‘Ishaqzaade’ was not her first film but it was her first leading role. She was her usual ebullient self when we caught up with her for a chat. We start off by asking her about her co-star who made his debut. She says, “Arjun definitely has some great experience as he belongs to a family from the film fraternity. He knows a lot more about camera work than I do. I am, comparatively, totally new to this industry, but it was fun working together.”

Given she’s worked on a love story, we wonder what her love life is like. Surprisingly, she claims she doesn’t have one. “I have had a few hundred crushes but really speaking I have never fallen in love.” One crush that still simmers is the one she nurtures for the nawab of Bollywood. “I am definitely competition for Kareena. Given a chance, I will unhesitatingly go ahead and tell her that I love Saif Ali Khan,” she chirps with a blush.

Parineeti became an actress by accident. “I was in Mumbai looking out for a job and I landed a PR job at Yash Raj Films. All of a sudden, Aditya Chopra auditioned me for Dimple’s character in ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’ and then I signed a three-film deal with YRF. I feel re-routing to the world of glitz and glamour was in my destiny. I could say I am destiny’s child,” she says with a smile.

She continues, “I am very close to the character of Dimple in ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’. I must thank Adi for giving this role to me. Initially, I was not too keen on doing it as he told me it was a supporting character. But he also told me that I would not regret doing this film. Today I am happy that this role got me the leading role in ‘Ishaqzaade’.”

Is she happy with how her life has changed now that she’s moved from PR to acting? “I am very happy that now I am recognized by people and I too have fans. I belong to Ambala. It is a cool and small town. Hailing from a simple and learned family I embrace life as it comes. I am grounded and nothing can really change me. I still go to the canteen at Yash Raj Studios. People around me tell me that I am actor now. But I tell them to let me be like I am,” she says.

So, would Parineeti like the tag of star or actor? “I would be lying if I say that I do not prefer the tag of being a star. It is good if it happens. What is the harm in being a star? I will definitely try to achieve the tag of a star. But I am just two films old and I have to do many more films to reach stardom. I am fully aware that only hard work and painstaking efforts bring success,” she says.

Although Parineeti claims she is totally new to the industry, she has her own link here. Her cousin is actress Priyanka Chopra. “I have just entered filmdom. Priyanka has done many films. And I am proud of her achievement. She has sincerely worked hard to come to this position. I have yet to prove myself and that’s what I am doing right now,” she admits.

She does confess to envy of her cousin on one account though. “I am very lazy. I love to eat. I cannot resist if I see delicious food in front of me. I am also not keen on exercising. A week before shooting begins I stop eating fatty foods and begin rigorous exercises. I am just the opposite of Priyanka who is a fitness freak. She also has a strong metabolism hence she does not put on weight very easily. She has been lean from her childhood days. I envy her a lot. She would not eat too much even as a kid. I was a foodie and so was damn chubby. I remember, ‘Priyanka ko khana khane ke liye force karna padta tha,’ she remembers.

So, will we see her in a bikni like Priyanka in ‘Dostana’? “Given a chance, I would unhesitatingly don a bikini if the scene demands. But I would have to lose oodles of weight for that. Right now, I do not have the right body shape to be able to don a bikini,” she confesses.