20 years of Aitraaz: Priyanka Chopra in a throwback interview, "When I heard the role, I was worried"

Priyanka Chopra was one of the biggest plus points of Abbas-Mustan’s Aitraaz, which clocked 20 years this week. As a married woman who goes all out to seduce a hunk, Priyanka killed it.In throwback interview, Priyanka had said, “Aitraaz requires a maturity way beyond my years. And to make matters worse, I don’t believe in the things that my character believes in. Each day before I shoot, I’ve to sit for an hour to prepare myself. It’s a very bold subject. But it isn’t like some of those bold films that are coming out these days. The characters are extremely upfront. When I heard the role, I was worried. But when we started shooting, the directors Abbas-Mustan never pressured me to wear or say anything I didn’t like . And yet It’s been very challenging. What I’ve done in Aitraaz has never been attempted by any other actress before. It’s scary. Have I done it convincingly? I’m apprehensive because I don’t identify with my man-eater-character... In real life, I’m a very conservative girl.”Aitraaz wasn’t a run-of-the-mill film. “And that’s why I’m scared. Earlier Mujhse Shaadi Karogi took me to one level—the successful level. It was my first hit as a solo heroine. And it made a lot of difference to my career. Now, Aitraaz should get me recognition as an actress. It’s nerve wracking because it’s a very controversial subject—sexual harassment by a woman at the work place. It’s a role that goes all-out. And I’ve had to say and do things never before. There’re a couple of scenes that made me squirm. But more than my actions or dialogues it’s my attitude which is aggressive and bold.”Initially Priyanka was very reluctant to play the hotshot lustful executive. “I don’t belong to a family where girls think and behave that way. I thought, what will everyone say? It took a lot of convincing. But my directors Abbas and Mustan finally brought me around. They assured that I wouldn’t be projected wrongly, and I trusted them.”Not too many people know that Priyanka was offered the unfaithful wife’s role in Abbas-Mustan’s Humraaz, which she couldn’t do. Ameesha Patel did. Patel’s arch-rival Kareena Kapoor played Priyanka’s arch-rival in Aitraaz.The mention of her female co-star brought a smile to Priyanka’s face. “Kareena and I got along very well. Believe me I’ve never had any problem with any of my female co-stars—Lara (Dutta) in Andaaz, Preity (Zinta) in The Hero or now Kareena in Aitraaz. As long as I ‘m comfortable with my role, I’ve no problem,” she said.Priyanka was petrified about the audiences’ reaction to Aitraaz. She said, “I still haven’t had the guts to go and see Aitraaz. But whoever has told me great things about it. I’ve never built great expectations about any of my films. But with Aitraaz, I’m very hopeful. I’m wondering how people will react... I do play a negative character. And once I took it on, I gave it all my life.”Also Read: 20 years of Aitraaz EXCLUSIVE: “Priyanka Chopra’s suicide scene was edited out because...,” reveals writer Shiraz Ahmed