BACK from BRAZIL

“TV is an altogether new medium for me and I am the first female actress in recent times to anchor a show. We’ve had Shah Rukh Khan,Akshay Kumar,Amitji and Salman Khan hosting shows on TV. Initially,the concept was scary for me but I am so glad I did it and successfully at that. The show has had the best opening ever among the three seasons with a opening of 6.9,” beams the actress.

Ratings nothwithstanding,the reviews have not been so favourable for Priyanka,who has had to contend with comparisions with Akshay Kumar,the original host. She has been panned for not bonding enough with the guys and shrieking in disgust during the tasks with creepy crawlies. “Comparision with my predecessor is bound to happen. Eventually,it is the numbers that count and they are talking,” she shrugs nonchalantly.

As for the lack of chemistry with the guys,Priyanka reckons that it is not easy to handle 13 boys. “I can’t be friendly or chummy with them. The main and obvious difference between Akshay and me is that he can be friendly with the girls but I had to be strict with the guys,” she maintains. As if to reinforce her femininity,she discloses that she is repelled by creepy crawlies. “My USP as a host is being real and natural. And I found the task of contestants holding insects in their mouth and putting them in another jar gross and that shook me up the most,” reveals Priyanka,who has done a couple of stunts herself.

Having devoted 20 days to the show,Priyanka is now gearing up to promote her forthcoming film Anjaana Anjaani with Ranbir Kapoor. Calling it a inspirational film,Priyanka shares that she plays a chulbuli,naughty girl who at one point gives up on life completely. “It’s a young love story,” she quips,without revealing too much. The movie will release on September 24,after which the actress will fly to Germany for the shoot of Don 2.

As the award-winning actress rides on a high,one of her old movies, Junoon – The Madness Of Love with Govinda,is all set to hit the theatres sometime in November.

To her credit,Priyanka doesn’t cringe at the mention of it but informs that Govinda was one of her first co-stars and she was in awe of him. “I shot for it seven years ago,when I was 18 years old. I haven’t seen it yet but yes,it feels a little weird that the film is releasing now,” she grins.