Making love onscreen to thespian Naseeruddin Shah was the toughest thing for Priyanka Chopra though she has worked with the actor in the past.
Vidya Balan's kissing scene with Naseeruddin Shah in Ishqiya was hooted at because of its effortlessness. Wonder if it proved to be a DIY lesson for Priyanka Chopra, who shot some intimate scenes with Naseer recently for her film Saat Khoon Maaf. Naseer plays one of Priyanka's seven husbands.
Seven years ago (coincidentally), when Priyanka first shared screen space with Naseer in Rajiv Rai's Asambhav, she could barely look him in the eye. In fact, Priyanka was petrified of Naseer. Obviously, enacting love-scenes with an actor 33 years her senior was a near impossibility. But Naseer plays her "oldest husband" in the film.
But when Naseer returned to Coorg to resume the shooting schedule after a bout of ill health, he was apparently in great spirits. Says a source from the unit, "At first, Priyanka was very cautious and naturally respectful to Naseer. Overcautious in fact, because Naseer had fallen ill just after a day's shoot with Priyanka. So Priyanka felt doubly apprehensive."
Apparently, it was a cakewalk for Priyanka from the moment Naseer entered the sets. The actor hit it off brilliantly with her.
Says Priyanka, "Naseer sir and I had worked together many years ago in an espionage film called Asambhav. I remember I would look at his feet while talking to him; I was in awe. This recent experience was a completely different one. If it weren't for his acting skills, I would have been petrified even now."
And the admiration is mutual. Says Naseer, "Priyanka has evolved as an actor since we last worked together. It could partly be because of the directors she has worked with. Vishal and I have worked together often and I've enjoyed myself each time. Vishal is on the verge of finding a new voice in our cinema. He did somewhat lose his way in Kaminey though. But he's found himself again in Saat Khoon Maaf."