Priyanka Chopra calls ‘Baywatch’ a conscious choice, confirms signing three Bollywood films

I can’t announce the projects till I know my dates, Priyanka said.

Super star Priyanka Chopra, who is back in Mumbai for merely five days, is busy hosting parties, discussing new projects and also excited about the release of her Hollywood debut.

Chopra confirmed about her busy schedule during a press conference on Wednesday, in Mumbai, to promote her Hollywood film ‘Baywatch’ in which her co-star Dwayne Johnson was also virtually present.

The actress revealed that she is in final talks with the directors of three Hindi movies and will make the announcement soon.

Rumors suggest that Chopra will be signing biopics of Kalpana Chawla and poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhyanvi. The actress said that she can’t announce the projects unless her dates get sorted out.

“I can tell you for sure I have locked three films! But I can’t announce them till I know my dates. And I don’t’ know when I will do it, this year or next year. Actually, after June, I really don’t know what I am going to do! And I definitely missed Hindi film industry,”Chopra said in the press conference.

The 34-year-old actress asked about acceptance of Indian thespians in Hollywood. Chopra said that she is okay in walking into a room and introducing herself as an Indian actor.

“You can’t be so entitled as being from Hindi film industry. We can’t say that if we are stars in India we will be stars everywhere. I am okay to walk into a room and introduce myself as, ‘Hello, I am Priyanka Chopra. I am an Indian actor.’ There’s nothing small about it, our achievements are quite big. Of course, people didn’t know me then. I never thought they were mean except a few. But I think American press was wonderfully accepting of me,” she said.

She called her decision to choose a mainstream film for Hollywood debut as a conscious choice.

“People didn’t know me very well. You can’t just arrive there and say, ‘Mujhe picture chahiye!’ People have to come to you. After Quantico, I got a lot of films out of which one was Baywatch. I liked it the most because firstly it was a global, fun movie and I have been a Baywatch fan and secondly the character is totally different from Alex Parrish. So, after Quantico I wanted America to be introduced to me like this, in a completely different role,” Chopra said.

She continued: “There is a stereotype in West about Hindi film industry and Indians in general. Like, if we have elephants walking on the road or how do we break into song and dance in our films… So, there is a lack of understanding. So what’s conscious from my end is that when I walk onto a set there, I should look like I know my job. I don’t want people to question my (work) like do I know where to stand on a set… I know my job really well and that is something the Hindi film industry has taught me.”

“I think that’s my endeavor. We are one-fifth of the world’s population so, our representation in world cinema is legit. It’s on us, we have to make sure we are good enough,” she added.