Here’s a poser. Let’s say Priyanka Bose and list a few of her films where she had brief roles to test recall value. She danced along with Aishwarya Rai in the ‘Mil Gayi’ song in Guzaarish and with Neil Nitin Mukesh in the ‘Dhoka’ song in Johnny Gaddar. Do these ring a bell? She also had a brief presence in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Still ambiguous? Noticed the dusky model in the new Tanishq commercial underlining re-marriage? Priyanka Bose laughs heartily at all the praises coming her way for the commercial. “I don’t agree to do anything unless I am convinced about the script. This ad was simple, convincing and with Gauri Shinde directing it, I knew I’d be in able hands,” she says.
She discloses she hasn’t exactly been flooded with offers post the commercial, but it has got people talking about her. “The brief was simple. I was to get ready for the wedding and my expression had to convey my doubt if I was making the right choice. Since there were no dialogues, everything had to be done with subtle expressions,” she reminisces. “I imagined myself in her position. If it was a second marriage, the bride may not be indulging in small talk with those around her. It would have to be a conversation with self and I had to convey that to viewers. Once I internalised her thought process, it was easy,” says Priyanka.
Priyanka is trained in theatre and has taken up interesting work that’s come her way, regionally, nationally and internationally. Her repertoire includes Gautam Ghose’s Bengali film Shunyo Awnko, the Italo Spinelli film Gangor based on ‘Choli ke peeche’, a short story by Mahasweta Devi and a play titled ‘Nirbhaya’ directed by South African playwright Yael Farber. “I take up work that excites me; if money was my prime motive, I would have married a rich guy by now,” she laughs. She is aware that Gangor has a slim chance of releasing in India but is happy with her work.
Her focus now is to try and stage ‘Nirbhaya’ in India. “We’ve staged 29 shows in different festivals. The play won the Scotsman Fringe First Award and a Herald Angel Award at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. I was involved with the play from the time Poorna Jagannathan got in touch with me,” she says. The play doesn’t stop at the gruesome incident involving the 23-year-old in Delhi. “There are other stories as well, intended to create a dialogue with the audience and prompt them to break their silence. After the play in Edinburgh, a few members of the audience shared their personal stories with us and commented on the shackles we’ve all created in society,” she says.
Films will come, she says, and adds she isn’t in a hurry. Her next big release will be Gulaab Gang co-starring Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla. “I have an incredible part in this ensemble cast film,” is that she will say now.
