit of story and stuff, but Varun was telling me a little the other day when I met him at an event. And he was telling me that they are in the middle of filming and I am such an admirer of Raj and Dk, I think their work is really amazing, so they are going to bring some very cool expertise on to the India show. It's going to be like nothing you have seen before.