She has a number of Tamil and Telegu films to her credit. But Priya Anand impressed audiences and rose to fame in Bollywood with her stint in 'English Vinglish.' Priya comes across as an affable person as she speaks to The Times of India about her Bollywood move and how her life has shaped up. For Priya, life has changed quite a bit after English Vinglish. The actress, who was next seen in Priyadarshan's Rangrezz, says her journey from EV to Rangrezz has been amazing.
"I was not consciously trying for Bollywood. But EV was the opportunity of a lifetime. It was about working with Sridevi and I couldn't say no," she says and adds, "Bollywood has opened a lot of doors for me. " Priya adds how doing these two films had a closer significance, "My grandmother is a Marathi and I played a Maharashtrian girl in my first Bollywood movie.
Even in Rangrezz, I play a Marathi girl. " The actress, who lives with her grandmother in Chennai doesn't understand all the talk involving the difference between Bollywood and Southern film industry. "It's amazing that there is so much exchange happening in terms of stories, actors and directors. I speak Tamil, Telugu and Hindi and even if I have to do a Bengali movie, I will pick up the language.
This is a great opportunity and it opens more doors as I get to pick and choose more stories," she says. About her movies, she says, "I like to be honest with my work. So I dub for myself. A hit or a flop is secondary." Priya, whose first Bollywood co-star is Jackky Bhagnani, is all praises for the actor. She says, "On the sets he was the odd man out because everybody was South Indian and we spoke in that language.
He couldn't understand anything. But he is hardworking and a great dancer. He is unaffected by his family surname or much money." As the conversation veers towards romance, Priya says, "Love gives you a high. And it is not just about your partner. Whenever I'm with my family and I'm playing with my nephew, the way he looks at me is love." So, family is important to her? She agrees, "As a single child, I take my role seriously. I love my grandparents and moved here to stay with them.
But for the last four years, I have been travelling and I lost my grandfather in December. I feel guilty that my grandmother is home alone. I'm a typical Virgo. So I am a control freak and cleanliness obsessed." So has she found her Mr Right? She replies, "No I haven't. He has to be empathetic. People have become aggressive these days. I want someone who is not self-centred, and passionate about his work. I feel when you do what you love doing, the rest will follow. And this also translates into a good relationship."
