‘The Mind of an Actor’ – Priyanka Chopra’s Kaleidoscopic inner world

‘The Mind of an Actor’ – Priyanka Chopra’s Kaleidoscopic inner world Chairperson Jio MAMI, Priyanka Chopra Jonas talks to Dimensions Brand Ambassador Bhumi Pednekar about her journey, life lessons & what does it take to be an actor! Mumbai (India), 29 October 2023

Giving audiences the chance to come face to face with Priyanka Chopra Jonas & Bhumi Pednekar, Jio MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Images) Mumbai Film Festival 2023 hosted the Masterclass ‘The Mind of an Actor’. During their hour-long discussion, Priyanka spoke about the role of an actor as a craftsperson and a public personality and how she remains authentic in a spectacularly flashy world. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is also the Chairperson of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The actor also spoke about the new Jio MAMI vision and how it is committed to creating a safe space for cinephiles. The masterclasses at Jio MAMI are powered by Film AlUla. Film AlUla is the Royal Commission for AlUla’s film agency, established to promote and support international film and TV production in the County of AlUla, located in northwest Saudi Arabia. Its aim is to position AlUla as an international filming destination and develop the services, facilities, and infrastructure in the region to create a film-friendly ecosystem. With over 20 years of experience as an actor working in India and America, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is one most recognised celebrities across the world. Her professional journey remains unmatched which she spoke about in detail at the festival. Priyanka discussed how at the start of her career, she did not have any formal training as an actor and learnt everything on the job. She emphasized how she’s a constant learner, and that to be a student of life is to be a student of cinema. She stressed on two important points when it comes to being an actor - surrounding oneself with supportive people and finding community and being persistent through aiming to make each day a success. She highlighted how it takes a large crew to create a film and that the actor is a vessel for the story that’s being told.

Priyanka also explained how she has a deeply intimate relationship with every character she plays. She gets to know each character like a best friend, filling in the gaps of what they must be doing between scenes and how they must feel in a certain situation. Importantly, she focuses on being non-judgmental about the characters and instead portrays them with conviction. She also spoke about how it was important for her to separate her work from her life, since she’s a public figure and the pressure is greater. Bhumi Pednekar spoke about how Priyanka has been an inspiration for her as an actor. Bhumi’s journey as an actor started with an incredible performance in Dum Laga ke Haisha and she mentioned how with every film she has tried to do better and certain films that have been a landmark in her career, such as Sonchiriya, Badhaai Do and Saand ki Aankh. The two actors also spoke about common experiences and how they deal with varied situations in life. The theatre, packed with aspiring actors, fans and cinephiles at large, enjoyed the wise observations and life lessons that Priyanka Chopra Jonas & Bhumi Pednekar generously shared. About Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival: Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), has brought the best of contemporary world cinema and talent to the city of Mumbai since 1997. With its new expanded vision to spotlight South Asian and South Asian diaspora filmmakers, Jio MAMI becomes the Hub for South Asia, discovering and connecting emerging talent to the worldwide festival ecosystem. Along with celebrating cinematic excellence and bringing joy to our audiences, we aim to facilitate the exchange of ideas and provide easy access to information related to filmmaking, funding, film distribution, business opportunities, and strategic marketing support for films and filmmakers. The festival also conducts a robust Year Round Programme that acts as a hub for creators and cinephiles through screenings, networking opportunities, access to labs and workshops for skill development, masterclasses, and, very importantly, creating a community of cinema lovers. More on Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival: Website: www.mumbaifilmfestival.com IG, FB & YT: @mumbaifilmfestival I Twitter: @MumbaiFilmFest