Parineeti Chopra on her student life and matters of the heart As holder of a triple honours degree in Business, Finance and Economics, do you regret giving up investment banking to pursue acting? What are you other interests? I was brilliant in studies. I topped in Economics in my twelfth grade. When I passed out of the Manchester Business School, recession had struck and people were getting laid off more than being recruited. I don't regret not being an investment banker, because I already did a brief stint at companies like HSBC and JP Morgan. Besides, being on a film set is much more enjoyable than pursuing finance. Academics apart, I could never pull off any kind of sport. But I always represented my school in cultural activities, be it musicals, the choir or debate competitions. I was also the head girl in school and would never bunk classes but catch other kids who played truant. I learnt music for six years and can play the harmonium and the tanpura. Any anecdotes you recall from your Manchester days? I moonlighted as team leader for the catering department of the football club, Manchester United. I had absolutely no interest in football and many a times, David Beckham would pass by and I wouldn't recognise him at all. It was only after my Brit friends pointed out that I learnt about him. All of them were jealous as I had exclusive access to the stadiums where matches were played but never made any use of it. Do you enjoy going to the gym or does it feel like a chore? It's the worst thing in the world to do.

I'm a shameless foodie, and cannot resist pizzas to save my life. Because of which, I used to be really fat. But because of the profession I'm in, I've been told to avoid such indulgences. And still, I don't work out because I'm running all the time on the sets and that keeps my weight in check. What's the cheesiest pick-up line a guy has used on you? Honestly, nobody has ever used any kind of pick-up line on me, cheesy or smart. In college, I was quite plump and nobody ever asked me out. Now that I've entered films, it is all the more difficult as people are conscious before asking an actress out for a date. What draws you towards a man instantly?The way they smell and a great sense of humour. If a man smells good, I automatically want to talk to him, but then he needs to be funny as well.