New Delhi: Bollywood should probably thank the great economic meltdown that took place in 2009 in Europe. Had there not been a meltdown, an aspiring investment banker called Parineeti Chopra would not have moved to Mumbai to set her foot into an Yash Raj Films set. A PR job with the biggest production house in the country and two films later, now actress Parineeti Chopra has been conferred with a special mention from the jury at this year's National Film Awards for her performance in 'Ishaqzaade'.
She is just two films old and shared the screen with three other heroines in her debut film and yet managed to make heads turn with her performance in 'Ladies VS Ricky Bahl'. The film may have not done that great business at the Box Office, but the actress definitely created an impact with her cute Punjabi girl next door act. The jury mention at the 60th National Awards perhaps just reiterated the fact that this chirpy Chopra is here to stay.
But National Award can make or mar an actress' career in Bollywood. In the past, many actresses like Tabu, Konkona Sen Sharma etc after being awarded with the National Award bracketed as 'serious cinema' artistes and were offered roles which were author backed and character driven. No harm in that either, but in the process the commercial viability of these actresses went down to quite an extend as regular Bollywood producers would think twice before casting them in masala entertainers.
Meanwhile, Parineeti's cousin Priyanka Chopra's career has been on the upswing ever since she won the National Award for her role in Fashion in 2008. Even though her fabulous performance in Barfi went unnoticed by the jury, the actress has slowly emerged as one of the most powerful actresses in the current lot and someone who doesn't shy away from experimenting with roles within the realms of popular cinema.
There is no doubt that Parineeti was brilliant as the feisty Zoya Qureshi in 'Ishaqzaade'. In fact she is one the few actresses in the current lot who has a strong screen presence which demands absolute attention from the viewer. When she is on screen, one can't notice other actors- Parineeti engages you in such a way. So the jury mention can go either way for this Punjabi girl from Ambala. It can either make her a superstar or put her in the bracket of serious films.
Her kitty is full though for the time being. She has a YRF film and a Karan Johar film and is also being signed up by various brands to become their brand ambassador. And we just hope, that she continues to captivate us with vivacious, feisty acts time and again.
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